*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*
“You don’t have to be scared…”
The Black Phone released in theaters on June 24th 2022. The horror film stars Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and James Ransone. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-two minutes.
Set in the late 1970’s, a young boy is abducted by the neighborhood “grabber” and held in a soundproof basement when he begins to receive calls from the killer’s past victims on a disconnected phone.
Here is the trailer:
The Black Phone features a villain who is beyond terrifying, along with exceptional characters to root for against all odds. Is it worth a watch? Let’s find out…
The Pros:
Terrifying in a very real way…
I don’t know about you, but this is the type of film that scares me the most. Sure, there are supernatural/paranormal elements in this one, but this isn’t your typical gore fest or jump scare horror film. There is this unsettling and creepy vibe present throughout the film. It crawls under your skin, festering into something beyond scary. There are so many real and cruel moments in this film that make this way more than your average horror film.
Ethan Hawke truly immersed himself into this role with sadistic perfection and I think I’ll be having nightmares about his character for quite a long time…
Characters to root for.
Finney and Gwen were fantastic characters. Gwen was my favorite and I think that Madeleine McGraw was truly wonderful. I was very invested in what happened to them, which made this movie even more absorbing. I think they nailed the brother-sister relationship and really helped the audience connect with them on a deeper level.
Even though this is a horror movie, it was also a movie about self-discovery and growing up as well.
The Cons:
Unanswered questions and some fuzzy details…
By the time I got to the end of the film, I was satisfied, but I also had a lot of unanswered questions. There were details that didn’t add up from some of the flashbacks, which had me scratching my head. Since this was such an engaging watch, I wanted to know more and perhaps I will invest my time in reading the short story by Joe Hill to fill in some of the blanks.
So am I in or out?
I’m in 100 percent!!!!!
A terrifying and captivating watch from start to finish!
This movie was so well done and I was so impressed with the performances all around, making this a must see watch for horror fans!
I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Black Phone in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!
Best,
Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl
THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…
When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.
Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…
My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!
Scream Hunt is available here!
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