Black Phone

 

Black Phone 2021

• Director: Scott Derrickson
• Based on the book: no
• Cast: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Ethan Hawke  – many, including Cymbeline and Hamlet
• Jeremy Davies – Lost, Manderlay, Dogville, Solaris, Saving Private Ryan, Twister
• Why? Ethan Hawke
• Seen:  21 December 2023                 

        Finney (Thames) and Gwen (McGraw) live with their drunken and violent father (Davies). Gwen has dreams about children from the town who have been taken by the Grabber (Hawke). And then Finney goes missing.

       In the cellar where he’s held captive there is a black phone. The Grabber tells him it doesn’t work, and indeed it’s not connected. But it rings, Finney answers and it’s the other missing boys, telling him how to escape, even though they didn’t succeed.

       Meanwhile, Gwen has dreams.

       It’s suspenseful, even scary almost. Thames and McGraw are definitely young actors to keep an eye on.

3½* of 5