The Black Phone DVD
Prior to watching The Black Phone, starring renowned actor Ethan Hawke, I imagined it would be a thrilling horror movie that would scare me witless. On some levels, it did deliver, but on others, not so much.
The story is set in 1978, and the drenched colour palette, 70s cars, and costumes set the scene well. We are introduced to Finney, who is playing in a junior baseball game with his team.
Soon, we discover that several kids his age have been kidnapped by “The Grabber,” played by a mask-wearing Ethan Hawke. Finney is no exception, he is abducted and locked in a dingy basement, where a mysterious black phone hangs on the wall (hence the title). The phone begins to ring persistently, and when Finney finally answers, he finds himself speaking to the spirits of the other abducted children.
Adding to the horror-drama is Finney’s sister, Gwen, who possesses psychic powers and helps the police solve her brother’s disappearance.
There is a fair amount of bloodshed, both from the abductees and in the fights between the children. However, I didn’t find the movie particularly scary, perhaps because I had set my expectations too high, having enjoyed classics like The Shining and Poltergeist more.
We get only a glimpse of Ethan Hawke’s face behind the mask, but to his credit, he delivers an excellent performance using body language and voice alone.
Overall, it’s an okay movie. If you're keen, The Black Phone 2 is set to release in October in the U.S., following the success of the first film.
Fiona
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