Movie Review: The Black Phone — Fear, Courage, and One Creepy Basement
I finally got around to watching The Black Phone, and wow — this movie is way more than just a scary story. It’s part thriller, part supernatural mystery, and part emotional coming-of-age story wrapped in 1970s nostalgia. I went in expecting pure horror and came out surprised by how much heart it had.
The story follows Finney, a quiet middle-school kid growing up in a rough Denver neighborhood. He’s bullied, underestimated, and trying to survive in a world that doesn’t seem to notice him. But everything changes when he’s kidnapped by a man known only as “The Grabber,” played by Ethan Hawke. From there, Finney finds himself trapped in a soundproof basement with nothing but a disconnected black rotary phone on the wall. That’s when the story takes a turn — the phone starts ringing, and on the other end are the voices of the Grabber’s past victims, trying to help Finney escape.
What I really liked about The Black Phone is that it doesn’t just rely on cheap jump scares. It’s spooky, sure, but it’s also suspenseful and surprisingly emotional. The movie builds tension slowly, letting you get inside Finney’s head and really root for him. Every time the phone rings, you feel a mix of dread and hope — like maybe, just maybe, the next call will give him the key to freedom.
Ethan Hawke deserves a ton of credit for his performance. The Grabber is terrifying without being over-the-top. He’s unpredictable and eerie, and the mask he wears (which changes expressions) makes every scene more unnerving. But it’s Mason Thames, who plays Finney, that carries the movie. You can feel his fear, determination, and courage grow as the story unfolds.
There’s also a great subplot with Finney’s sister, Gwen, who has strange dreams that seem connected to the kidnappings. She brings humor and heart to an otherwise dark story, and her relationship with Finney adds real emotional depth.
The movie is rated R, but that’s mostly for language, violence, and intensity — nothing wildly graphic. Still, I’d say it’s better suited for older teens and up. What I liked is that it’s not just horror for horror’s sake. It’s about bravery, survival, and listening to the people who came before you — even if they’re voices from beyond.
By the time the credits rolled, I wasn’t just relieved Finney made it out (no spoilers… okay, kind of a spoiler), I was genuinely impressed by how smart and character-driven the story was. The Black Phone isn’t just about scaring you; it’s about showing what courage looks like when everything feels hopeless.
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
I’d recommend it for anyone who likes a good mix of mystery, suspense, and emotion — just maybe don’t watch it alone at night.
Movie Review: The Black Phone 2 — The Past Calls Back (And It’s Louder)
I went into The Black Phone 2 wondering how you bring back a story that felt complete, and the movie answered in the creepiest way possible: the past doesn’t stay buried, and the phone still rings. Set a few years after the first film, Finney is now a 17-year-old trying to live with what happened, while his sister Gwen starts getting visions again — the kind you wish you could ignore but can’t. The sequel shifts the mystery to a winter camp setting, and the snow-and-pine vibe makes everything feel isolated and haunted in a totally different way.
What worked for me is how confidently the sequel leans into the supernatural without losing the human stuff that made the first movie hit so hard. The Grabber does return — not just as a memory, but as a presence that feels angrier and more dangerous — and the film treats that escalation like a nightmare that’s finally learned your name. It’s scarier in bursts, but it’s also about grief, recovery, and how siblings carry each other through the worst things.
The cast sells it. Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw feel older and heavier with what they’ve been through, and Ethan Hawke’s menace somehow feels bigger even when he’s barely speaking. Director Scott Derrickson is back too, which keeps the tone consistent: grainy nostalgia, careful suspense, and just enough “don’t-look-over-there” dread to make you hold your breath. The result isn’t just more of the same — it’s the same world with bigger stakes.
Content-wise, it’s still a better fit for older teens and up. The scares are sharper, and the themes are heavier, but it avoids needless shock just to push buttons. The mystery unfolds cleanly, the final act ties the emotional threads together, and the last stretch left me with that same “I can finally exhale” feeling the first movie nailed. For a sequel, that’s rare.
My rating: 4½ out of 5 stars.
If you loved the first film’s blend of fear and heart, this one feels like the next right chapter — colder, bolder, and still ringing in your head after the credits.
