Genre: Horror/ Thiller
Even in the scenes with Ethan Hawke, who is obviously having fun with his deranged character, Thames is not overshadowed by the experienced actor. As a result, we get e good look at how Finney reacts to his situation, which provides a healthy dose of tension. As a result, “The Black Phone” is more exciting than it is scary, making the climax nothing short of bloodcurdling.
Unfortunately, the fact that the tension builds gradually does come at the expense of pacing early in the middle section. The film takes its time setting up the characters and the mystery, which leads to a slight dip in tension just after Finney’s abduction. This delay, in turn, does provide space to flesh out the character of Finney’s sister Gwen and add nuance to their home situation.
Perhaps the best choice Derrickson made was to incorporate supernatural elements into the film. Although they play a major role, little explicit attention is paid to their origins. The natural way the supernatural is incorporated fits the context of the story and also gives the film an opportunity to be creative with it.
“The Black Phone” is not a film that will turn the genre on its head. The simple story does combine several horror subgenres to then flesh out characters in a creative and nuanced way.
Rating: 3,5/ 5
