By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Don't talk to strangers. Nearly every kid who grew up during the 1960s and 1970s likely heard that admonishment regularly from their parents. It was meant to protect them from being approached or worse, abducted by sick and twisted SOBs like the one
Ethan Hawke plays in the chilling, new horror movie,
"The Black Phone."
Directed and co-written by
Scott Derrickson, who collaborated with Hawke on 2012's "Sinister," "The Black Phone" is a thoroughly suspenseful thriller. It's based on the 2004 short story by
Stephen King's son, Joe Hill and is set during the 1970s in a suburban, Colorado town. Hawke plays against type here as an evil, masked up child serial killer known as "The Grabber."
Although "The Black Phone" pays homage to classic horror films like "It" and "Halloween," there is a refreshing and distinctive vibe to it that is far from predictable and every bit of eerie.
"The Grabber" (Hawke) is on the prowl for young boys. He drives a black van with the logo “Abracadabra” on it and goes to schools and parks, hoping to lure his next victim with his magic tricks. This lunatic dresses in garish clothing and carries around black balloons and some kind of spray that makes kids unconscious after he grabs and tosses them inside the van.
Meanwhile, Finney Shaw (Mason Thames, "Evel") and his sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw, "The Mitchells vs. The Machines" and "A Christmas Wish"), are good, smart kids. Not only do they have to fear "The Grabber," but also their abusive and alcoholic father Terrence (Jeremy Davies, TV's "The Rookie" and "FBI"). Their dad hasn't been the same since their mother died. Now, he finds more comfort in drinking. He is easily agitated by most everything Finney and Gwen do around the house and often yells at them for no good reason. He's quick to use his belt too.
Gwen has a special gift. Not only can she sound off a slew of profanities with the best adult, but she also has these very realistic and vivid dreams that often come true. It's too bad Finney isn't as brave as she is because he's constantly bullied at school.
When Finney's baseball friend Bruce (Tristan Pravong, "Forever and a Day") is the first to go missing, Gwen has a bad feeling. It gets worse as more neighborhood boys disappear including Robin (newcomer, Miguel Cazarez Mora) a karate kid who rescued Finney from getting a beat down and who became his best friend.
Then while walking home, Finney runs into "The Grabber.” He asks Finney if he wants to see a magic trick. Finney starts talking to the guy. No Finney. Don't talk to strangers. Run. Within seconds, “The Grabber” covers him in balloons and throws him in the van.
When Finney awakes, he is in a dark basement with a locked door and barred window. A black dial-up wall phone that is not connected, somehow rings and soon Finney is talking with the "ghosts" of the previous victims. Although they weren't successful, they offer various tips for Finney on how to escape from "The Grabber."
However, all of Finney's attempts at escaping—and he mightily tries nearly everything--initially fail. He’s convinced he’ll never get away even as two of the city's top detectives, Miller (Troy Rudeseal, "Halloween Kills") and Wright (E. Roger Mitchell, "A Jazzman's Blues") are working around the clock to find “The Grabber.” Fortunately, they get a big asset from Gwen who has had a vivid dream that may lead directly to the house where Finney is.
The suspense in "The Black Phone" is palpable. The last 40 minutes are particularly exciting, and the jump-scares are well earned including a head-splitting scene involving a humorous James Ransome ("It Chapter Two") who plays Max, the brother of "The Grabber."
Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw will likely get my "Critics Choice Awards" vote for best young actors because they are excellent. However, it is Hawke's ghastly performance that will haunt your dreams. He is devilishly wicked wearing masks--which should be all the rage this Halloween--and playing up the creepiness to delightful perfection.
Trust me, you'll be dialed in to "The Black Phone."
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"THE BLACK PHONE"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
