The Black Phone

So,“The Black Phone” kinda creeps up on you in a way that feels familiar yet fresh. It’s not just your typical horror flick about a kid getting snatched by a psycho. Finney Blake,the main character, is a shy 13 year old, which I think a lot of us can relate to in some way. he’s the kind of kid who just wants to get through school without standing out too much. When he's abducted by this brutal killer,things take a real dark turn, obviously. The setting is super effective too. The soundproof basement where Finney’s trapped feels like a character on its own. you really get that claustrophobic vibe. it’s like, once he’s in there,you can almost feel the walls closing in on him. he can’t scream for help,which makes you think a lot about isolation and how helpless he feels in that moment. And then there's the phone on the wall, this totally disconnected device that starts ringing. The first time it rings, I was like, what the heck? But it’s a neat twist through that phone, Finney hears the voices of the killer’s previous victims. They’re really invested in making sure he doesn’t meet the same fate as them. That connection is pretty haunting. It plays into the theme of how the past can reach into the present and affect us,right? These voices give Finney advice, sometimes even arguing with each other about how to help him. It’s kind of like a ghost story, but not in the traditional sense. The dead aren’t just lingering around for the scares; they actually have a purpose.

A big part of why the movie works is the performances. Mason Thames as Finney does a solid job. he brings out that mix of fear, bravery, and vulnerability without going overboard. And it’s not just about the horror; there are moments that feel really emotional. You can see how trapped he is,not just physically but emotionally too. the kid has a lot on his plate, what with bullies at school and all the pressures of growing up,so you kind of root for him to escape. And then there's Ethan Hawke as the killer, who plays this character with a creepy charisma. He’s got this mask that changes his face, which is a bit unsettling. You can never really predict what he’s going to do next,which keeps you on your toes. The way he portrays that sadistic energy is both chilling and fascinating. But,I dunno, sometimes the character felt a bit one note. Like, we get he’s a monster, but a bit more depth would’ve been nice. It’s hard to say if that’s a shortcoming or if it just adds to his overall creepy vibe. Visuals wise, it has that gritty look typical of horror, which definitely suits the mood. There are some really striking shots too,especially when it comes to how they depict Finney's world versus the basement. But sometimes it leans a bit too much into classic horror tropes. You know, the kind of jump scares that might get a bit predictable? So,I guess it’s a mixed bag in terms of visual storytelling.