The Black Phone is one of the best horror films of 2022. Why? It has a simple story that allows room for nuance, a frightening villain, and a phenomenal hero. This paired with solid work from director and co-writer Scott Derrickson with co-writer C. Robert Cargill and a set of great performances, The Black Phone will leave horror fans entirely satisfied. Set in the mustard-toned 70’s we follow a suburban Colorado boy Finnley (Mason Thames) who is abducted by local serial killer The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) only to get assistance from his previous victims through a disconnected black phone deep within his captor’s soundproof basement. Blending elements of true crime and paranormal thrillers, The Black Phone delivers suspense, horror, and that pristine hope that a sequel isn’t attempted.

Based on a short story by Joe Hill (Stephen King’s son and the little boy in Creepshow) the film opens at a baseball game. Finnley nearly strikes out the star hitter of the opposite team, Bruce ( Tristan Pravong) yet the two recognize each other’s skill. After school Finnley and his sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw)  make their way home to their alcoholic father Mr. Shaw (Jeremy Davies) and chat about the latest abduction. Like an invisible executioner, The Grabber picks local boys off, leaving behind black ballons and creating a palpable sense of dread among the youth. Then one fateful day, Finnley is abducted. He wakes up in a barren, subterranean concrete cell with only a cot to sleep on. The space is scraped clean of any connection with the outside, save for the black rotary phone on the wall that has long since been disconnected. Masked nearly the entire time, his captor, The Grabber delivers food and begins to play manipulative games to lure the boy to his demise. That’s when the calls begin.

At first cryptic, and amid a flurry of static, messages begin coming through the phone from The Grabber’s previous victims, some of which Finnley knew. Their aim is to guide him to safety and hopefully, escape. Meanwhile, Finnley’s sister Gwen is coming to terms with her clairvoyance and is haunted by dreams that offer her clues as to where her brother might be.

So why does this movie work so well? A number of reasons. To start, Hill’s story is a lean concept that lends itself to cinematic flourishes.  Writers Cargill and Derrickson efficiently set up the threat as well as the sympathetic connection between Finnley and his sister who deal with an abusive father. Once Finnley is trapped we buy into the threat and have already connected with him and his sister, along with her psychic ability. The threat is introduced, we connect with the characters, and we believe that, ultimately, the kids will have the strength to overcome the staggering odds against them. This is all sold by noteworthy performances from all of the younger cast. Thames‘ Finnley is a scrappy, resourceful underdog. His connection with costar McGraw seals the film’s heart and we commit to the ride. While never given full-on Hannibal Lecter moments, Hawke does an admirable job playing against type as the unapologetically evil monster at the center of the story.

Finally, above all else, a tip of the hat must be given to co-writer and director Derrickson for crafting a horror movie this good. There is a rich sense of atmosphere, sympathetic characters, and a gripping story, all of which come together to create a rousing crowd-pleaser of a horror film. If you love true crime, paranormal, or suspense, The Black Phone is THE summer horror movie to see.

8 out of 10