I’ve heard some wild things about how creepy The Black Phone is. The images going around of Ethan Hawke in that demonic mask are enough to scare anyone’s pants off. But when you learn the film is by Scott Derrickson, whose horror bonafides are unquestionable, and based on a short story by Stephen King’s accomplished son Joe Hill, this is one that it might be a good idea to check out with a buddy along.
Set in 1978 and praying on every parent’s worst nightmare, The Black Phone centers on 13-year-old Finney (Mason Thames), who is kidnapped by a man posing as a friendly magician. The story takes a supernatural twist when Finney discovers that a seemingly-broken black phone allows him to communicate with the serial killer’s previous child victims, who try to help him escape.
My skin crawls just seeing how Hawke and that mask look in action, rather than just in still imagery. This could be another amazing genre flick from Derrickson, who reunites with Sinister and Doctor Strange co-writer C. Robert Cargill. Speaking of which, Derrickson wasn’t even supposed to be doing this movie right now. He had been attached to return for Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but dropped out over creative reasons.
The Black Phone opens in theaters on June 24th.
