The Black Phone: 10 Reasons It’s an Instant Horror Movie Classic

Updated: June 24, 2022

Trailers are supposed to get you excited about the movie and make you want to see it. Some do a better job than others, and every once in a while you’ll find one that grabs you like the trailer for The Black Phone.

Or, at least it grabbed me when I first saw it. That’s why I included it on a list of 5 must-watch trailers for horror movies releasing late 2021/early 2022, which was published on Nov. 1, 2021. The Black Phone‘s trailer had been released on Oct. 13, 2021. The movie was originally scheduled to premiere on Feb. 4, 2022, but then it didn’t.

I’m sure there was some memo I missed about how a new release date was set. Sadly. Because I’ve been anxiously waiting for it for what seems like forever now.

But then a funny thing happened. A couple of weeks ago, I got an email from Gofobo about advanced screening passes Geek Vibes Nation was giving away for The Black Phone ahead of its June 24 release. Sometimes you can just sign up and claim passes, but this was a contest kind of deal. I entered hoping I might win, but not expecting to. I totally forgot about it until last Friday when I saw a tweet listing me as one of the Nashville screening winners.

The Screening

Before I launch into the ten reasons why The Black Phone is an instant horror movie classic, indulge me for a moment while I share the experience of attending an advanced screening event for the movie.

Sure. I get to screen a lot of TV shows ahead of time in the comfort of my own home. However, it rarely happens for major motion pictures and especially not for a movie I’ve been so eagerly anticipating. Nor is it common that I win any contests I enter.

Plus, this was my first time back in a theater since the pandemic closed them, which made this a memorable experience on multiple levels.

But most of all because the movie didn’t disappoint.

Here’s what I wrote when I first shared the trailer back in 2021:

I understand Hollywood wants to make money and franchises are usually safe (or at least safer) bets for them, but I think most horror movie fans agree: we’re craving new and different, not just remakes or variations on a previous theme. That’s why The Black Phone caught my eye. It looks terrifying, intriguing, and heartbreaking, but best of all unique!

I mean, we have seen the stranger danger child snatcher theme before, but not ever quite like this. Here’s hoping the movie is as good as the trailer hypes it up to be.

So did it live up to the hype? That and then some!

**Warning!** Spoilers ahead!

10 Reasons The Black Phone Is So Good

1. The storyline.

Here’s the movie’s synopsis from Universal Pictures:

Finney Shaw, a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.

Okay, granted, the storyline is a little familiar. Someone’s stalking kids. Think It and NOS4A2. It feels vaguely similar to those, maybe most notably to It because a clown-ish sort of “monster” and balloons play a factor.

But the Grabber, as he’s called in the movie, is an actual man rather than a supernatural being and the balloons are black, not red.

He also doesn’t just snatch any kids. The Grabber only targets boys around a certain age group, pre-teen/early teen.

Which makes it a little more frightening because we’re used to girls being “easy targets” and victims, but boys get abducted too. Except, there’s like an unwritten assumption that boys are too tough and should be able to defend themselves.

Yet, The Black Phone shows how even the toughest boys can become victims. Especially when one of them, Robin (Miguel Cazarez Mora), gets taken. It’s a defeating moment for Finney (Mason Thames) and his sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) because Robin always has Finn’s back. Bullies Buzz, Matty and Matt don’t dare mess with Finn after seeing the ass whooping Robin gives to the biggest, meanest bully of all, Moose, who’s twice as large as Robin.

There’s also a supernatural component to the movie. Finney and Gwen’s mom was “touched” with the sight. We find out she committed suicide but also that Gwen seems to have inherited some of her mother’s gifts, much to her father’s dismay. (Well, it’s a lot more than “dismay.”)

But Gwen isn’t the only one. Finney’s got them too and both of their gifts come into play in helping to save Finney’s life.

2. The simplicity.

This kind of goes along with the storyline, but there’s a lot to be said for the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) rule of storytelling. Sometimes less is more.

It seems like too often horror movies these days are so convoluted with supernatural cabals or villains who are immortal for no reason and who keep coming back for sequel after sequel. (Which, don’t get me wrong, that can be fun too.)

However, The Black Phone is just good old-fashioned linear storytelling that doesn’t try too hard. It’s super refreshing.

3. The setting.

It’s set in Denver, specifically north Denver, in 1978. If you like how Stranger Things resurrected the 80s, that’s the same vibe The Black Phone evokes.

I liked that but also that it was set in my hometown. Swept me back in time to happy childhood memories. Although, I grew up in south Denver, but still. I felt like I was watching a moment reclaimed from time.

4. The costumes.

The Grabber’s masks will definitely make popular Halloween costumes for 2022, but in general the clothes are really what brought the spirit of the late 1970s to life.

5. The acting.

Everyone is perfectly cast in this movie and rocks their parts, but there are a few standout performances.

Who wouldn’t want a kindhearted bully-beater upper like the one Miguel Cazarez Mora brings to life as “Robin”?

Then there was Brady Hepner as metal head pinball wizard “Vance,” who I swear channeled some kid from the 70s to bring his character to life.

And of course, Ethan Hawke delivered another stellar horror movie performance, this time as the bad guy “The Grabber.” Or did he cheat a little and let the mask do most of his work? Naw. Someone had to bring it to life. Boy, did he!

But Madeleine McGraw steals the show as “Gwen.” She has a bunch of great scenes that shows what a fiesty little firecrackers her character is, but the scene with the cops in the principal’s office? That ranks up there with memorable school moments from other movies like Fast Times at Ridgemont High or when John Candy tells off Maizy’s teacher in Uncle Buck. Gwen doesn’t mince words nor is she afraid to use colorful ones!

6. The heart. (Especially the bond between Finney and Gwen.)

This movie has a lot of heart. And I’m not talking blood and guts kind of heart. I’m talking friendships, like the one Finney has with Robin before he gets grabbed and then after when Finn finds himself one of the Grabber’s victims and forges friendships (of a sort) with the ghost boys.

But most of all it’s the connection Finney and Gwen share with each other.

If you’re lucky enough to have a sibling that you’re as tight with as they are? Cherish it. (Which I’m sure you already do.)

But it was inspiring the way they stood up for each other, looked out for one another, and even defended each other. Without that, I don’t know that this movie would’ve been as endearing as it was.

7. The clues.

The way the ghosts used the black phone to communicate clues to Finney was like watching a real-life escape room game. Except in this case, his life literally depended on being able to put them all together. Thank goodness he had more than just an hour to do that!

8. The Grabber.

Why was the Grabber creepy AF? Mostly it was that mask because we never really saw him in action beyond how he abducted the boys. We sort of got an idea of how he beat and then killed them, but other than seeing him bash his own brother in the head with an ax, we don’t directly witness his violence.

But pair that mask with some of his other actions, like sitting silently and watching while Finney slept. Creepy to the max!

And the simplicity of his name. The Grabber. In one way it’s so obvious, not to mention accurate. But it’s also sort of surprising we haven’t had a bad guy with that name until now —either in a movie or in real life.

9. The jump scares.

I normally prefer horror movies that haunt my mind rather than ones that make me jump. I think it’s a cheap tactic. Plus, most of the time I can spot jump scare scenes coming so they don’t get me.

I missed three in The Black Phone. Sometimes that makes me mad when they get me. (Mad at myself for not bracing for it.)

But in these cases, I loved it exactly because I had no idea they were coming. Also, they added an appropriate dose of tasteful, unexpected terror. It didn’t feel gimmicky.

10. The ending.

I won’t give it all away, but let’s just say Finney defeats the Grabber. And when he did it, everyone in the audience cheered.

The Black Phone’s Biggest Fault

Even though I loved the movie overall, there were actually a couple of flaws. One was a little more minor than the other. It was one my husband pointed out. And once he did, I couldn’t un-notice it.

My husband wanted to know if the ghost boy victims knew what was going to happen ahead of time, which they did based on the clues they gave Finney to help him ultimately defeat the Grabber, why didn’t they just save time and tell him what needed to be done so he could get out faster?

It was a valid observation, but one I could suspend disbelief for because I liked the clues and how they all ended up coming together.

But one glaring omission that I still overlooked but would’ve liked to know was: what motivated the Grabber to take the boys in the first place? Usually in movies like this we get some sense of why the bad guy acts the way he does. Not this time. It felt both ignored and overlooked, which I didn’t like.

However, that’s more of a personal preference rather than an element integral to the plot so I also dismissed it and just let myself enjoy everything else about the movie.

The Black Phone Trailer

The Quote

After seeing this review I wrote of the movie, check out the cool “Instant classic” gif The Black Phone created crediting Haunt Jaunts! (Make sure to have the sound on for the full effect!)

Thanks for your review of #TheBlackPhone! pic.twitter.com/mL8rm9h1ku

— The Black Phone (@UniversalHorror) June 22, 2022

Check-In

What horror movie(s) do you think has the creepiest mask(s)?