KATIE MARIE

Answer the Damn Phone

Today I am writing to you about a film based on one of Joe Hill’s short stories. Now it’s no secret that I’m a fan of Joe Hill, so it won’t surprise you that I enjoyed this film.

The film is The Black Phone.

The Black Phone was based on a short story written in 2004 by Joe Hill and stars Mason Thames and Ethan Hawke. It is based around a spooky phone that talks to victims of a serial killer.  

Summary

We set the story in 1978, when a serial killer called the Grabber is taking children in Denver.

Our main character, Finney, lives with his sister, Gwen, and their alcoholic father, who is abusive. Finney also gets bullied at school, but his friend Robin protects him.

A boy Finney knows, Bruce, is abducted by the Grabber and Gwen dreams about it. Because of the dreams the police interviews her, this causes their father to punish her for speaking to the police.

Robin is also taken by the Grabber and a few days later, Finney is also taken.

Finney wakes up in a sound proofed basement. In the room is a disconnected rotary phone. Despite being disconnected, the phone rings and when Finney answers, it’s Bruce, who is now dead, tells Finney about a loose tile that could be removed and allow his escape.

The Grabber leaves the door unlocked one day when bringing Finney food and a boy named Billy warns Finney, via the phone, that this is a trap. Billy also tells Finney about escaping via the basement window.

While this is happening, Gwen dreams about her brother and the police visit Max. Finney is in Max’s basement as it is his brother who is the Grabber.

Finney speaks to Griffin on the phone and is given a lock combination by the dead boy. Finny almost escapes using the combination, but the Grabber’s dog barks, alerting the Grabber and leading to Finn’s recapture.

Finney then talks to Vance, a boy who he was previously afraid of because he was a thug. Vance helps Finney get into the room next door. Finney also speaks to Robin on the phone, who encourages him and teaches him to fight.

Max realises what’s happening and rushes to the basement to free Finney, but the Grabber kills him. Gwen has spoken to the police again and they find the bodies of the other murdered children in a basement. Meanwhile, the Grabber is trying to kill Finney, but Finney wins the fight. Finney escapes and it is shown that where he was held is across the street from the house where the bodies were found.

Finney and Gwen’s dad begs forgiveness from his children and the film ends showing Finney doing better in school as well.

My Thoughts – General 

I really enjoyed this film. I loved the idea of victims of a serial killer taking an active role in helping defeat him. There was something cathartic about the previous victims, all helping to save the current victim. Particularly when the Grabber was defeated, and they all got to be a part of it. Very cool.

My thoughts – Characters 

I really enjoyed most of the characters in this story.

I liked how Finney went from someone who was bullied and beaten at home and school to someone with a good support network, or ghosties boys, who finally could stand up for himself and even win a fight with the Grabber. Finney was a great main character and his development and actions felt believable, realistic, and deserved. He was a sympathetic main character, and I was rooting for him the entire time.

My Thoughts – Setting 

The setting is doing it’s job. It’s realistic and harrowing to think that Finney was so close to being safe, while so not safe. Which hits home when you think about the amount of people trafficking and kidnapping that goes on in our communities behind closed doors in places you wouldn’t expect it. Max was a good reference/example of this.

My Thoughts – Plot 

The plot is well structured and paced. It moves quickly and keeps you on your toes without feeling like it’s simply hitting story beats. It develops naturally and organically and while it was a little predictable in places, such as Finney’s first escape being a failure and Max not saving Finney, it didn’t negatively affect the tension.

The plot stakes are made clear from the outset and hammered home every time Finney talks to a boy on the phone. You are constantly reminded that Finney could easily end up like all these boys, without someone coming on screen regularly to physically say ‘yo this dude kills kids. It was an effective way to keep the stakes at the forefront of your mind.

The story centres around the real physical fear of harm befalling children. It also taps into a societal fear that this threat can come from our own communities.

The film hits a good atmosphere. Throughout Finney’s kidnapping, there is a constant, pervasive dread, with terror peaks/spikes throughout.

It is well acted throughout, with Hawke giving a brilliant performance as the Grabber.