The Black Phone is a 2022 American supernatural horror film directed by Scott Derrickson and written by Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill, based on the 2004 short story of the same name by Joe Hill. The film stars Ethan Hawke as a serial killer who kidnaps and murders children, and Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw as two of his victims.
Finney Shaw is a shy but clever 13-year-old boy who’s being held in a soundproof basement by a sadistic, masked killer. When a disconnected phone on the wall starts to ring, he soon discovers that he can hear the voices of the murderer’s previous victims — and they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.
The Black Phone – Official Trailer
The Black Phone movie
The film follows Finney Shaw, a 13-year-old boy who is abducted by a serial killer known as The Grabber (Hawke). The Grabber imprisons Finney in a soundproof basement, where he is tormented by the voices of the Grabber’s previous victims. The voices help Finney to escape, and he eventually kills the Grabber.
The Black Phone was released in the United States on June 24, 2022, by Universal Pictures. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised Hawke’s performance, the film’s atmosphere, and its scares.

The Black Phone is a well-made and suspenseful horror film that is sure to please fans of the genre. The film is anchored by Hawke’s performance, which is both menacing and sympathetic. The film’s atmosphere is also top-notch, with the soundproof basement providing a suitably creepy setting. The scares in the film are well-earned, and the film does not rely on gore or jump scares.
The Black Phone is not a perfect film, but it is a solid entry in the horror genre. The film is well-made, suspenseful, and features a great performance from Hawke. Fans of the genre should definitely check it out.
Here are some of the things that make The Black Phone a good horror film:
- The atmosphere is incredibly creepy. The soundproof basement is a perfect setting for a horror film, and the film does a great job of building suspense.
- The scares are well-earned. The film doesn’t rely on gore or jump scares, and the scares that are there are effective.
- Ethan Hawke gives a great performance as The Grabber. He is both menacing and sympathetic, and he brings a lot of depth to the role.
- The film is well-made. The direction, cinematography, and editing are all top-notch.
Overall, The Black Phone is a well-made and suspenseful horror film that is sure to please fans of the genre. The film is anchored by Hawke’s performance, which is both menacing and sympathetic. The film’s atmosphere is also top-notch, with the soundproof basement providing a suitably creepy setting. The scares in the film are well-earned, and the film does not rely on gore or jump scares.