The Black Phone

The Black Phone

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8 / 10

1 Review

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8 Based on 1 Votes

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Overview

Finney Blake, 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.

Media

The Black Phone - Official Trailer

Cast

Madeleine McGraw

Director:

Scott Derrickson

Writer:

Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill, Joe Hill

Release Date:

2022-06-16

Run Time:

103m

Tagline:

Never talk to strangers.

Genres:

Horror Thriller

Financials and Popularity

Budget: 16,000,000.00$

Revenue: 161,441,914.00$

Vote Average: 7.5/10

Vote Count: 5832 Votes

Movie Popularity: 11.4152

Spoken Languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 27 April 2026 at 10:58 pm

8 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10 THE SUMMARY In 1978 Colorado, a sadistic serial killer known as "The Grabber" (Ethan Hawke) is snatching kids off the streets. Finney, a shy but clever 13-year-old, becomes his latest captive, locked in a soundproof basement with nothing but a disconnected black rotary phone on the wall. When the phone starts ringing, Finney discovers he can hear the voices of the killer's previous victims. As his sister uses her psychic dreams to find him, the ghosts of the fallen boys guide Finney through a supernatural game of survival, teaching him the tricks he needs to fight back before his time runs out. THE PROS This film is an absolute win for its atmosphere; it captures the gritty, sun-drenched dread of the late 70s with a sincere authenticity. Ethan Hawke is a total belter as the villain, delivering a terrifying performance even while hidden behind a rotating series of demonic masks. Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw are a celebratory explosion of young talent, providing a grounded, emotional core that makes you sincerely care about their fate. It’s a smart, tight thriller that blends "coming-of-age" grit with a ghost story in a way that feels fresh and genuinely tense without relying on constant jump-scares. THE CONS It earns an 8/10 because, while a good movie, the logic of the supernatural elements is a bit of a head-scratcher—the rules of the phone and the psychic dreams are never quite explained, which might bother those looking for a harder sci-fi edge. Some of the basement sequences can feel a tad repetitive as Finney tries and fails various escape plans. It misses the 9/10 status because the ending, though satisfying, feels a bit "standard" for the genre, lacking a truly mind-blowing twist that would have elevated it to epic status. THE VERDICT An 8/10. A good movie and a sincere recommendation for horror fans who prefer tension and character over pure gore. It is a vault essential for the Blumhouse era, proving that a simple concept can be incredibly effective if the acting is top-tier. Go and watch it for the mask designs and the chilling phone calls—it’s the business for a spooky night in. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • Horror Royalty: The film is based on a short story by Joe Hill, who is the son of Stephen King. The "Grabber" mask was designed by legendary effects artist Tom Savini, who worked on 'Dawn of the Dead' and 'Friday the 13th'.• Mask Mechanics: Ethan Hawke’s mask was designed to be in two pieces—top and bottom—so he could choose which parts of his face to reveal, allowing him to change his "expression" while staying completely covered.• Directorial Reunion: This film marked the reunion of director Scott Derrickson and Ethan Hawke, who previously worked together on the 2012 horror hit 'Sinister'. THE VIBE Like a dusty basement in the heat of summer. It smells like old carpet, copper, and static electricity. It makes you want to learn how to throw a punch, never trust a van with black balloons, and realize that sometimes the voices in your head are the only ones on your side.

Videos

The Black Phone - Official Trailer

Cast

Madeleine McGraw

E. Roger Mitchell

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The Black Phone

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 27 April 2026 at 11:58 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10
THE SUMMARY
In 1978 Colorado, a sadistic serial killer known as “The Grabber” (Ethan Hawke) is snatching kids off the streets. Finney, a shy but clever 13-year-old, becomes his latest captive, locked in a soundproof basement with nothing but a disconnected black rotary phone on the wall. When the phone starts ringing, Finney discovers he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. As his sister uses her psychic dreams to find him, the ghosts of the fallen boys guide Finney through a supernatural game of survival, teaching him the tricks he needs to fight back before his time runs out.
THE PROS
This film is an absolute win for its atmosphere; it captures the gritty, sun-drenched dread of the late 70s with a sincere authenticity. Ethan Hawke is a total belter as the villain, delivering a terrifying performance even while hidden behind a rotating series of demonic masks. Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw are a celebratory explosion of young talent, providing a grounded, emotional core that makes you sincerely care about their fate. It’s a smart, tight thriller that blends “coming-of-age” grit with a ghost story in a way that feels fresh and genuinely tense without relying on constant jump-scares.
THE CONS
It earns an 8/10 because, while a good movie, the logic of the supernatural elements is a bit of a head-scratcher—the rules of the phone and the psychic dreams are never quite explained, which might bother those looking for a harder sci-fi edge. Some of the basement sequences can feel a tad repetitive as Finney tries and fails various escape plans. It misses the 9/10 status because the ending, though satisfying, feels a bit “standard” for the genre, lacking a truly mind-blowing twist that would have elevated it to epic status.
THE VERDICT
An 8/10. A good movie and a sincere recommendation for horror fans who prefer tension and character over pure gore. It is a vault essential for the Blumhouse era, proving that a simple concept can be incredibly effective if the acting is top-tier. Go and watch it for the mask designs and the chilling phone calls—it’s the business for a spooky night in.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• Horror Royalty: The film is based on a short story by Joe Hill, who is the son of Stephen King. The “Grabber” mask was designed by legendary effects artist Tom Savini, who worked on ‘Dawn of the Dead’ and ‘Friday the 13th’.
• Mask Mechanics: Ethan Hawke’s mask was designed to be in two pieces—top and bottom—so he could choose which parts of his face to reveal, allowing him to change his “expression” while staying completely covered.
• Directorial Reunion: This film marked the reunion of director Scott Derrickson and Ethan Hawke, who previously worked together on the 2012 horror hit ‘Sinister’.
THE VIBE
Like a dusty basement in the heat of summer. It smells like old carpet, copper, and static electricity. It makes you want to learn how to throw a punch, never trust a van with black balloons, and realize that sometimes the voices in your head are the only ones on your side.

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