Monday, August 22, 2022

The Black Phone (2022) Movie Review

 


Low key, suttle, unassuming could be used to describe this film. From these words one might think it’s not worth watching. But these are the qualities that make it so good. And are maddening to any horror fan or director. So simple and under the radar. Most probably only checked it out for the fantastic poster and or Ethan Hawk. Why aren’t more horror movies like this not made?

 


Nothing wrong with the horrifically gawdy over the top wide release films. But for true horror fans we tend to enjoy things, with feeling, that feeling of the hair raising up on the back of your necks, jumping out of the seat, having to look away from the impending doom, yelling at the characters who want to check out noise in the basement. People say they love horror and they list Stephen King and Evil Dead. But I want to talk to people who love Peter Struab, Jack Ketchum, Robert Bloch, Dan Simmons, watch the films ‘The Host’ (2006), ‘Touch of Evil’ (1958), ‘Night Moves’ (1975), ‘It Follows’ (2014). Anyone could have made this movie on a shoe string budget. Some kids using an iPhone or camcorder. Or some college students in Michigan who hit up everyone they know for money to make a low budget horror film. Let all of us fans agree Evil Dead and Stephen King are the shit and talk about the others.

 


It added an extra layer of creepy that this neighborhood is right up the street from where I currently live. The film is a horror story before the supernatural comes a knocking. The hero has no idea why he is doing all these random things to escape and absolutely maddening he doesn’t stick to one strategy. And the Grabber is playing his own little games that only make sense to him. The Grabber is here to punish naughty boys and chew bubble gum, he’s all out of gum.

 

YouTube Black Phone Trailer

Ethan Hawke is just one of those actors that keeps showing in good movies. He has been a few big movies, but repeatedly finds good movies to be in. Mr. Hawke could be thought of a horror actor as of late but looking at his IMDB page he has been in all types of movies, indies and takes supporting rolls. Seeing interviews with actors on how all the good rolls dried up or they got type casted. But Ethan has avoided this fate, been all over the place for the better part of 40 years staring in big studio pictures and low budget indies. It looks like his Daughter Maya Hawke is going to take after her dad. She already has 25 acting credits in four years.

 


A great story, that is going to spawn a prequal and a ton of copy cats. It leaves a simple blue print on how to make a great movie. No need for quick and witty dialog, big special effects budget, traveling around the world for the perfect shot, tons of shooting locations, or make up. At the end of the day anyone in the world could have shot this in their basement. Maybe the production quality and acting wouldn’t be as good. At the same time it’s not that easy to come up with a great idea, write it into a screen play, and transfer that on to film. Writers Joe Hill (son of Stephen King), Scott Derrickson, and Robert Carhill, and a mask designed by Tom Savini, just make it look so easy here.







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