Read Mixed User Reviews for The Black Phone

6

OrukayuJan 22, 2023

Is a 2021 children's horror film. Obviously, when I watched the trailer, I hoped it would be a better movie. In addition, the high IMDb score increased the expectation quite a lot. But the movie was like many movies I watched on a similarIs a 2021 children's horror film. Obviously, when I watched the trailer, I hoped it would be a better movie. In addition, the high IMDb score increased the expectation quite a lot. But the movie was like many movies I watched on a similar topic. Almost everything is predictable in the film. It's just that the child killer's motive for the kidnapping is unclear. There's a black van in a small town, but no one can find it. The tips given on the phone are quite simple. And most importantly, the film is not about horror. It is an average film with an exaggerated score.

There are no scenes with nudity and sexuality in the film. It can be viewed by the family.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

The1CptBarbosaJun 26, 2022

What a boring and underwhelming film. Who knew a film about child kidnap could be so boring, unscary and cringeworthy at times. I would not recommend this film, save your money cus it sucks. I'm baffled thay anyone can enjoy this lazy,What a boring and underwhelming film. Who knew a film about child kidnap could be so boring, unscary and cringeworthy at times. I would not recommend this film, save your money cus it sucks. I'm baffled thay anyone can enjoy this lazy, nonsensical film… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

imthenoobAug 14, 2022

The Black Phone is a shockingly underwhelming and disappointing movie. The inconsistent tone is definitely the most glaring issue of the film. For every dark moment we get, we are treated to one that tries to be funny. It's a painful clash ofThe Black Phone is a shockingly underwhelming and disappointing movie. The inconsistent tone is definitely the most glaring issue of the film. For every dark moment we get, we are treated to one that tries to be funny. It's a painful clash of opponents that ruins the attempts to lay down a suspenseful atmosphere. The editing and writing of the film also make it a bit jarring with how abrupt and out-of-place some scenes feel.

Like why did the Grabber have a brother who legit only appeared in two scenes throughout the film and had zero relevance? He was an utterly needless character that didn't need to be in there and yet we wasted time on him. Then we had flashbacks showing a bit of backstory of the grabber's victims, my guess is to humanize them a bit more when in all honesty, it does anything but that. Again, They were needless scenes that didn't need to happen that simply brought down the flow of the movie. And the most criminal thing of all but the lack of Ethan Hawke. He was fantastic as the main villain and yet we really don't get to see much of him at all, it sucked.

Overall, I think with a more polished script, This one could have been far better than what it was.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

SoulWarfareJul 30, 2022

Me: Are you going to explain why the Grabber kidnaps kids and kills them?

Director: No

Me: Why the Grabber wears a mask?

Director: No

Me: Why characters have supernatural powers?

Director: No but we can give you a shirtless Ethan Hawke

Me: Nice

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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6

jamessJun 30, 2022

Adapted from a story by Stephen King's son and wonderful storyteller himself, Joe Hill, The Black Phone shares themes that Mr. King has been mining for decades. The inept adult authority figures, be they parental (Jeremy Davies does a niceAdapted from a story by Stephen King's son and wonderful storyteller himself, Joe Hill, The Black Phone shares themes that Mr. King has been mining for decades. The inept adult authority figures, be they parental (Jeremy Davies does a nice job as the alcoholic, abusive father), or the police who can't seem to realize the Black windowless van driving around the neighborhood is suspicious to a major degree. The young girl with dreams and visions that link them to the killer. Even the 70's needle drops include songs King would whole heartedly approve. That said, this is a horror movie that would seem right at home on a streaming service instead of the big screen. It's well done, acted and directed. It just seems a bit on the slight side. I did notice that the masks worn by Ethan Hawke were co-designed by legend Tom Savini. Nice.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

moviemitch96Jun 24, 2022

This so-called thriller sees Ethan Hawke as a masked child abductor whose latest victim (Mason Thames) discovers an old black rotary phone in the basement he's being held captive in in which he can talk to his captor's previous victims whoThis so-called thriller sees Ethan Hawke as a masked child abductor whose latest victim (Mason Thames) discovers an old black rotary phone in the basement he's being held captive in in which he can talk to his captor's previous victims who have long since been murdered and who try to help him escape by any means necessary. Directed by Scott Derrickson ('Sinister', 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose'), the film also happens to be based off of a short story, and unfortunately, it certainly shows, as story feels stretched rather thin in order to try and make a feature films worth of its source material. I wasn't too keen on the film's pacing, and there's very few actual scares, most of them simply being cheap jump ones that accommodate a rather predictable story. Really the only true highlight of the film is Hawke's sinister and menacing performance which was a rather interesting change of pace for the actor, along with Thames' bold and fierce performance as well. Otherwise, the film is overall forgettable, predictable, and lacks any true suspense of any kind.… Expand

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6

JLuis_001Jun 24, 2022

I have mixed feelings about this film that I really wanted to like more. Especially because it's quite rare to find a thriller in which its strongest horror elements are at the same time its biggest weakness. What do I mean by this? That theI have mixed feelings about this film that I really wanted to like more. Especially because it's quite rare to find a thriller in which its strongest horror elements are at the same time its biggest weakness. What do I mean by this? That the atmosphere provided by the murdered boys basically takes away any concern you might have for the main character. Those moments are pretty bleak, yes, but it's the fantasy element that robs the story of a lot of its suspense, especially in the moments involving the protagonist's sister, because it inevitably builds to a predictable climax. Ethan Hawke, for the little screen time he gets, is genuinely creepy. It's a terrible shame he couldn't have gone further. I suppose that would have been too dark for this film, but at the end of the day if you're telling a story involving a serial killer of children and teenagers, you either embrace that darkness or you don't, and that's precisely what happens to The Black Phone, which delivers on its aura of suspense and entertainment, but ultimately falls short when it comes to genuine horror.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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5

eded9999Jul 17, 2022

Quite bad, the action feels weird and cheap, the acting of the kids is good but there's also some cringe acting/character, for example the protagonist's father, that one it's so bad done and completely unnecesary.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

tellmikeyyJul 16, 2022

A good creepy thriller were Ethan Hawke kills it as The Grabber. At times a few logic plot holes confused me at times but aside from that its a good watch.

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6

MrPajamasJul 15, 2022

In the end, I'm disappointed. It started off fine, but it stayed fine for the rest of the film and in short I was expecting something more than just fine. I was waiting for some questions to be answered, some revelations, some explanations. IIn the end, I'm disappointed. It started off fine, but it stayed fine for the rest of the film and in short I was expecting something more than just fine. I was waiting for some questions to be answered, some revelations, some explanations. I was most puzzled by the ending, which seemed too quick, almost cut off. Not to criticize, I liked the time setting. It added a bit of magic. At least for me. Summary. Bottom line. It was okay, but I was expecting a little more. A little more depth to the story. I missed some revelation or explanation. For me, an above average horror film that I would only recommend to fans of the genre.… Expand

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4

shahbasarahJun 29, 2022

Meh! Underwhelming, predictable, Ethan Hawke is behind a mask throughout the movie barring one tiny scene. Skip at best.

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5

TheparhamsJul 14, 2022

Effects were awful. Some sense didn’t make sense and were just meaningless. Was so excited to watch it but was disappointed. There was no type of story line. Was the ending supposed to be a cliff hanger?

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6

ZeedraakDec 26, 2022

It's a shame that you've actually seen the entire movie after watching the trailer, as it gives away an important plot part. A few nice jump scares, the feisty sister Gwen was entertaining, and it had a very good seventies atmosphere.