Intertwining True Crime and the Supernatural: A Review of ‘The Black Phone’
As children, we were always warned to stay close to our families or trusted adults practically everywhere we went. Even many of my own childhood memories are plagued by my asking why we couldn’t do this, or go there, or exist out of our parents’ view. Older now and more conscious of the evils in this world, I’m honestly not sure if the fear of children being taken away from their loved ones ever didn’t exist—or if we’ll ever see a time when that fear will finally cease. Whether it be from witches, demons, child molesters, or murderers, protecting the innocent has always been a fight worth fighting for. However, not everyone wins.
Page to Screen
Scott Derrickson’s The Black Phone (2022)—based on Joe Hill’s short story of the same name—follows 13-year-old John Finney (Mason Thames) as he navigates his way around bullies, taking care of his alcoholic father and dealing with the disappearance of one of his closest friends. While those teenage years were looking to be tough enough, John would also have to experience one of life’s greatest traumas. Luckily, John’s slightly younger sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) is there to help when he needs it—even while they’re apart.
Riding on nostalgia through the introduction of the '70s suburbia setting, a lingering feeling of unease makes its way through missing person flyers plastered with young boys’ faces on streetlight poles and common walkways. Rumors of who’s responsible call him “The Grabber.” A childlike, though easy to comprehend nickname, it cuts right to the chase. There is someone out there, plucking boys off the street in broad daylight.
Despite being warned, promising Gwen to stay safe, and losing his only friend Bruce, when asked for help from a partially masked magician (Ethan Hawke), John first tries not to be rude, having been taken off guard by the appearance and occupation of the man. Before he can realize what’s happening, however, John is thrown into the back of who we quickly realize is The Grabber’s black van.
Waking up in a soundproof basement, any viewer can only imagine what terrors lie ahead for John. With what could be observed as swatches of blood and rust markings on the concrete walls, a disconnected telephone, a dirty mattress, and seemingly one exit (an almost always locked door), fear sets in as the only thought on everyone’s mind is how will John be able to survive and escape. In addition to the challenging living conditions, The Grabber’s childlike behavior could throw anyone for a loop. Mostly defined by his happy or sad masks, any wrong action or response is like flipping an emotional switch.
As the hours go by and the night approaches, Gwen and their father also begin to fear that the worst has happened. Having already lost their mother to what is implied as mental health issues, the fight to get John back strikes the chords of bad memories and desperation. And, despite being beaten with a belt by her father just weeks before John’s disappearance for telling cops what she saw in her dreams regarding another victim, Gwen prays for God to show her where her brother is. And just as we see more of Gwen’s abilities to “see” signs and places regarding the crimes, John also starts to receive phone calls from prior victims on the disconnected phone in the basement.
This scene-by-scene rotation of characters—dead and alive—creates a rather beautiful cross-breed of serial killers and the supernatural. While the story adaptation isn’t based on a true crime, The Grabber has some resemblance to real serial killers from the time period. From taking multiple boys in broad daylight like in the Atlanta Child Murders case to keeping his victims captive in his own home like The Butcher of Kansas City, you can make your own connections, making the character all the more real.
Paired with seeing The Grabber’s victims in the sometimes dark corners of the basement when the black phone rings for John adds a level of severity and fear. They appear frozen in the time of their death, with their wounds still fresh as if they were just murdered. Although we don’t get all the details, based on their injuries we can only imagine might have happened. I think the decision by writers to include this not only makes these crimes more real but literally gives the victims a voice—a chance to try and teach a lesson and perhaps, save a life.
While John is taking every bit of information to explore potential escape plans from The Grabber, Gwen continues to have dreams about the house where she believes John is still alive. Another supernatural addition, I like that it provides a lens where we are able to watch the crime being solved as it continues to unfold, and in a way that it doesn’t affect the film negatively, either.
All of these elements together make for an enjoyable watching experience. Like watching a horror comedy, it is just balanced and blessed with great storytelling. What I mean by that is, without giving anything away, the story itself had me attached through the entire showing but also left me surprised with its unexpected ending. If you’re a fan of true crime and thrillers, this is definitely a film worth watching for something that’ll stand out from your film collection.
Article written by Destiny King
Destiny writes about true crime and thrillers. She mostly enjoys movies and stories that cause one to question the world around them.
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