The Black Phone (2021)

The Black Phone is a tense, supernatural-tinged horror about a shy 13‑year‑old boy, Finney Shaw, who is abducted by a sadistic killer and locked in a soundproof basement. When a disconnected black phone on the wall inexplicably begins to ring, Finney starts hearing the voices of the killer’s previous victims — and those voices are determined to help him survive. Watching the film you’ll feel a mounting, claustrophobic dread: muffled silence, sudden jolts of terror, and long, suspenseful stretches that amplify every creak and whisper. The story balances visceral scares with an emotional center — Finney’s resourcefulness and his bond with his sister give the horror real stakes and heart. Ethan Hawke delivers a chilling, magnetic turn as the captor, while the film’s supernatural element adds an unusual, haunting layer to a classic abduction thriller. Expect a mix of psychological tension, jump scares, and spooky, otherworldly guidance from the past victims. The Black Phone is for viewers who want a dark, gripping ride that combines old-fashioned menace with a ghostly twist and a surprisingly emotional throughline. Content warning: child abduction and violent themes.

Actors: Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies, J. Gaven Wilde

Director: Scott Derrickson

Runtime: 102 min

Genre: Horror

6.3 /10 65 /100 6.9 /10 6.6 /10