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The Black Phone (Exclusive Series) (Peacock)

  • Writer: Matt Palmer
    Matt Palmer
  • Oct 6, 2022
  • 3 min read

Initial release date: June 24, 2022


Studios: Universal Pictures/Blumhouse


Tagline: Never Talk To Strangers


Plot: Finney, a shy but clever thirteen 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, Finny 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.


Cast

Mason Thames - Finney

Madeleine McGraw - Gwen

Ethan Hawke - The Grabber

Jeremy Davies - Terrence

E. Roger Mitchell - Detective Wright

Troy Rudeseal - Detective Miller

James Ransome - Max

Miguel Cazarez Mora - Robin

Rebecca Clarke - Donna

J. Gaven Wilde - Moose

Spencer Fitzgerald - Buzz

Jordan Isaiah White - Matty

Brady M. Ryan - Matt

Tristen Pravong - Bruce

Jacob Moran - Billy

Brady Harper - Vance

Banks Repeta - Griffin


Writer(s): Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange; Sinister 2)

C. Robert Cargill (Doctor Strange; Sinister 1 and 2)

Joe Hill (based on the short story by)


Director: Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange; Deliver Us From Evil)


Rated R for violence, bloody images, language and some drug use (103 min)


Last night, I finally had the chance to watch 'The Black Phone.' Even though it's been available on Peacock for a couple months now, I decided to wait to watch it for the first time during the Halloween season to give it a fresh take.

And, all I can say about this horror flick is "wow!" This 2022 horror flick delivers a lot of intensity, chills and even emotion. I think it's rare for a horror movie to have actual emotional moments and not moments that are supposed to be emotional but you just don't feel it.

Ethan Hawke is really incredible as The Grabber and is the first time he has played a sinister villain. I was at the edge of my seat throughout the entire movie. Not spoiling anything about the ending here, but the ending is extremely tense and exhilarating.

Some of the emotion comes into play during the scenes where Finney and his sister are home with their alcoholic abusive father. The movie shows that things haven't been the same since the mother died and some of those scenes can be a little hard to watch.

'The Black Phone' is available to stream on Peacock and is available to rent on various PVOD platforms.


Here are some interesting tidbits for 'The Black Phone':

  • The Grabber does several creepy masks throughout the movie, each exposing different portions of his face. They were designed by legendary prosthetic makeup artist Tom Savini. Mason Thames said that the first time he saw the mask, coupled with Hawke's bone-chilling performance, he was terrified.

  • The black and white film with the red blood that Finney is watching on TV is 'The Tingler' from 1959.

  • The movie was delayed from its initial January 2022 release to June 2022 due to unexpectedly great preview showings. Once Blumhouse realized just how great early reactions were, they gave it a summer release.

  • Derrickson made this his next project after leaving 'Multiverse of Madness' over "creative differences." However, he remained as executive producer for that movie.

  • The script was written in six weeks. The movie was shot in 33 days.

  • The Grabber is based on real life serial killers Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer. Bundy would use a ruse to lure victims to help him to his car. Gacy would use a belt on his victims. Dahmer had one victim escape from his apartment, only to be re-captured.

  • The movie was shot on a $16 to 18 million budget. Principal photography began on February 9, 2021 and concluded on March 27.

  • Had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest on September 25, 2021. it also closed the Overlook Film Festival on June 5 and screened at the Tribeca Festival.

  • Released on VOD on July 14 and was made available to stream through Peacock on August 14.

  • As of September 18, it grossed $89.9 million in the US and Canada, and $70.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $160 million.




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