REVIEW: THE BLACK PHONE

3.5/5

Sinister Things.

103 Mins. Starring: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone & Ethan Hawke. Director: Scott Derrickson. 

Stranger things are happening on 'The Black Phone'. Dialled in to the amazing aesthetic of its seventies setting like 'Halloween' carpentry. For this haunting, rocky Denver small Nevadan Town (actually the equally as such Wilmington, North Carolina for you with heels of tar) and its brooding bungalows with much more that lies beneath the basement. Nuanced and nostalgic like the Netflix billionaire streaming show starring another Hawke making her Robin rounds, that's second volume of the penultimate season rocks and rolls this weekend too. But screw Vecna, who is this 'Hellfire Club' member rolling around in shady clown paint like Joker make-up and a slash hat? Looking like a Guns and Roses roadie spray-painted the Mystery Machine. Meddling with some kids and no snack signs of a cartoon dog. Like zoinks, Scoob, at least he's wearing a mask in this day and age. But what a horrendous Halloween one looking like it belongs in the halfway house closet of ancient lore and the devil's hell itself. Oh, and what's with all those balloons? Is he telling kids they'll float too like Pennywise? 'IT's' been done before (we see the yellow slicker reference down the drain), but it's still so haunting here. And those bifocals just scream "don't take this stranger's candy" and offender like Stanley Tucci in 'The (Not So) Lovely Bones'. When it comes to this black sabbath, even ET would want to use someone else's phone. 

Calling up classic tropes, but adding his own twist. 'Deliver Us From Evil' and 'The Exorcism Of Emily Rose' director Scott Derrickson takes Joe Hill's supernatural short-story of the same name and turns it into the madness of a movie. Right after the 'Doctor Strange' director departed 'The Multiverse Of Madness' and handed it to 'The Evil Dead' of original 'Spider-Man' director Sam Rami, with fans hoping for Tobey. Using the EMERGENCY of seventies shock news footage, especially in the jarring title-sequence to haunt some realism into the parts of this genre that fetches far or strays in cliché. You'll jump with the scares too, reaching for the hand of your nearest and dearest. There's a prowler about called 'The Grabber' and in this world waking up to the fact that you should respect someone's personal space and "handsy" is to flimsy a name for someone whose palms belong in firm cuffs, this violater shows how close to the bone it really is today. A shock story and cautionary tale to how we really need to take neighbourhood watch and account to just how safe our children really are these days. Evoking the human horrors that turn from the pages of Stephen King novels. The lost boys in this movie stacking up like milk cartons as they all posthumously communicate with the latest kidnapped victim like a 2Pac album. 

Thespian Ethan Hawke still to some may be know as the rookie from 'Training Day'. But the grey in the hair and his magnificent 'Magnificent 7' reunion with Denzel Washington beats to the notion that it has been long tour since that first day on the job. Cinephiles know him as the Richard Linklater experimental actor who starred in the 'Before' trilogy through the day and years of a relationship. Not to forget the decades made 'Boyhood'. Those may have been surprised (and a little disappointed (no sir, not me)) to see the 'Dead Poets Society' and 'Gattaca' actor in a Marvel movie like series this year. But they weren't when they saw just how meaningful this time in the M.C.U. was, just like his monologue, walking on glass villain of legend. This like 'The Purge' is the 'Daybreakers' and 'Predestination' mainstream and indie versatile actors first scary movie since 'Sinister', which was so shocking for this film fan who didn't fall in love with the horror genre until he was 30 (hey, it took me to 25 to do so with The Beatles. Some of us just need a push) I cancelled seeing Jack White in concert...SIX MONTHS LATER! Here, getting axe-murder bloody like 'The Northman', he's firmly back in the genre (although 'Moon Knight' haunted under a pale one) like he belongs (and he does). Bringing cruel cunning to the voice of his compelling charm. But hey, like Pink Floyd, leave those kids alone. Because they're more than alright (there's even one who spray-can hair-metal looks like dear Billy), led by Mason Thames, down a river of future stardom as his character rises out the basement like a phoenix. And the dreams of Madeleine McGraw. The sweet sister ready to hit you with a brick if you try and mess with her sibling. Then there's the 'Helter Skelter' of 'Dogville' actor Jeremy Davies (mullet looking nothing like his classic character in 'Saving Private Ryan'...and what an actor for it), showing more shades of those King human horrors that haunt even those with their heart somewhat and somewhere in the right place. Aaaand speaking of Stephen, 'IT Chapter Two's' very own James Ransone. As hilarious here as he was when country music played over oily puke. There's no angel to be sent here, but more than the devil will care for this spirited film that steals you away. 'The Black Phone' is a mirror to all we miss today whilst we stare at our smart ones. And it's a warning to a watching world to be more engaged. Don't hang up! TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Sinister', 'Stranger Things', 'Moon Knight'.