This Blumhouse release of Scott Derrickson's adaptation of a Joe Hill short story pitches an ordinary community terrorised by a series of child abductions and murders, and the latest victim trapped in his abductor's basement plots to escape with the assistance of the spirits of past victims by that black (disconnected) phone. Set in the late 1970s, the retro-stylings contribute greatly to the grimy feel, and the ever-present threat and reality of both high-school and domestic violence is openly and unflinchingly well-handled - and on top of that the masked child-snatcher becomes a horrible part of everyday life for the community and its children. The nerve-jangling soundscape is very effective, and the confined space of the kidnapper's basement is shot very effectively. The film makes great demands of its young cast who perform admirably, especially Mason Thames in the lead role, and Ethan Hawke gives an eerily controlled performance as The Grabber. The Black Phone is a simple and solid idea which is executed very well here.
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