The Black Phone (2021)
A fun addition to the phone horror genre.
Presentation:
I really like the moody visuals of this film. The film looks good and although there aren't that many scares, the ambience and script really keep you immersed. This one is a lotta fun and makes you realize why horror is the most fun genre. Resembles some Stranger Things vibes, but a tier above.
Story:
The story follows a little boy capture by psychopath played by Ethan Hawke. You rarely see him play villains, but here he is with a malicious character, yet oddly approachable as a result of his confusion and adherence to rules. Its refreshing to have a film where the phone is not a curse, and these types of progression films are like coming of age and ultimately satisfying. The ending is just plain fun. The kid has got a future.
Conclusion:
This one isn't that scary. At its core is a coming of age tale disguised as suspenseful horror. Ethan Hawke's take on a bad guy is quite interesting, hard to say if it's one of the more convincing ones.
Recommendations
As though we weren’t already scared enough of clowns.