Overview
A chilling tale of survival unfolds as a young boy faces his worst nightmare in a soundproof prison.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- foreboding
- claustrophobic
- dread-filled
- halloween night
- late night horror marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an effective, atmospheric supernatural horror thriller elevated by Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke's menace, and Scott Derrickson's direction, despite a simple and occasionally padded narrative.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The disconnected basement phone rings and carries messages from the killer's previous victims to Finney.
Finney is a kidnapped thirteen-year-old whose intelligence and resilience must overcome confinement and abuse.
The story uses a 1970s small-town environment, school bullying, disappearances, and a hidden cellar to turn familiar surroundings ominous.
Ethan Hawke's Grabber is defined by a disturbing mask, sadistic behavior, and an unpredictable presence.
Films like The Black Phone, and why
The Sixth Sense
supernatural horror, child protagonists, and an emotionally grounded confrontation with a threatening killer
It
small-town supernatural dread, vulnerable young characters, and a period setting shaped by childhood fear
Prisoners
kidnapping horror, claustrophobic suspense, and a frightening adult antagonist opposed by resourceful young protagonists
Stir of Echoes
ghostly guidance, escalating dread, and a young protagonist confronting a hidden supernatural threat
Movie Details
- Director
- Scott Derrickson
- Release Date
- 2022-06-16
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (6117)
Cast
- Mason Thames
- Madeleine McGraw
- Ethan Hawke
- Jeremy Davies
- E. Roger Mitchell
- Troy Rudeseal
- Miguel Mora
- Tristan Pravong
- Brady Hepner
- James Ransone
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Black Phone about?
- A kidnapped boy turns a killer’s disconnected basement phone into his only supernatural weapon of escape.
- What is The Black Phone like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Black Phone as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Black Phone violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Black Phone as brutal.
- What did critics think of The Black Phone?
- Critics broadly found the film an effective, atmospheric supernatural horror thriller elevated by Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke's menace, and Scott Derrickson's direction, despite a simple and occasionally padded narrative.
- Which films are like The Black Phone?
- Films with a similar feel include The Sixth Sense, It, Prisoners, and Stir of Echoes.
- How long is The Black Phone?
- The Black Phone runs 103 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Black Phone?
- In United States, The Black Phone streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
