Universal Pictures has released the first trailer for Scott Derrickson’s “The Black Phone.” The horror flick is based on Joe Hill’s horror short story of the same name that centers on Finn, an abducted boy (Mason Thames) trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. However, when a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney 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 the boy.
“The Black Phone” also stars four-time Oscar® nominee Ethan Hawke as the Grabber in the most terrifying role of his career. And based on the trailer, that would undoubtedly be the case as Hawke makes for a terrifying villain known as The Grabber, who has been abducting kids of a small-town neighborhood.
“The Black Phone” marks Derrickson’s return to the horror genre after spending some time in the MCU directing “Doctor Strange.” Part period piece part supernatural thriller, honestly, it is best that the trailer try to keep things as vague as possible. Sure, Finney communicates with The Grabber’s previous five victims via a dead phone, but they all help Finney find a way to get out of the soundproof basement as safe as possible. That is until The Grabber suspects something is amiss.
The film’s screenplay is by Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill (Doctor Strange, Sinister franchise) is adapted from Hill’s short, which is from the New York Times bestseller” 20th Century Ghosts.” It’s produced by Derrickson & Cargill’s Crooked Highway and presented by Universal and Blumhouse. Jason Blum, Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill are producers on the film, which is executive produced by Ryan Turek and Christopher H. Warner.
Here’s the official plot synopsis for “The Black Phone:”
Finney Shaw, a shy but clever 13-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, Finney 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.
“The Black Phone” has been making the rounds in a few smaller film festivals and early screenings, with many of the critics praising the film’s suspense delivery and overall scares. Plus, it’s a Scott Derrickson-directed horror film that uses a script written by C. Robert Cargill. Honestly, it’s a pairing that works.
Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and James Ransone also star.
“The Black Phone” hits theaters on February 4, 2022.
