I was expecting more. I love Ethan Hawke and his performance was really good. I just felt there was not a whole lot of substance to the film. Still, a decent horror movie.
so fucking creepy. i love how it ultimately was a story about the victims and the survivor. there was no part that looked into the grabber’s pov or reasoning, it was all the kids. the other victims were used in a truly heart wrenching way to show finn’s motive and strength and intelligence. also no part of it tried to justify the dad. it was clear he loved his kids, but even his apology at the end fell short to the connection between the siblings.
It’s the 70s and kids are in peril! The kids in this are great, and they do a good job of making some of them likable in a very short amount of time, making the tragedy hit harder. Ethan Hawke is great and this movie outside of some small passing hints doesn’t try to over explain the grabber, we stay with the kids which is a great choice, and the payoffs work
As a longtime horror fan, I've got to say this comes very close to a masterpiece! And what makes it such a worthwhile watch, besides the creepy baddie and the supernatural elements, it's the unique bond the MC and his sister share. Though born out of trauma, it's the sort of wonderful sibling love that many of us never got to experience, and probably the most memorable feature of this movie.
Also, the kid actors are freaking phenomenal, and that alone might warrant a rewatch.
EDIT to add: I'm glad we finally get a horror movie protagonist that behaves intelligently, for once... And he's not an adult lol
8.5/10
Well this was different and as I am a sucker for anything BlumHouse I will say I really enjoyed this.
Didn't quite know what to expect but as the story unfolded with The Grabber I was like okay he's messed up in the head on another level, show me more. But they kept me in the dark mostly with that which is cool and for a change they had kids in a movie that actually didn't annoy the Hella out of me.
In fact for me that Sister was a scene stealer and I would have liked to have seen her with more screen time and an even bigger role because for me that's when the story and movie was at it's best as she Brought the hole thing to life and made it super interesting, she was so cool and fierce,
That acting scene in the kitchen and her
ability to sell that to us the audience was
off the charts
for how great she sold it..
I did enjoy how you saw them as well as
hear them on the phone, that was cool
and I loved the jump scares also.
Very engaging movie that holds your interest
not really seen one done quite
like this before and now i have it on
Blu Ray i will definitely enjoy watching it
Multiple times, Because as I said
BlumHouse is my number one favourite production
so I will lap up almost anything with their stamp on it.
VERDICT: Really Great Movie
With some solid writing and acting
Good Scares and one Hella of a twisted
thought provoking story set in a
SINISTER universe.
What more could you ask for...Enjoy!
Boring as hell and simply not that good. It's so weak in both character development and overall storytelling. No idea why people here are rating it with 8s and 9s but I guess they must have been watching a different movie...
:telephone_receiver: Creepy thriller with a few solid jump scares. Great performance from Ethan Hawke and more impressive is how good all the kids were! Definitely check this out
I enjoyed Jurassic World 3 more in theaters than this. That is all.
This movie was just meh. I expected more.
It’s been awhile since I’ve seen that level of a thriller, definitely well made with a good choice on casting, loved the creepiness of it and effects.
Madeleine McGraw stole the show what a great young talent! It's quite effective on the horror especially sinse kids are involved but it relies too much on jump scares. Ethan Hawke is awesome even with a mask on his face but I wanted so much more from The Grabber we know nothing about him... maybe they were afraid to expose him too much and reduce the scare or they were planning on making another movie to give him a story.
6.75/10: It accomplished what it set out to do without a lot of frills. You get 70s stranger danger, jump scares, and even some laughs. It's a good movie and worth a theater watch. The mask helped Ethan Hawke be brilliantly terrifying. Great sibling and other children connections to make everything count. The sister, Gwen, was hilarious and Madeleine McGraw's star will continue to rise.
Perhaps too cynical but kept waiting for the trick or the trap. I thought more was incoming or maybe I wanted to know more than it was willing the give. Somewhat conflicted but not in a terrible way with the ending. Like I'm glad he won and got out, but it seemed it ended too happy for it to have been a horror movie, lol, if that makes sense. Like, guess too used to everyone having a vibe at the end like they know they'll be in therapy.
Really disappointing for me, it wasn't a bad movie, but I expected much more. In addition, some things like pulling a cord through a carpet were absolutely beyond physics.
The scene where the father beats his daughter with a belt that just brought my nightmares back:skull:
This movie was a decent movie but I don’t really get all the hype over it. I don’t want to discourage anyone from watching it, but like I said it was WAY over hyped.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘The Black Phone’:
It was a good movie, but there were so many missed opportunities for it to be great. There was a sense that it held itself back a bit at every turn. With the scares. The backstory. The calls. Even the climax. I’m not surprised that this is based on a short story and not a novel. It was lacking quite a bit of depth. Again, it was still good… but I was left wanting more.
HOW did the brother not know about the kids?! Didn’t he live in the same house? Or did he live in the other house? I feel like that should’ve been clarified. Regardless, his presence felt kinda pointless.
The Grabber made for a terrifying villain. And that two-piece mask will undoubtedly have a home in the famed halls of iconic horror film imagery.
This is the type of movie I wish we saw more of in Hollywood these days. Not horror, but a solid, tight production well under 2 hours that shows where a movie shines over a mini-series. There is a ton of great inference that says there's more to the story, but it doesn't get distracted over explaining it and just let's the characters and performance take center stage.
"Welcome to the nightmare end of your pathetic, little life!"
Heard a lot of good things about this so I decided to check it out. Overall it is pretty good, there is just a little supernatural activity that took me out of it. Ethan Hawke is creepy as well though.
It was good. Nice atmosphere, interesting idea, nice setting. I just think I expected more and I think they could do more, but it was good nevertheless.
"The Black Phone" presents a horror story with supernatural elements that could have been promising, but it ultimately falls short due to its simplistic, predictable, and repetitive plot. Despite this, director Scott Derrickson's unique style is a highlight, and the emphasis on the main character's development rather than on cheap jump scares is a positive aspect. The performances of Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw are particularly noteworthy, and they deliver some of the best work by young actors in recent years. However, Ethan Hawke's character and performance are underutilized and not fully explored. Overall, I would still recommend the film, but personally, I was disappointed with its lack of creativity.
"The Black Phone" presenta una historia de terror con elementos sobrenaturales que podría haber sido prometedora, pero finalmente se queda corta debido a su trama simplista, predecible y repetitiva. A pesar de esto, el estilo único del director Scott Derrickson es un punto culminante, y el énfasis en el desarrollo del personaje principal en lugar de sustos baratos es un aspecto positivo. Las actuaciones de Mason Thames y Madeleine McGraw son particularmente notables y ofrecen algunos de los mejores trabajos de actores jóvenes en los últimos años. Sin embargo, el personaje y la actuación de Ethan Hawke están infrautilizados y no explorados por completo. En general, aún recomendaría la película, pero personalmente me decepcionó su falta de creatividad.
In no way a simple Cliche Horror Movie. Cleverly crafted, scripted, orchestrated and designed to take the viewer back to the 70’s era of Serial Killers via the way it was shot on film, and via the set design, costumes and script writing. An eerie and unparalleled horror film which is all we can ask for in this day and age when so many movies are either remakes or are movies which are simply just knock offs of previous movie ideas. Great acting by Hawke and the Child Actors. Enjoyable watch!
OMG!!! I've never watched such a good movie these days!! I have absolutely nothing to complain about, it's perfect! I will add to my favorites...
Absolutely loved Madeleine McGraw's performance as Fin's sister. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between the brother and sister remain close and feel realistic. Fin's actor was exceptional too, especially in the scenes with Ethan Hawke. The whole movie was a solid horror-thriller with some excellent high-tension sequences, brutal surprise moments, and an all-around terrifying atmosphere.
I can understand why a lot of people did not like this movie. Personally, I rather enjoyed it. Yes, there are horrific elements, but it is not a "jump scare" or overtly creepy movie. It actually has a story ;-) And a fairly decent one at that.
INSANELY GOOD. it did an awesome awesome job in making me feel nervous, anxious, at the edge of my seat, like i was watching something real happen, not just a movie. i sat down to watch it expecting to like it after a friend said it was good, but i wasnt ready to absolutely love it. there's non-stop action after the first 20 minutes, i dont get how anyone could find it "boring". amazing acting from Ethan but i'm not surprised, he's usually great. 10/10 is an understatement for this one :)
Honestly I was expecting more thrill and screenplay. This movie is straight forward. No unexpected twists. Disappointing. Overall good play but IMDb rating 7 is too much.
90% of the movie scenes are around Mason Thames. But his acting didnot go quiet well. It wasnt feeling like a kid has been kidnapped. No expression of distress, No sign anxiety or fear and no. It was like an adult has been kidnapped and not a child.
Great film but needed another 30 minutes at least to flash out the villain and to do proper credit to what the themes should have been, which is trauma, reactions to trauma, and escaping cycles of trauma.
The ending seemed to be the total opposite of what the early scenes seemed to be saying about Finn and his representation of a freeze response to trauma. I was disappointed in this. I agree with others that the ending was too brief, though I disagree that the beginning was too slow.
The child actors were all amazing and Ethan Hawke was great in his limited scenes. I just wanted more and a better message overall.
The plot was not too "phoned", but lack originality somehow. If you took away many American-like elements, and made it in a more European style, the film would have gained quite a bit. Seen some mishaps both in the plot and in the filming.
uh... ok. what was the point of this? i only watched it so i could relate to the half in the bag episode i'll watch later. these modern horror films suck.
kevin bacon good in dis one. :phone::ghost::eggplant::drooling_face:
I had been anticipating this one for a while and was not disappointed. The movie progresses in a great way, doesn't waste any time, and wraps up well. Everything seems purposeful and well thought out. It's not going to change your life of become an all-time favorite, but it's well worth a watch.
Unique, Petrifying, Foreboding
The Black Phone is a worthwhile , convincing supernatural thriller with significant elements of horror. Blumhouse Productions latest is a solid original film which shines, by relying on story and character development to push the suspense. Resulting in a top-shelf emotionally impactful, enjoyable horror film Although it plays closer to thriller than horror, Director Scott Derrickson has added the right amounts of worthy jump scares, some nice visual effects as well as leveraging costume design, without going into overblown gore. The color tone and the vibe created for the late 70s is remarkable and performances of Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw is worthy of an applause. Overall, if you like survival thrillers and horrors of the same, they The Black Phone is a refreshing new addition to your list.
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I have been looking forward to this one for years. It didn't disappoint. The young actress stole the show during her scenes. The acting was very good overall. I would have liked a little more Hawke, but he played the role he was given expertly. 7.8 for me.
i love the bromance of the 2 male kid
I was a bit disappointment. The trailer promises so much but the delivery was childish. So many easy plot gaps in order to get the story going, the kids could be have found within one day if someone had a human IQ. Also, again, many easy turns and some stuff really didn't make sense.
What was the deal with Bruce seeing him 10 years later ? Why, someone called "The Grabbers" as they were more than one. And how can he have kidnapped him only a couple of days after Robin ?
Anyway, good premise, but the execution was a bit rush. Gwen was really good.
The Black Phone is really really good. They didn't reveal anything about the supernatural occurences that happened or why or what the motive of "TheGrabber" was but kept it as a tightly knit 2hr production that was just creepy enough to make me love it. Ethan Hawke was simply good, but it was the 13 year old Madeline McGraw who was the MVP of the film, the girls got some massive talent and Mason Thames of course was brilliant. Definitely a must watch for those in need of a fresh watch.
Like a king of France: stylish, retro and well executed.
The story development with its intricate plotting and timed reveals -- not to mention the unexpected twists -- make for a good, old fashioned horror flick.
The deft story telling isn't surprising, though, as the movie is based on a short story by Joe Hill, who is Stephen King's son (I love that a man with the last name 'King' names his son 'Joe'!).
I obviously don't know how much Hill's father helped in the writing, but the tale has all the trappings of a Stephen King book (youths in the past who have to bands together to defeat a local monster).
Even better, the director was able to bring this complex outline onto the screen and show it off with the totally believable 70s vibe.
Creepy (if not gory), The Black Phone is ringing and you should heed the call.
This movie I’ve waited to see for a long time. Ethan Hawke is a mad man and it captured the exact feel I was hoping it would capture. It’s got a 70s aesthetic and brutal family dynamics, much like a Rob Zombie film has. The most captivating part of this movie has to be how it ventures into the “child captive” plot. Not many other movies will touch the topic of making the kids the victim, and because of that the tone is that much more chilling. Was the movie perfect? No. Small things I wish were different, but when it comes to horror movies, this is one that will stay with me for a long time and I will surely watch many more times.
Rating: 4.5/5 - 9/10 - Highly Recommend
interesting horror movie I hadn't seen a horror movie for a long time, because its strength is the psychological (well done in my opinion) and not the bloodbath.
I like the favoritism towards the 70s and 80s in the recent years. But in this movie it just feels like it's cheaply riding that wave without any real need for it. The pacing of this movie is horrible, the characters are all acting weird and the story doesn't make much sense. I was kind of hoping for a big twist but it just left you with a very boring ending.
It might be one of the better produced horror movies but I really don't get the good reception this movie had.
It had me hooked the whole way through.
Solid movie. although more of a thriller than a horror. There's a few twists along the way. although not many surprises.
Killer film. Great child actors. Excellent world building.
I wish the live action version of Locke & Key had been made this way.
Why did they cast Ethan Hawke to play the most paper-thin villain ever? It could have been anybody.
im gonna be honest only reason i rated 10 was because the kid killed the grabber.
felt like a classic horror. Not to long and didnt overplay the paranormal thing. I can't really say why but I got kinda pet sematary vibe.
The mood during the first few minutes was strangely convincing, then the Karate Kid went on stage and it all started to smell like shit again. The poor taste of a few selected moments ends up ruining the whole atmosphere, but it no doubt made the movie much more entertaining. Don’t expect anything else than the umpteenth serviceable thriller with nostalgic elements.
The grabber could have had some potential if only his character had been fleshed out properly. We get to know little or nothing about him, and although some kind of weird emotional dependency between him and his victim gets suggested around the middle, it all stays pretty basic and predictable.
Not too terrible and at times fairly entertaining, but I doubt I’ll watch it ever again.
I just want to refer to Mike P's earlier review, cause it's perfect. "I was expecting more".
His review complimented Ethan Hawke and again I agree. Hawke had a great 2022 and this is another one where he, the actor dominates. This film doesn't work without him. He's supported by some child actors who are very good, given the environment and script.
Lastly - Mike P mentions, there's not much substance to this film. And it couldn't be summed up better than this. Ethan Hawke and a creepy mask aside, there's nothing going on here, and the the writer(s) is scratching to make it work.
I don’t like to use this term, because it’s often the laziest way to describe movies, but here it just applies in every regard: kinda boring.
A little too tame for my taste, acting’s hit or miss, story and characters are pretty boilerplate, some cool visual ideas but nothing special; it’s pretty meh by all accounts.
Not incompetent, and I certainly didn’t hate watching it, but I’ll forget about it in a week.
5/10
Simple but effective, to the point. Great performance from the kids. Solid directing. Not world changing but above average movie.
not the usual jump scare movie but a decent script
Nothing to say just meh.
Maybe not a bad idea bad bad made i mean ghost kids? Talk to him on the phone?
Hell no...
Acting in this movie is amazing, specially the 2 kids. It captivates us so much their story, their connection, the other kids on the phone and the quest of her sister. Truly amazing. Keeping film has a thriller, mistery, survival movie with a lot of tension would have been the perfect choice. I love the choice of putting the focus only on the kids and not spending time explaining the villain and the supernatural elements. They are just there to support the siblings stories.
What did not work was trying to make it more of a horror movie by introducing unnecessary jump scares and ghosts figures. And “the brother” was truly a bad option of a character overall.
was okay :D oh five words.. it was good :D
It's been a long time since I've seen a horror movie... well I'd say a lot of psychological suspense that many current movies of this genre lack it... not much blood comes out of the guy.
I had high hopes due to the high ratings on this movie and got fairly disappointed. It was boring beyond belief. Had to turn it off at like 70-75% of the movie cause it was just not interesting. It felt like so much was happening but also nothing at all at the same time. 3 points however to Ethan Hawke’s portrayal as the Grabber and to Madeleine for her performance as Gwen. Would not recommend.
Absolutely loved this film and the best I’ve seen in a while!!! Most horrors these days are predictable and rinse and repeat but this was refreshing! Great performances from the children and Ethan hawke,loved it.
Pretty good movie overall. It did a good job of building and holding suspense throughout the runtime. Acting was believable. I guess kids in the 70’s were pretty crazy, getting into some gnarly fights all the time. The supernatural elements worked fairly well for me. The finale was a bit off for me but I won’t get into that at all since I don’t want to risk spoiling anything.
The beginning is too boring, as well as some pretty confusing story jumps. But the story and execution are excellent.
You get the jump scare, you get the gore too. And a very mind-blowing plot twist.
This movie really worked with its 1970's aesthetic, and speaking from experience, was pretty accurate in its portrayal of what it was like to be a young teen during that time. Abduction by psycho aside, the violence and fighting between kids and the physically abusive parenting felt real.
There were some scary visuals of paranormal entities while in the basement. The black phone as a source of scares was pretty effective. The plight of Finney Blake was impacting and the director did a good job of relaying Finney's helplessness. His sister Gwen was a neat character, in fact, all of the child characters were solid. Jeremy Davies played Mr. Blake, Finney and Gwen's father. He was scarred and sympathetic but also was easy to dislike. Ethan Hawke as "The Grabber" was appropriately menacing and gross, and just despicable overall. This wasn't a gory film, but it was violent and the child abuse will be tough for some viewers to stomach.
I don't get the love. I think Black Phone was poorly acted with a generic story, no real tension and lazy script writing with a lazy plot point , a-la... the girl has dreams... The only thing going for it was the production ( a point to the marketing team for persuading me too watch it due to the creepy as f*ck masks...all style and no substance
I really enjoyed this. Though not as action-packed, it's never boring. This is thanks in large part to the stellar acting and solid emotional core. Having it told from the victims' and survivor's POV is an inspired choice.
I would say this movie was about average. I didn’t DISLIKE it, but I didn’t love it— either. It had a few “jump out at you” scary moments, but the overall film wasn’t scary. They could have done so much more with this storyline than they did. It’s kind of like they were just lazy with it.
Expected a lot more of this movie. It was not scary and barely even exciting. The performance of the kids isn't top and Ethan Hawke has too thin a script to really excel. In the end I feel like this movie tried to piggyback too much on the succes of Stranger Things. It didn't work for me. It's not a bad movie, but I feel a lot of potentitial has gone to waste.
It was a fair to good movie with interesting script and some good perfomances.But it wasn't nothing special in my opinion and it didn't have plot twists. 6.4/10
I loved this movie from beginning to the end :) a must watch movie :) one original horror movie I recommend
loved the entire movie; also i'm a sucker for the mask because it's so versatile
Really enjoyed the suspense in this movie. Well worth a watch :thumbsup_tone1: :thumbsup_tone1:
'The Black Phone' was an interesting premise, adding in the supernatural element really made it stand out from your usual abduction/horror movies. However I feel there just wasn't enough time really to grow attached to any of the characters even though they had potential and were likeable enough. The beginning part seemed to drag on a little too long and then the ending felt a little rushed, things were happening but it felt brief with no depth to anything. Even Hawke as the grabber, as creepy and as messed up as he was, I would have loved to get an insight and learn more about his character, he played it fantastically but felt like his character could have been even better with some more screen time. Nonetheless it was a decent watch, and was worth the wait to see.
Solid suspenseful movie. Ending pretty satisfactory.
It's a pretty solid classic Horror movie, there's no generic NPC characters with 10 IQ, the protagonist is smart, and the antagonist is unpredictable, it was a fun watch.
Great film, the kids really did a great job with the acting and it's engaging. No wokeness, solid 8/10
Sample story but kinda enjoyed the movie and made me stressed many times so they delivered the point, Great acting from the kids but tbh i needed more details, like why he is doing that, i think they could make a mini series of it it could be much better
Very suspenseful and had some really trippy film work / music. The plot was unusual and some parts were truly terrifying. I watched it without knowing much about the movie - if you're on the fence about watching this one, I'd say give it a try.
I'm impressed with any film that is willing to build itself around young actors/actresses, as I imagine it is much more difficult to find children capable of delivering authentic, believable performances. I think it's this same difficulty that makes the exceptions to the rule stand out (e.g. E.T., The Sixth Sense, the first season of Stranger Things, etc). I think this film's central performance by Mason Thames can serve as another excellent example. Unfortunately, there are some weaknesses elsewhere that prevent the film as a whole from being quite as effective.
Outside of Thames, some of the other younger actors don't come across quite as naturally. Luckily, this is limited to the smaller roles, as Madeleine McGraw delivers a strong performance as the younger sister. Regarding the adults, Ethan Hawke provides an appropriately sinister presence. I've been a James Ransone fan ever since The Wire and Generation Kill, and while I enjoyed his presence here, I was disappointed by how limited it was. It feels like we should have seen more of his plotline play out on screen.
I think my main issue is with the story, which feels somewhat haphazard in its inclusion of supernatural elements. While I typically am a fan of such things being injected without fan fare, this film took that idea a bit too far for me, with characters immediately accepting such elements without so much as a WTF. This sort of structure starts to verge too closely into my least favorite sub-genre of horror; that is, ones involving vague supernatural monsters with ill-defined powers. Such films basically give themselves permission to do whatever they want, unbound by any logic set that an audience could even attempt to follow or predict. Luckily, things aren't quite so bad in this case, as the actual villain isn't supernatural. However, the vague supernatural window dressing is used sprinkle in some meaningless jump scare moments to remind the audience it's a horror film. Ignoring these qualms, the moment to moment execution is solid, delivering a nice little single location thriller with a strong central performance and plenty of tense moments.
I like the story line and the supernatural stuff involved in it. Had some decent jumpscares and as many mentioned, the kids are likeable. Madeleine Mcgraw definitely put on an awesome performance in this one. It's a very simple horror movie and for some reason, that made it so easy to like, for me at least. Would recommend it~
Under utilised Ethan Hawke, horrifyingly realistic portrayal of abuse and a loose supernatural angle that doesn't quite get the explanation you'd expect. I think I picked up everything The Black Phone was putting down, but it glanced off me more than I was expecting. It has everything you'd want from a contemporary horror, from a deeper underlying message about abusers and the abused, to solid acting performances and strong 70's setwork, but it never quite culminates to a satisfying package. At least for me, which I'm surprised by because I usually love these things. Maybe it's the fact it's more of a thriller forward horror? Or the relatively simplistic message and premise? I'm not sure. Still good though, definitely give it a try for yourself, maybe it was something as superfluous as the weather of this weekend that ruined my experience.
:heart: x7
This was a really good Thriller. Better than most movies like this lately. As I was watching this, it occurred to me how a movie like this could get under the actor's skin. The 2 lead actors, Hawke and Thames, do a really good job with their characters.
How I rate:
1-3 :heart: = seriously! don't waste your time
4-6 :heart: = you may or may not enjoy this
7-8 :heart: = I expect you will like this too
9-10 :heart: = movies and TV shows I really love!
It manages to create a disturbing and dark atmosphere, using the elements of the cinema of the seventies and reflecting on them. But although the concept is interesting, it gives the impression that it runs out quickly (by the third call) and its insistence on not explaining anything because it does not need to be explained makes it emptier than it seems at first.
I love sinister and its looks and sounds very much the same but I just didn't find it scary at all
Had lot more expectations from the movie.But it wasn't satisfying enough.The story went well and the climax seemed simple to me.Ethan Hawke didn't disappoint though.
damn... this is good.. 8.5/10..
Scott Derrickson is becoming a name that secures success at the box office, mainly in the horror genre. In this film set in the United States of the 1970s, the director presents a correctly executed and, above all, well measured thriller. The story of a kidnapper of children and teenagers is in itself terrifying, but the inclusion of supernatural elements elevates the film to a very good production. Even behind the mask (which is fantastically designed and will surely remain in the collective imagination like that of Jason or Ghostface), Ethan Hawke manages to convey with his interpretation the brutality of a terrifying man. For his part, Mason Thames executes each of his scenes to perfection (what an actor who at 15 years of age masterfully stars in his first feature film!). The duo created by them as the bad guy and the good guy is fantastic. The other young interpretation is given by Madeleine McGraw, who joins the previous two in her wonderful performance. What makes this movie work so well, moreover, is the script that makes us really empathize with Finney, the protagonist, and from there everything flows wonderfully. The music, the camera movements and the set are very well used. In addition, it is greatly appreciated that the duration is adequate so as not to make the story tedious but to give it the end at the right time
Premise - 18/20 - An abducted child receives calls from the spirits of other children previously abducted by this guy? I'm all in.
Cast/characters - 17/20 - Madeleine McGraw as Finney's sister Gwen was wonderful! Newcomer Mason Thames was great as Finney, and Ethan Hawke was seriously believable as The Grabber. Robin was also a favorite character.
Story - 17/20 - You knew the end, but how? Not only that, but who were the spirits, and what would they say? Very little downtime; everything moving toward the climax.
Dialogue - 17/20 - Every kid had his say in limited dialogue, so every word was important. Gwen's dialogue and attitude was very sassy, yet endearing. The Grabber's dialogue was very tense and telling to his character.
World-building - 16/20 - 1978 Denver can't be that easy to recreate, but the production team did well. Clothes, cars, surroundings, activities all believable.
85/100 - 4.5/5 stars - I had been looking forward to this movie for over a year, and it would have been easy to disappoint. It certainly did not. The build-up, the action, the actors and characters, the ending were all superb. I loved it!
Dark and disturbing tale has a strong setup but it loses the story loses its way towards the rushed end. Still well made though and suitably chilling at times.
In a town where kids are abducted, a bullied teen Finney Shaw (Mason Thames) finds himself abducted as well. His best friend and younger sister Gwen has dreams that may lead her to his whereabouts.
While a unhooked black phone where Finney is being held. Helps him talk to the Grabber’s victims who tell Finney where they went wrong. As well as give him other advice on how to fight back.
I saw some things coming but the film was still gripping through-out. I thought the Grabber (Ethan Hawke) needed a little more backstory. Other than that, I really enjoyed this movie and it even got some tears out of me.
Ethan Hawke is creepy and sometimes funny, we sympathize for Mason Thames and want to see him get away. Jason Ransone (IT Chapter 2) is quite funny as a coke head on the case of the missing kids.
Madeleine McGraw as Finney’s younger sister Gwen gives the best performance in the movie though and is a show stealer. She’s believably tough and spunky.
A very entertaining horror/thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole film as one watches this young boy attempt to escape his captive's basement. Although it was a very entertaining film with jump scenes, plot twists and good acting, the plot seemed a bit strange as there was some unfinished ideas that weren't fully executed. The whole ordeal about Finney getting calls from the other dead victims for clues on how to escape seemed to hint that this was a sociological thriller similar to something like IT, but it wasn't. Also the whole idea about the sister getting visions/clue in her dreams after prayer, was a bit unfinished too or unexplained. However, if one considers it to be God pulling the strings, the reality that the kids were actually captured and killed and the killer getting caught in the end, makes more sense.
This is a decent child abduction horror thriller that manages to combine real-world fears with supernatural dread. It's twisted, creepy, unnerving, entirely thrilling from start to finish. It has the thrills and the warmth while tackling childhood fear and trauma. Some effectively set up the scares and fully fleshed out characters make this film twice as fun. The atmosphere is absolutely eerie for me and there's something about this film that you just can't quite predict what's coming next. Child actors are pretty good for the most part and Ethan Hawke is absolutely menacing as the villain. I had an absolute blast with this one. I highly recommend watching this in theaters.
Shout by Ricardo RibeiroBlockedParent2023-02-11T01:20:03Z
was constantly waiting for .... something to happen, and I feel like it never happened.
like it was not a bad movie, the performances weren't bad, but the story was only half way there.
none of the characters had any sort of development, and a lot of side plots were merged into the movie. the dreams, the mum that killed herself with visions. the killers reasoning. why that phone was there to begin with. nothing at all got explained. a ok movie that will not leave a lasting impression.