Scott Derrickson's return to his horror sandbox, The Black Phone, is a fantastic vintage horror film that utilizes sound against its audience. Ethan Hawke continues his spectacular mid-career run in a rare villainous role.

Is black phone really scary?

Directed by Scott Derrickson and co-produced and written by Robert Cargill, this terrifying coming-of-age story is on many horror fanatics' lists of favorite scary movies of the year. The Black Phone grabs the emotional side of the audience and tortures it while building immense creepiness.

Is The Black Phone scarier than sinister?

The film received mixed reviews from critics but became a hit with audiences. On a $3 million budget, Sinister grossed $82 million at the box office, smashing all expectations for the film. Now, in an interview with Slashfilm, Hawke assures fans that The Black Phone is scarier than anything he's done before.

What is the scariest part of The Black Phone?

1. Finney and Gwen's abuse. Some of the very most terrifying moments in "The Black Phone" actually do not involve the Grabber — rather, they involve most of the interactions Gwen and Finney have with their alcoholic father, Terrence. Early in the film, we see the tense dynamic in the family.

Is the movie Black Phone evil?

That this is Hawke playing a figure of evil is one of the principal hooks of “The Black Phone.” Yet serial-killer films, or at least the good ones, tend to have a dark mystery to them. By the time Hawke shows up in “The Black Phone,” in an odd way we feel like we already know him.

The Black Phone - Official Trailer

Is The Grabber a child molestor?

Ethan Hawke stars as a child molester called 'The Grabber'.

Does The Black Phone have a sad ending?

The Black Phone ends with Finney in school chatting with the girl he likes. It's a satisfying horror movie ending that ties up every loose end and is also incredibly emotional. After what he has been through, Finney definitely deserves a happy ending, and it's great to see him finding more confidence.

Is black phone too scary for kids?

It's quite effective. That said, there's still plenty of bloody violence, and a good deal of profanity, which will make most parents think twice before letting their teens watch this. For adult audiences with a tolerance for profanity and violence, The Black Phone is a capable horror thriller.

How many jump scares are in The Black Phone?

See below for the exact times and descriptions of the 3 jump scares in The Black Phone, which has a jump scare rating of 2.0.

Is black phone about abuse?

The Black Phone follows a teenager named Finney who lives in a town that's being terrorized by a deranged child abductor and murder known as the Grabber, and before long, Finney himself becomes the Grabber's next victim. But before that, Finney already experiences multiple forms of abuse in his day-to-day life.

Is The Black Phone traumatizing?

From abusive parents to bullying in schools, there is a real depiction of childhood trauma in The Black Phone. These sequences are more unexpected, so they do leave an emotional impact due to the realness of the situation. Seeing a child be beaten by their abusive parent is not an easy image to take in.

Why is The Black Phone rated so high?

Scott Derrickson's The Black Phone is getting rave reviews due to its premise, performances of its leads, and fresh take on the horror genre. The Black Phone is out and its generally positive reviews show that critics and audiences agree: it's good.

Is The Black Phone a psychological horror movie?

The kid-centric thriller “The Black Phone” is a very satisfying balancing act of a movie that has elements of supernatural, psychological suspense and horror but never falls heavily into a single camp.

Is The Black Phone jump scares?

Teens are murdered offscreen. There are also jump-scares and some spooky stuff.

Why was The Grabber killing?

While The Grabber's motivation is never revealed, it was theorized by the creators that his mental instability and the game of "Naughty Boy" come from childhood abuse of his father making him play the same game and that the Grabber is trying to re-live these memories in a routine-type way to invoke nostalgia.

Why does The Grabber wear a mask?

Instead, The Grabber employs the mask as a sort of theater — the different Grabber mask variations each represent characters in a show he's putting on for himself and his victims. A few scenes in The Black Phone suggest yet another motivation for his mask: he uses it to hide from himself out of shame for his actions.

What is the scariest Jumpscare?

Is Jumpscare bad for you?

Movies that have “jump scare” scenes may not place the average person at risk of suffering a heart attack. However, it is advised that members of the elderly population or those with pre-existing heart conditions avoid watching such movies because the risks far outweigh the benefits.

What makes a scary jumpscare?

The jump scare usually has a visual as well as an auditory element—something nasty that suddenly enters the frame. It is the sound that really makes viewers jump, but it is the visual element that tends to stick with them.

Can my 12 year old watch The Black Phone?

The MPAA rating has been assigned for “violence, bloody images, language and some drug use.” The Kids-In-Mind.com evaluation includes a couple of bloody murders with one man being struck in the head by an axe, several fights between teenagers with a lot of blood shown, a teen boy fighting a man, a child being whipped ...

Can a 13 year old watch The Black Phone movie?

If they handle scares and gore well, and you don't mind them hearing salty language, they may enjoy The Black Phone. We wouldn't go younger than 14 for this one, however.

Can a 12 year old see black phone?

The Black Phone Age Appropriate Parents Guide

Mature Content: The biggest red flag for parents in this film is the violent content it contains. There are many disturbing scenes revolving around the kidnapping and murder of young boys. Characters are shown being beaten with belts, punched, kicked, and more.

Did The Grabber assault his victims?

The film, again, doesn't explicitly state that the Grabber's victims were sexually assaulted, but it calls upon the audience to fill in those details. The ghost victims describe being beaten, and the audience sees the Grabber sitting menacingly, shirtless, with belt in hand.

Why can The Grabber hear the phone?

The Black Phone's ending connects many dots but never explains why The Grabber can hear the ringing. This could mean that it is only a figment of his — and Finney's — imagination. Finney hears the phone ring and uses it as a coping mechanism to deal with his overbearing feelings of isolation and desperation.

Who is the monster in The Black Phone?

While Sinister was a supernatural chiller of demonic assault, The Black Phone injects the uncanny into a more earthbound and explicable terror: the serial killer. Hawke plays the Grabber, a mysterious abductor of young boys, boys who disappear and are never seen again.