THE BLACK PHONE (2022) MOVIE REVIEW
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- čas přidán 26. 06. 2022
- what did you think about Scott Derrickson's The Black Phone?
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i went into this movie completely blind and i loved every second of it. i was uncomfortable i was moved i was tense, i only saw one of the jump scares coming. the aesthetics of it, the music, the cinematography, the acting. i just loved it. i have to say i think i enjoyed the first half more than the main part of the story, though
We were on the same boat 😂 I went to go visit my cousins and they were going to the theater and told me to go with them. I never heard of the movie, seen any trailers, hadn't even the slightest idea of what it was about. And we all enjoyed it.
@@Terryterryterryterryterry same! I don’t know if I would even call them jump scares. They were not cheap in your face -boo! It’s tense and edge of your seat. I only saw a teaser trailer so I had not idea what role Hawke was playing.
I loved it!!
I cried!
I was overwhelmed!
I felt vindicated!
I was on edge!
I was happy!
Excited!!
I just loved it!!!
I think the fight scenes were meant to show how Finney did not stand up for himself (or anyone else) up until the abduction. In every other instance leading up to that he cowered in the face of adversity. He learned through his ordeal that he had to be his own advocate and that he would have to fight back/stand up for himself if he wanted to survive the abduction and if he wanted to "survive" in life.
Pretty stupid plot. He's kidnapped. What other chance does he have lol. Especially, if he keeps getting calls in by people helping him. Duh, He's gonna stand up for himself. 💀
@@oceanlawnlove8109 he's a kid, not all kids would do that. Of course they wouldn't make a movie about a timid kid because it wouldn't be entertaining, but after working with kids for over seven years, not every kid is going to act the same way in any given situation.
Exactly.
(spoilers)
i think it was also to bring more attention to the subject of brawn vs brains. even though finny didn't have that toughness, he was still incredibly ingenious in life. he wasn't a fighter, he was into rocket science.
the boys gave him clues because they knew he would be able to put something together to save himself with the things that they couldn't. it was finny who used the wire to trip The Grabber, made the hole into a trap, and used the grate in the hole to break the grabber's leg. all he had, originally, was the phone to hit the grabber with, but it was the trap he built that got him out. and he didn't have to do much to The Grabber once he was in that hole. if you remember in the beginning, when robin beat the sht out of the bully, finny says that even though that same kid hurt him really badly before, he didn't deserve the amount of violence he was getting. so it made that scene with his violent side coming out even more impactful. it was a culmination of emotions towards his bullies, his abusive father, and vengeance for his best friend.
Yah I was curious by the last scene if the movie was really about the beat-up kid gaining his confidence against the bullies... very CW.
On "the most interesting part of this movie is the grabber"-- I think that's where maybe some viewers are enjoying it more than others. I think me and a lot of other people were interested in the kids' characters and their journey through the film. The movie felt more about Finney than about The Grabber which I actually enjoyed. Not that I would've complained about getting more scenes with The Grabber (Ethan played him so well).
I feel the exact same
Yea i kind of liked that instead of focusing on the crazy killer and his deranged life it's about the kids and how you feel connected to them, spending time with them makes their death more meaningful.
I definitely agree this is more about the kids than the grabber. I really enjoyed it
Would have been interesting to see more of The Grabber in ‘the real world’ as obviously he still has to function as a human being in polite society. But in a world where today a child can be labeled ‘school shooter’ a full year or more before committing the country’s worst atrocity of that kind, I can believe a freaky magician in a black van can also get away with what he did.
The movie felt more like a poetic interpretation of reality than something gritty and realistic, almost Grimm’s fairy tale esque.
THANK YOU, this is what I have been trying to tell everyone! It’s about Finney not the grabber. We already have many movies where it’s about the serial killer like Freddy, Jason, and Michael Myers. I also feel like the bond between Finney and his sister was important in the movie since after he got abducted, she tried her best to find him and bring him home. She even got super close to the location he was at. So I don’t understand why the build up of their bond isn’t seen by others as an important aspect of the movie.
My anxiety was through the roof watching this movie. This is the third time Scott Derrickson has managed to make me feel unsettled.
Yes! My anxiety actually was on a high alert till the next morning. I really wanted more on the grabber.
Half an hour after the movie I was still shaking and I thought I was going to cry. I am so sensitive to child abuse.
@@adribbyOn IMDB it says the author created this character after John Wayne Gacy. After you watch the Netflix documentary about him you will see many parallels: the black car, the makeup/clown cosplay, abducting and torturing boys until death, burying them beneath his house and the sister with her premonitions was based on Robert Piest (victim) sister who talked about "God's whisper" when she put that receipt in his coat. And that's how he was identified as Gacy's victim.
I actually think a lot of what you’re critiquing was kind of the point of the movie-like it was intentional that we didn’t know anything about the grabber or why he is that way. It makes it scarier and more intriguing in my opinion! And I don’t think it’s an out and out horror movie I think it’s really more of a thriller and people were expecting a capital h horror movie since it was directed by Scott derrickson. The atmospheric suspense aspect of it really worked for me and the audience I saw it with was incredible-cheering, gasping, all of it. But to each their own! Sounds like it just wasn’t your style of movie which is totally fine
I really can't agree with you more on all points.
perfectly said! anyone who says "nothing happened and there was no depth"? like were you watching? 😂 i could write a whole analysis on PTSD, familial trauma, violence as a means of control, and how children are incredibly intuitive and often will learn survival tactics early on when they're in these environments... it seems like people who are super disappointed watched trailers, formed their opinions and expectations based on other's hype, or were looking for mindless gore and another kooky horror villain to stan.
maybe it's because i do indulge in true crime media, but there's enough of "here is a monster of a person and what made them that monster" out there. killers become less interesting the more you realize they're just missing screws for one reason or another. i was glad to see the POV of a seemingly helpless kidnapping victim and how his relationships helped him grow and thrive as a survivor. it's more relatable, and a lot more gripping because of that. not many of us have the capacity to be killers, but we can all be in a situation where we have to fight for our lives.
Exactly. This movie wasn't about the grabber. It's called the black phone. It was about the children on the phone. The main character was Finny, not the grabber. The movie actually focused on the victims, not the murderer. People are too obsessed with murderers. I'm glad they gave the victims a voice. It was very refreshing.
@@ghostli1112 GREAT analysis!
i feel the same. and while seeing the movie there was multiple parts where i was like wow, am i about to actually throw up in this theatre? because it wasn’t a capital h horror but it was still scary, still evoked all sorts of emotions, i swear i felt every emotion possible while watching this movie. i love love loved the way they intentionally (imo) didn’t show us more about the grabber. there’s a sequel being discussed and i hope that they don’t make it a prequel about him. i think that would ruin what you’re talking about tbh. i don’t want a prequel story about how the grabber became this way, i think that’s been done and honestly i don’t care. he’s a very bad guy who literally murdered children! my theory is the sequel could be like the grabber haunting someone as a ghost like an adult but idk just thoughts
i love this movie sm
i loved how they didn’t give the grabber some traumatic sad back story, that’s definitely where i thought it was going with how he was acting
i also loved all of the kids the acting was so good with them and they made them so likeable! (minus the bullies obviously) but even that one bully that he talked to on the phone was such an interesting character
Exactly. This movie wasn't about the grabber. It's called the black phone. It was about the children on the phone. The main character was Finny, not the grabber. The movie actually focused on the victims, not the murderer. People are too obsessed with murderers. I'm glad they gave the victims a voice. It was very refreshing.
I actually really loved this movie and everyone I know that’s seen has also loved it. I felt like there weren’t too many jump scares but I’m also not sensitive to jump scares by any means. I loved the acting and the cinematography. I enjoyed the phone calls and felt like they moved the story a long quite nicely.
Same I really loved everything about it lol
I went to see it twice, I liked the story and the sister was fun XD I also liked seeing the flashbacks of the dead kids
I absolutely agreee Abbigail. I loved this movie.
but WHY did the killer do it? Why did he scream in pain when the boy removed the mask? None of the most important questions were answered
@@MsCCarolinee I prefer not knowing why. It gives us more to think about. If everything is always explained then where's the mystery? Where's the intrigue? I find it far more fascinating that we have no answers as to why.
I could see how it wouldnt meet a high standard for horror-only lovers, but as someone who also loves true crime, this movie DELIVERED for me 👏🏻
yes, thank you!
My cousin and I felt the same! I think it was such a good blend of paranormal and “true crime”. I can be pretty picky about paranormal horror movies but The Black Phone married the two so well
Same =]
I'm not a high-standard movie fan but I also didn't like this movie at all. It was so boring broo
I really apprecaited the themes of alcoholism and standing up for yourself in the movie. The grabber is like an abusive parent, you never quite know what it is that they want from you. You get the idea that the grabber was abused in the same sort of way that he treats these kids. The way Finney learns how to fight for himself in the end. There's defietly parts I'm not big on, the coked-up brother for ex, but I appreciate the atmosphere and I love some cheese, which the ending dished out in spades.
This comment exactly matches all my sentiments for the film. Well put.
I personally loved the movie. Ethan was amazing in the role. I do agree that more of his character would be better. However, I am glad that there wasn't much back story/ explanation. I preferred having him be more of a mystery. Made it more creepy in my opinion. The kids were phenomenal. I'm glad the spent so much time in the beginning with the brother and sister. I felt that it really made you invested in them both as individuals and as siblings. As for all the fighting I felt it was important because it has connections to victim and also plays an important part on the ending. Don't wanna elaborate on that part cuz it would go into spoilers. I would say the movie would've benefited from showing the grabber with his victims mixed in while we wait for the main kid to be taken.
yes!
(spoiler)
the ghost children were fine, and that mirroring scene with robin was great, but it would've been more immersive to hear them over the phone while flashback scenes with them and The Grabber played out. we know scott derickson can really set up a good, eerie "final moments" scene (Sinister's snuff movies)
i really enjoyed the effect those dream flashbacks gwen had. that reality-blurring was interesting, so i know he could've really elevate it a bit more with something with that.
I absolutely loved the film and all the jumpscares got me like they were very good jumpscares. The grabber played by Ethan Hawke was absolutely amazing especially with the masks he wears and there was sm tension and suspense where I was on the edge of my seat😂
this movie finally makes me understand how people who hated malignant felt when seeing all the love for it 😭
I loved this movie! Personally I found myself way more interested in the child characters than any of the adults. I thought the parallels between the grabber and Finn's father were chilling. I think Finn's relationships with his friends and the other victims was really well portrayed. It felt more realistic to not know anything about the grabber since Finn wouldn't know anything about the Grabber. Finn was in survival mode for days, starving, and doing everything he could to escape- and that's the point of the story. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I think the flip between Finn in the basement and Gwen having dreams kept the pacing in a place where my attention was held. By knowing less about the Grabber you feel more like Finn in the moment, desperate and powerless. And that made it all the scarier for me, in my opinon.
I love the concept of a horror movie graveyard (as sad as it is that horror movies get forgotten/go to die), but I think a cool video idea is discussing horror movies that 'went to the graveyard' .
I second this idea!
Yes please!
Daybreakers is one of those lol
@@brandon17760 Awwww…. I remember really enjoying it when I saw it, but I can’t say I’ve researched it since…
@@AVspectre no one has since lol I still think it's underrated lol
The only reason I went to see the movies was because of the good reviews it had. If it wasn't for that I would have waited years to see it but I'm so glad I took the chance. I love it. I think it's crazy that people think this is about The Grabber. I feel like this movie is about Finny and the development of his character. It was about a kid who knew every kid that had been murdered, was scared to stand up for himself and others. Of a kid that was not suppose to survive but did with the help of the other kid and specially of his close friend who he looked up but still got murdered despite being strong. If there is anything I love is character development!
I agree, I also loved his sisters role.. a ton of my anxiety came when she was on screen,but the WHY of the grabber is why I wanted more.. I’ve watched it 3 times and will probably see it a few more. (Regal unlimited 🤭)
Personally I think this was one of the best horrors to come out this year and is in no way gonna head to the horror graveyard haha, I can’t wait to rewatch and watch it hopefully become a cult classic! Ethan Hawke was amazing! The child actors were likeable (for a change) and I think it was a very original concept! Loved each kidnapped boys stories and couldn’t leave my seat when I had to pee because I was worried I would miss something as I thought it was very on the go all the time 😅
Agreed lol I’ve watched it 3 times in the theater already lol
I don't think The Black Phone will ever become anyone's favorite movie, but I was pleased with it. It's been a while since a solid original horror movie has come out and I was happy that it didn't feel like a waste of my money.
I also sort of liked that we didn't get info about The Grabber. He's just a garden variety creep and that's all there is to him.
Great comment! I agree, I really liked it but it will probably never be on my fav lists. I think X is my fav horror this year.
My biggest issue with this movie is that the trailer pretty much tells you like 80% of it. So, everything I could be feel scared of I've already watched it. Plus, the supernatural elements don't fit so well with the real aspects of the movie. They kinda feel a little too convenient. Regardless, I think it's pretty good, mainly because of the performances (Gwen was amazing) and the aesthetic/atmosphere. Ethan Hawke doesn't appear as much as I wanted but he surely looks menacing.
i agree with you on the convenience of the phone calls and dreams. they could've been more cryptic, for sure. i guess they maybe thought it would be unrealistic for kids to piece that much together. but rule of thumb for me with any movie i plan on watching, ESPECIALLY horror: never ever watch trailers. you're losing a good chunk of emotional investment and intrigue. the thrill of the unknown is what makes a lot of horror!
@@ghostli1112 I’ll take your advice for the next time for sure
I did enjoy the first half of the film. The whole relationship with the siblings and their father was great. Once the Grabber was introduced. Everything started to go downhill after that. I hate the fact the Director focused way too much on the supernatural and not the psychological aspect. I wanted to see more of the Grabber messing with their victim’s mind. Remember, he was kinda similar to their alcoholic father (the belt). He likes to play games (The Naughty Game) with them, but we never got to see it. The performances were all great, very convincing , especially from Madeleine McGraw who plays the sister. I just wish this movie was on the same level as his previous films like Sinister, The Exorcism Of Emily Rose and Deliver Us From Evil. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it. He has done better work.
This!! I really wanted to see what the game was or I wished the would’ve had a hopeless ending where finney dies and the grabber gets away with it
I agree
yeah, i said this in a previous comment, but it could've been really terrifying to see gwen's dream flashbacks show how each of the boys were treated/tried to escape, like the snuff movies from Sinister. i understand this wasn't Sinister, but we know Derrickson can really amp up the horror.
@Ghost Li……Totally agree with you.
I liked the supernatural stuff 😩
Have to respectfully disagree on this one. I thought the "slowness" at the beginning of the movie was great character development. The fights and abuse were more to show that Finney was actually a fighter and a survivor the entire time. That makes the ending much more realistic than having some timid wimp get lucky in defeating the grabber. The numerous failures being translated into ultimate success was fantastic. Sounds like you were biased going in with it being a Hill story.
Exactly!! Love this one! I think Horror Fans are too nit pickey and just enjoy the damn movie.
YES!! I absolutely agree with you. I liked that we get to a climax were he faces his fears and overcomes it
I agree 100% this movie just had a very meh vibe to it, I didn't hate it nor did I love it, it was just there and passed a couple of hours I did love Ethan Hawke as the grabber though but we needed to see so much more of him
Genuinely grateful for your stance on this film! I absolutely feel the same way! I just feel like there was so much hype built up around this flick specifically that i really expected to like it, and i didn't lol....it was exactly as you described it..."meh".
Your reviews always feel realistic and collected but always from a true horror fan perspective.
I personally feel that with the influx of elevated horror with complex plotlines and eccentric characters, there's really no room for mediocre films like this one and without a doubt agree that "Black Phone"s place is in the horror graveyard.
Ugh thank you! It was so boring and dialogue was so weird also?
I loved the scene where he walked out of the house and his sister saw him, so emotional!
I really really loved this movie and actually cried at the resolution at the end. I also am a huge fan of jump scares and it did give off the same type of vibe as Sinister. Sinister is one of my all-time favorite horror movies. Ethan Hawke was so good as The Grabber!!!!
Literally messaged you on IG last night asking for your review, just opened CZcams, and here it is! Love you girl!
Edit: I loved this movie, although I too would’ve loved more of The Grabber!
I gotta say this channel is my comfort channel. I've found you last year and haven't missed a single video! Not sure what exactly it is, but you and your videos give me comfort and it also brings me joy whenever I receive a notification for a new video of yours 🤍
I hope you have a nice day. With love, an avid subscriber 🤍🤍
Substantial eye roll at you right now. This movie was stupendous and will not be forgotten for a long time. Best new horror of the year.
Love the review and all the points you pointed out was interesting because I completely had a different experience with the film. Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. I didn't feel it was repetitive. I only realized it repeated stuff when you pointed out it😅, but I sort like how the movie did this cause it makes the minutes longer and mimicks the way time would have of felt for Finny (hopefully I spelt that right). I did not have any background for this movie, barely watched trailers, didn't know actors/director ect, so that probably had some influence.
The jumpscares did get me, but I didn't really associate the horror to them that much. At this point, I kind of ignore jumpscares. Compare to other movies, it didn't feel like they were used as much. The tone and mood was what set up horror aspects for me and I like how the point of view was focused on Finny, Gwen, and the previous victims. I am a sucker for sibling bonds so when I saw the bond between Finny and Gwen I automatically had a positive view of the movie.
Yes 👏🏽
I didn’t think of this movie as a horror movie, more say like a thriller/coming of age movie. And also a period-film. It had a lot of 70’s nostalgia, and also rolling in the “serial killer” era as well. The fighting between the kids were overdone though, I agree with you on that. I really enjoyed it overall, really fun watch for me! It felt like an “escape room” experience cinematized.
If only they hadn't sold this as being a horror movie I wouldn't complain (because it was good movie) but they did, which sucks.
I expected a jump scarefest. I went in with low expectations. I left thinking it was an incredible film. I truly think it was a movie made for people that were around back then. Nostalgia was a big factor and they nailed it. Great acting by the kids too.
I was anticipating this movie for some of the same reasons you mentioned (loved Sinister & Emily Rose, love Ethan Hawke) but there was so much hype surrounding the release date and in the end I just felt let down. Ethan Hawke was amazing as were some of the child actors, however, I absolutely agree with you in that I was waiting for something to happen. The phone calls were too repetitive and in all honesty other than kidnapping, the grabber didn’t really do anything horrific to any of the children on camera. The scene of the father beating the daughter was more traumatic than anything else. Being a horror fan, I just expected it to be scary. There was so much potential for this story. The starting was interesting, then it got boring, stayed boring until the very end. The ending was satisfying but took too long to get there.
I feel like that’s more your fault then? You put your expectations too high and compared it to other movies. Just watch the movie as it’s own
@@Error_-ct2vp There was so much potential for more and I suppose that was my expectation? Like I said previously, the beginning was interesting and the ending was very good. It was the middle (IMO) that needed more explanation and/or scenes with the grabber.
You really hit the nail on the head with this one. I agree with the things you enjoyed AND your criticisms. I haven't read the short story that inspired this, but in my experience it seems like short stories adapted into full-length movies are extremely hit or miss. 1408, for example, was a very short, surface-level story, and the movie took it and made it a meditation on grief and the crumbling of relationships as a result of it. This one, tho, I don't think had anything of substance to offer -- whether it had always been absent from the source material or they just didn't feel the need to add anything but the basics. The jump scares were also lame. They detracted from Sinister and were completely unwelcome here, IMO.
Ryan Hollinger also did a review of this where he talked about a theory concerning The Grabber's character, and while it's intriguing, I don't think it's enough to make me actually rewatch it.
Would really be interested in hearing more elaboration if your thoughts on this. As I’ve seen insanely positive reviews on this film. So I’m not sure about the impression that it’s one of those middle of the road ones.
Also the start is slow for character growth and to illustrate how the two are both fighters.
Love your tales though. I’m subbed because you have differing takes on stuff. Don’t want everyone to be the same.
I wish it were scarier (honestly didn’t get under my skin at all), I wish we learned more about the Grabber, but I agree that I think this film is going to be forgotten. I think the performances are great, but there’s just not enough depth here for me to really care too much. Again I think it didn’t help that I was expecting a really thought provoking dramatic horror and it was basically just a popcorn film, which is fine, but I felt that was a marketing issue, and also that the opening credits are TOO good, reminded me of Se7en haha
They could of made it FAR scarier. They should of set it in Southern California for a start since there were horrific serial killers abducting and murdering boys and young men in the 70s. Their body counts and torture methods were off the charts.
I was VERY excited for this movie to come out. I can’t afford to see it in theaters and have been waiting for it to come out cheaper online. I think my excitement would have kept building as I waited, so this will prevent at least some disappointment. Thank you for these critiques!
You definitely will enjoy it at home just as much as going to a theatre. You didnt t miss much 💙
What I say about this type of film is ‘I don’t need to see it again’ - what that means is I have no regrets about seeing it but am highly unlikely to watch it again.
It was a little slow for me and I’d have liked a bit more background on The Grabber (did the brother really not know?), I did like the 70s setting and the way it was shot overall. Ethan Hawke and the kids did a great job though.
Yeah the brother didn't know or the grabber wouldn't have killed him. He even said Finney "made" him have to kill his own brother.
The Black Phone Review 📞 ⬛️ 👹: czcams.com/video/JPvecPqStPM/video.html
WHEN THE GRABBER WAS SHIRTLESS IN THE ONE SCENE MY FRIEND LOOKS OVER AT ME AND GOES “DADDY GRABBER CAN GRAB ME ANY DAY” I absolutely lost it
I'm almost 35 and if I shave and go to an unfamiliar package store I get carded. Obviously I'm over 21, but I'll take that shit to heart for the smile filled ride home.
i just finished watching it and you upload the review hahaha cant wait to hear tour thoughts!!
I think what most frustrated me about this one was that I saw glimmers of something special in it! I ultimately had a good time at the theater, but the dialogue felt cheesy at times, and the characters felt a bit like caricatures (e.g., the dad...). Then the "every kid is a seasoned MMA fighter for some reason yet can't put up any fight against the grabby boi" felt inconsistent. There were some kickass shots in here though. The Grabber chillin at the top of the stairs, legs spread, shirt-unbuttoned; that looked straight up terrifying. Dude looked brutal as hell.
I personally loved this film and I personally loved we didn't get backstory on the grabber. I personally think a killer is more scary when we don't have info.on why he is the way he is. Not to mention being a mask collector every variation of his mask will be in my collection and I'll be going as the grabber for Halloween
Been looking forward to your review!
Am annoyed I know people would have their opinion but the way she talks about is like the movie was so bad. Like I know she maybe wanted it to be more scary but if you watch other views or look into it it’s a mystery movie . The only thing I agree is that the grabber isn’t showed that much.
I saw this movie Saturday night/Sunday morning and was so excited to see your review
I'm surprised to hear it is an 18 (R) over there! In the UK it's a 15.
Wasn't enough gore for it to get an 18 rating over here I think haha
My friend and I went to see this movie and rode together in his car to and from the theater. On the way back home, we were just kinda quiet and he said “It wasn’t bad, but there’s nothing to really talk about. Nothing profound happened.” And that’s the best way I can describe this movie 😅
I adored this movie! I laughed and cried and cheered. It was so much fun!
I think the beginning was setting up the fear behind The Grabber, and the kids were the main focus because I felt like the message was about surviving abuse and how it makes them resilient in order to beat The Grabber.
personally felt a close connection to the two kids stories. saw myself and my brother in them and related to our one solace being in each other.
I knew you’d be one of the first to post a review on this movie!!
Happy Monday ❤️💜💖💜💋💘🫶🏻👼🏻🌈🦋
Good review! I always love your honesty. I laughed when you said: "...I just want the kid to get kidnapped already." x'DDD
Side note, I'd like to hear your thoughts on Paul Verhoeven's Benedetta (and a cat cameo next time).
Thank you and keep up the great work!
I feel like the fight scenes were to show how Finny couldn’t stand up for himself. Like the first one we saw was to show how strong Robin was and then the later one was to show how defenseless Finny was without him.
This movie to me is one of those movies where the more you think about it, the more problems you really start to see,
you could have cut out the sisters entire story line and it still would have been the same movie, the twist at the end kinda undermines the sisters efforts and wasn't really needed, the grabbers brother was used like twice in the movie and added nothing to the story and you already knew what would happen to him (I actually thought that he was the grabber himself tricking the cops) and there are just a bunch of other nitpicks that I have with the film... So it's better to just watch the film without thinking about much of the story aspects
Out of pure curiosity, what makes you say you can cut out the sister storyline? I honestly found her to be one of the most interesting parts of the movie and I think that her purpose and the narrative was really to like give us some hope as an audience. And to like give us brakes from the intensity of the scenes with Finney. so I’m very curious as to how you came to that conclusion.
@@michaelavail3554 Well, I did enjoy the sisters storyline as well. It just that, STORY wise, they don't add anything to it nor supported the main narrative and really are only used as a break from the intenseness that is the main story line.
So, if they were cut out, you wouldn't lose anything related to the main story.
I was about to comment basically what you said. So many unnecessary elements were added to this movie for some reason. The scene with the kids father beating the sister with the belt was ultimately useless and just put there to disturb us I guess (though it gave the sister a great showcase of her acting ability)
she was necessary because she was the complete opposite of finny - ready to scrap at any moment, and totally defiant even in the face of abuse by doing exactly what her dad was trying to beat out of her. without her tip, the detectives would've had no lead to the other boys. at least for some time, until they found out that The Grabber owned the other house. which, who knows how long that would've taken in the 70s without computers.
@@indoorfish55 it wasn't useless in the slightest. "i hurt you because i love you" is a twisted thing that parents who beat their kids use, much like serial killers who say they "do what i say, i don't want to hurt you". both use violence and fear to keep you under their rule because of some type of trauma and lack of control they feel over it. just like gwen had to tiptoe to not upset their father, finny had to adopt the same tactics to not be hurt by The Grabber. it's a phenomenal parallel.
Agree with everything you said! It was so ‘meh’. I was also disillusioned quite early on because the dialogue was cringey and to provide exposition but seemed so awkward? there was no tension until the part where he tried to climb out the window. there was also sooooo much talking? no room for questions or suspense? they were thinking outloud literally and some of that could have been done with camera direction. yeah missing depth for sure
I personally like the mysticism around The Grabber and how we do not get to know much about him. It kinda pulls from the same “unknown” feeling people had back in the 70’s and 80’s when it came to all the child abductions and serial killing that were happening at the time. It leaves you frustrated because you want to know why they did the things they did when the simple answer is because they can 🧐 at least that’s how I see it.
I just got out of the theatre about an hour ago and I LOVED it! So did my bf, who usually doesn't get scared and thinks horror/scary movies are silly. I really thought you'd think the same!
I'm excited for Nope. I don't usually have a babysitter to be able to see horror movies in the theater.
Most of my theater experiences are with my 4 year old daughter. Which I'm also excited to see the new minion movie coming out.
But for Nope I am going to make sure I see it in the theater. I feel like it will be a good movie for a theater viewing.
For Black phone, when I saw the trailer I said exactly that, "Mehh." I thought I would probably watch it sometime, but definitely at home rather than at the movies.
This is exactly what I have been saying word for word. From wanting to watch the movie Nope rather than Black Phone to rather watching Black Phone at home. I have said these exact words in fact I’ve watched Black Phone in theater yesterday and thought to myself I would of rather used that money towards Nope. Don’t get me wrong it was an okay movie but it could of had more context to different things. I almost felt like I was watching an episode of a series.
I totally agree, I can't wait to see Nope in theaters!!
BRUH we saw the trailer when me and my bf went to see The Black Phone the other day and the pure confusion on his poor face was so damn funny 😭😭
I love your shirt! 😍😍😍
I watched it yesterday and it was really good in my opinion, one of my favourite horror movies ever now. It was so emotional at the end and made me cry too
Same
It was definitely not what I expected! However I liked it! There were more emotional moments than scary in my opinion. (Especially with the father and sibling bond) I was rooting hard for the main character because of the back story. I thought it was less of a horror movie and more of a crime thriller.
I saw it with a non-horror friend and she liked it and thought it was scary while I did not find it scary😂 did enjoy it a lot, but not scary in my opinion
i’m back here to leave my comment! i actually really enjoyed this one! weirdly, what i enjoyed the most were the characters! Gwen was a badass, Finney has so much growth and The Grabber was very intimidating but also captivating and intriguing! Really liked this one!
OBSESSED with that shirt
I can agree with the points you made in this video, but I can easily say I love this movie. It was a nice breath of fresh air from the typical horror movies I’ve watched by having an interesting concept that blends a serial killer story and a ghost story. I do agree that there should’ve been more scenes with the Grabber, like a scene of him catching on with Finney’s phone calls and shouting at him to hang it up like what happened in the trailer. But in the end I enjoyed the final product and I had a really good time watching this movie.
I loved this film. The characters felt real and authentic, even the killer, and you want the kids to overcome the Grabber. It's not straight-up horror like some might expect it to be, it transcends as a supernatural coming-of-age story, which felt very Stephen King to me. The buildup with the childhood violence is essential to the theme of the story, and less the serial killer stuff, which is complementary to it.
I agree the it kept being repetitive on the phone calls, it started getting boring, and the grabber needed more scenes and background story. I usually get scared easily but some scenes were predictable on jumbscares. I wish I didn’t see it in theaters
I liked it so much! Im surprised by this review but also fair points! Jump scares worked for me and the 30min buildup also did
i feel like there was only one jumpscare
If anyone wants to watch a movie with similar premise (a previous resident/captive in a house communicating through the house phone) I’d suggest The Call.
It’s a 2020 South Korean film that I watched on Netflix. The two characters talking are separated by 20 years so that’s also a very interesting part of the story. Apart from that the least you know going into the movie the better in my opinion. So enjoy if you decide to watch.
Look forward to watching this , probably at home . Love your t shirt Sarah want one ( An American werewolf in London one of my all time faves ) .
I'm surprised that most reviewers seem to love this movie... I just thought it was OK, and I loved Sinister. Definitely would be a good Netflix streaming movie tho
i loved this movie! i personally had no notes leaving the theatre, the acting was really great on all accounts, i thought even though the scares were just jumpscares, they were used really effectively, and that i still had that like nervous pit in my stomach for the whole movie. i also really liked that they didn't explain more about the grabber, i think that makes him even scarier. and i also really liked the 70s aesthetic, it really goes along with the whole "letting my children walk home alone from school even though there's a masked child killer on the loose" vibes.
I haven't watched your review just yet but I'm so excited for it! I absolutely loved this movie and was thinking about it for a few days afterwards. Its definitely going to be in my DVD collection 🙌🏽
Edit: Oh lol 😆 it's a shame you didn't enjoy the film but I guess it won't be everyone's cup of tea. For me, I thought the jump scares were well timed and added to the scenes. I do agree that a backstory to The Grabber would have fleshed out his character more, but felt he was menacing all the same. As for Finney and Gwens psychic sight, it's mentioned that their Mum used to see, hear and have dreams about dead people- hence it seems this has passed down to them.
This film doesn't rely on cheap gore or torture scenes that imo are overdone in child kidnapping films. The paranormal and suspense atmosphere builds throughout the movie and definitely had me holding my breath at points.
I’ve been waiting for this one!
I kind of had the same feelings towards The Black Phone,I liked the kid actors and Ethan Hawke was good. But nothing really stood out to me, in a way it seemed like it was trying perhaps a little too much to be different and original. And as you said I would have loved more backstory for the Grabber, and even the supernatural elements I feeling like really needed to have been elaborated on, like there was no explanation as to why "the black phone" could talk to dead people.
I was so excited for this movie. I wanted to love it. I liked it. The visuals and acting were the highlights for me too! (Except the dad, that acting was soooo bad) The lack of background for the killer, although intentional, was my least favorite part of the movie.
Only disagreement is I didn’t hate the slow build up honestly. But I did get bored for a bit around 30-45 mins in. It was fine.
I’ve been waiting for your review to decide if I wanna see it or not, because when I saw the trailer, I thought the idea was really interesting but it didn’t really make me wanna watch it. I probably will only be seeing this if it comes to a streaming service.
literally exactly how I felt for that movie!
I LOVE that shirt! 🥳
Agree that Hawke did an incredible job. I loved it honestly -- it may become a comfort horror movie for me, one that I'd like to rewatch? This one stays out of the horror graveyard for me!
Haven’t seen your videos popping up in a while but I was so excited when this video popped up! I watched The Black Phone over the weekend, I was geared up for it because the director made Sinister. I enjoyed it and agree with you on the positives which you highlighted. But I didn’t think the beginning was draggy.. I thought that was fine. The jump scares to me were fine.
But my criticism of it is that, like you said, we didn’t get a backstory of the Grabber. I thought we would get a backstory towards the end but we didn’t so that was disappointing! Like, why is it that Finney is able to hear the ghosts? They didn’t explain that. Is it because of his mum? We don’t know 😂 and why is the phone placed in the room 😂
Loved the review btw!
i remember going to see Parasite w my little sister & sitting in the car with her afterwards in silence. i had to keep asking her if she liked it & she shrugged. responded with: i’m just confused. i don’t know what happened. now with THIS movie she had a lot to say because she’s 17 & this was easier for her to digest. this movie was incredibly nostalgic & it was so worth seeing in theaters.
couldn't agree more. Although I would enjoy an entire movie with his sister. She was the best part.
I remember pointing out exactly what you said about the little information we get to see about the grabber to my brother the moment we stepped out of the movie theater. He said it could be a sign of a sequel and me personally, I think that could be a hit or miss. It could make for a good series or completely ruin it, no middle ground
but also I actually enjoy not knowing every single piece of information about him bc it makes space for theories about his character, which is cool
It was okay to me. The story was good, but I’ve would like to know more about the grabber and his background. I was also a little disappointed that we saw almost everything in the trailer.
Context is there from the naughty boy game and also he can hear the phone as well but pretend that he doesn't.
I heard about this movie just yesterday, or so I thought! I actually remember seeing trailers for it YEARS AGO! I have not seen it - And from what you have said... I do think I am likely to be disappointed a bit... When I did see the trailer way, way back... I was really interested!
I may have to give it a shot!
You may have seen fan concept trailers but the first official trailer only came out 10 months ago. Such a good film though definitely worth watching.
@@Kuyjac258 My sister saw it and was a bit disappointed by the lack of scares... But she is a Blood Hound... The more Gore teh better, That being said she liked it!
And me, I like a more Psychological Horror anyway... So It sounds right up my street!
Middle of the road, psychological thriller lite, definitely was expecting something more like Zodiac or Prisoners.
The calls immediately reminded me of coraline. And I loved it!
i’ve seen so many rave reviews about this movie, but this is the only one i can actually relate to!!! you’ve said exactly what i was thinking, it was good! but not amazing. if i saw it again it wouldn’t be for lil bit
I think I've learned that I just fundamentally disagree with this reviewer in general and I'm often left feeling like her critiques are rushed, shallow, and often miss the point.
I am very grateful for your channel…but probably not for the reason you’d like. Whenever you dislike, or even hate a movie, I know I’ll love it. Example: malignant and old. My feelings were absolutely the other way around. No hate to you, honestly- to each their own. This is your channel and your opinions…but imo this movie was AMAZING. Terrified me in all the right ways. Even the child-acting was good. Literally loved it.
The intro scene with the credits was filmed liked the tapes in Sinister with that Super 8 sound. Real niceeeee
I enjoy your channel but I’m noticing I tend to disagree with you more than agree. I found Dashcam to be one of the most insufferable movies I’ve seen all year and you praised that one. The Black Phone I found to be one of the best horror movies in a long time. Difference of opinion is ok just interesting to me when others perceive movies so differently. :)
Dashcam was a complete dumpster fire with one of the worst main characters i have ever seen
For me night house is my fav horror movie recently in theaters just came and went.
I was just able to watch it today and I was thinking why I found it so underwhelming comparing it to the expectations I had and some reviews I heard about, and you nailed this review!
I remember thinking that we would get some sort of explanation as to why the grabber was kidnapping children, what "his game" entail and meant for him but it's pretty much just him being a sadist nothing else.
I was not too scared of him (the Grabber) as I was about the overall situation that Finney was in (being kidnapped which is something scary by itself). Pretty much the movie it's about the kids trying to help him get out using the Black Phone but I cannot be mad as that is the literal title of the movie and what the trailer also showed, I also think that we are watching the movie in the kid's eyes .
I did like the set up before the abduction tho, it makes you empathize with the kid's more and feel for them.
Overall I enjoyed it but it's not Sinister or the Exorcism of Emily Rose which are personal favorites.
Hey man, same! I wasn’t terribly impressed myself but Ethan Hawke & the babies were great! I missed the opening credits & I’m disheartened to know that, that was probably the best part 😢 alas!
Hey girl! X I haven't checked out this channel in a while, hope you're well :) American Werewolf in London is my favorite of all, I gotta go grab one of those shirts!!
Anyway super random thought but have you ever talked about (or seen) The House of Wax 2005 remake? Just discovered it, I really wanted to know your thoughts on it!
this was one of my favs this year
There were only two fights. One was the bully and the other was the kid getting bullied. Nothing happened in the bathroom. So I wouldn't call two fights scenes a lot or repetitive. And the scene with the kid getting bullied was to show the kind of kid he was, not a fighter. And the first fight tied into the end, with his friend teaching him how to fight.
Me and my boyfriend went to see it last night and I was genuinely surprised I liked it so much, the kids were such great actors and Gwens dialogue is my favorite 😂 such an insane movie and Ethan Hawke was terrifying
Spoiler sorta: "Jesus WHAT THE FUCK" is the best part of the movie 😭😭
Recently read the short story and I’m so confused, but really excited to see the movie (and this video) a soon as I can. :D
I personally think I over-hyped the movie for myself. I mean it was suppose to come out months ago sooooo yeah. I saw it Friday and let me tell you I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed watching and I actually did like the movie but I really wanted more. Parts of me want another movie, especially to elaborate on The Grabber's backstory/motive and the supernatural elements of Gwen and the actual phone itself. Ethan Hawke's performance was great and the kid's did phenomenal! Maybe another movie will be in the future?