The supernatural twist? The phone begins to ring. On the other end are the voices of The Grabber’s previous victims, determined to help Finney escape the fate they couldn't avoid. Why It Works
: Masked for nearly the entire film, Hawke uses body language and a shifting voice to create a truly unpredictable villain. The Strange Harbors review notes how his "shapeshifting visage" keeps the audience on edge. The Black Phone
: The film trades "cheap scares" for a suffocating sense of anxiety. The use of grainy, Super 8-style footage for Gwen’s dreams evokes a sense of found-footage horror reminiscent of Derrickson’s previous hit, Sinister . Critical Consensus The supernatural twist
: Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw (as Finney’s psychic sister, Gwen) carry the emotional weight of the film. Their bond—and their shared trauma from an abusive household—adds layers of depth often missing from the genre. Why It Works : Masked for nearly the
Critics generally praise the film as a "lean, muscular, and highly efficient" horror movie. While some reviewers at No But Listen found the mystery plot slightly illogical, most agree that its focus on character growth makes for a refreshingly meaningful experience. Quick Facts The Black Phone: Movie Review - P.L. McMillan