The Black Phone is arguably one of the most inspirational horror films released in recent years. The film first premiered on June 24th, 2022, and crowds flocked to theaters. Spoilers are included below!

The movie opens with a lovable protagonist, Finney Blake, played by Mason Thames. Blake is a pitcher for a local baseball team, an older brother to the spunky Gwen Blake, and the school pariah whom the older kids decide to bully. Finney also struggles with protecting his younger sister from his alcoholic father, whom he never stands up against.

One day, Finney is being bullied at school, and his friend Robin tells him that he must learn to stand up for himself.

While all of this is happening, a mysterious kidnapper is on the loose. The town calls him The Grabber, played by Ethan Hawke. As time passes, The Grabber kidnaps more and more young boys, including Finney’s friend Robin.

One day, as Finney is walking home from school, The Grabber kidnaps him and brings him to the basement of his home, where there is nothing but a mattress, a toilet, and a black phone that has been disconnected from the wall. Although the phone is disconnected, Finney continues to hear it ring, and as time passes, he starts to pick up.

Each time Finney answers the phone, he is connected to one of The Grabber’s previous victims. Each victim gives Finney a word of advice to help him escape the basement. These tasks are not easy, however, and Finney often finds himself narrowly escaping The Grabber’s wrath.

As time passes, we learn that The Grabber solely harms his victims when they play “Naughty Boy”, breaking the trust of The Grabber. Because Finney refuses to play the game, he dodges The Grabber’s violent tendencies. This portrays The Grabber as likely having experienced issues with his father figure as a child, and we can infer that he may be seeing these children as metaphors for his own childhood, taking a fatherly role in his discipline of them.

One day, Finney tries to escape as The Grabber is sleeping, causing him to lose “Naughty Boy”. At the same time, Finney’s sister, Gwen, is receiving signs through her vivid dreams, allowing her to work with the local detectives to eventually find her brother.

On the last day, Finney receives a call from his old friend Robin teaching him how to finally stand up for himself. As The Grabber enters his basement with his brother, Finney pools all of his escape efforts together to finally kill The Grabber. As he leaves the house, he and his sister are reconnected, and his father apologizes for his absence and his abusive behaviors.

This tale is one that focuses on learning to stand up for oneself – previously, Finney allowed himself to be bullied, but his time with The Grabber taught him to trust his instincts and fight for his life.

Finney becomes a hero in their neck of the woods, and The Grabber has finally been stopped.

“The Black Phone” is a must-see. Scott Derrickson is calling – will you answer?