The Black Phone (2021) - Not bad, but a little muddled

'The Black Phone' is an odd little beast.  It never seems to quite know whether it wants to be a supernatural horror film, or something more grounded in reality as it deals with both child abduction and spirits.

I'll give it credit for its visual presentation. The cinematography is as atmospheric as it is unsettling, capturing the eerie small-town setting and the claustrophobic confines of a basement where much of the story unfolds.  Plus the child actors, which can often blight any major production due to their inexperience, are surprisingly strong. 

Ethan Hawke, as the villainous 'Grabber,' is suitably creepy and his mask may well help him to up his character to (nearly!) the heights of other great horror icons. His portrayal of the masked kidnapper is nicely unsettling, as he switches between sinister calm and explosive violence. 

But I still think that where 'The Black Phone' falters is in its attempt to blend the supernatural elements with the real-world horror of child abduction. The titular black phone, which allows the kidnapped child to communicate with the ghosts of the Grabber’s previous victims, is a nice idea, but the film struggles to blend this supernatural aspect with the more grounded, psychological horror. 

Overall, 'The Black Phone' is a well-shot film with decent performances, especially from its young cast and Ethan Hawke as the villain.  However, its inability to fully commit to either the supernatural or the psychological aspects of its story leaves it feeling somewhat disjointed. 

6/10 Should probably keep you awake if Freddy Krueger was haunting your nights