Safe Room

In a suburban Colorado town in 1978, a shy but clever 13-year-old boy named Finney Shaw is abducted by a sadistic serial killer known as 'The Grabber'. Trapped in a soundproof basement, Finney discovers a disconnected landline phone on the wall. He soon realizes that the victims murdered before him are able to communicate with him through the phone, offering cryptic advice to help him survive and escape.

The Black Phone was widely acclaimed by critics, who praised its effective blend of supernatural horror and coming-of-age drama. The performances, particularly by Ethan Hawke and the young leads, were highlighted, as was Scott Derrickson's taut direction and suspenseful atmosphere. Audiences generally responded positively, appreciating the film's originality and its ability to deliver genuine scares.

• Praised for its suspenseful atmosphere and effective scares.
• Ethan Hawke's chilling performance as the villain was a standout.
• The supernatural elements were well-integrated with the grounded horror narrative.

Google audience: Audiences largely appreciated the film's terrifying premise and strong performances, particularly Ethan Hawke's memorable villain. Many found it to be a gripping and suspenseful horror experience that successfully blended supernatural elements with a compelling story.

Nominated for Best Horror Film at the 2023 Saturn Awards.

The film is based on Joe Hill's 2004 short story of the same name, which was later included in his 2013 collection 'Strange Weather'.