This post is basically just going to be me gushing about the Black Phone movies because I adore them. Something about emotional horror movies hits different for me when they are done right. Movies like this aren’t for everyone, obviously. If you are into movies like this but haven’t seen these, be aware there will be spoilers here.
– Two children from an abusive home being the characters to break the cycle of pain, abuse, and death that was the Grabber. Gwen being able to see and intuit things others couldn’t, especially the adults, and Finney hearing the voices of the victims, giving them back their names, being patient with them through their pain and anger even through his own panic.
– Gwen’s dreams letting us see the missing boys as more than victims, showing us their lives and personalities. Bruce’s in particular makes me tear up.
– The boys all helping Finney not only because they want revenge on the Grabber or even because they want Finney to survive but because they truly believe he can do it, despite how weak he feels.
– Finney surviving longer than the other boys because he has already been conditioned to know how to avoid punishment from his father.
– The Grabber being the creepiest villain despite hardly ever showing aggression, or when he did, quickly switching back to timidity or laughing it away. “I’d never make you do anything you wouldn’t… like.” BARF!
– Robin telling Finney at the beginning he will have to stand up for himself one day. And you can tell Finney wants to, especially during the scene where the dad is beating Gwen. But he doesn’t really know how. And Robin protecting him one last time at the end by teaching him how to protect himself.
– And that boy sure is a fast learner. That fight scene is so satisfying to watch. The Grabber having to listen to the boys goad him over the phone which Finney was in that moment strangling him with its chord!
– Finn becoming a fighter like Robin, to keep his memory alive as much as it is to keep his own feelings of anger and fear at bay.
– Finn hardly being able to look at Ernesto because all he sees is his best friend that he lost and the survivor’s guilt that comes with that.
– Finn and Gwen trying to navigate this new dynamic of still being extremely close but Finn now being so withdrawn. I think Gwen was hesitant around Finn because she never really had to comfort him before. He was always her comfort after their dad beat her. She knew how to defend Finn against bullies, she was never afraid to jump into a fight for him, but because of their upbringing they don’t really know how to be gentle and fully open with each other.
– Finn copes by numbing himself, similar to how his dad used to, and that scares Gwen because she doesn’t want to see him in the same light as their dad. The scene where she confronts both of them for numbing themselves and wanting to run away from their pain, although done harshly, was necessary because it really gave them all an emotional release. Gwen let out her frustrations, Finn let out his fear and anger he was keeping bottled up, and their dad allowed himself to be held accountable for his past actions and even moved to comfort Finn as he was sobbing but, for some reason, Gwen stopped him from doing so. I can only assume it’s because she didn’t think Finn would react well to the attempt, but I think if ever the poor boy would have accepted comfort, it would have been in that moment.
– The Grabber’s ghost being a parallel to the way trauma is an entirely separate monster to the person or event that caused the trauma.
– The framing of the shot when the Grabber is on top of Finn, choking him – the implications of it is sickening and heartbreaking and makes me want to sob and throw up and scream.
– People have said they didn’t like how Gwen-centered this movie was, and I partially understand where they’re coming from. I think they could have done more with Finn’s unresolved trauma, but the whole point is he wasn’t ready to face it. Even as he was getting these ghostly phone calls again, he was telling them, “I’m sorry but I can’t help you” up until the point he had no choice but to help. He kept refusing the call to action and Gwen didn’t, so that’s why she was the focus.
– People have also said Finn should have gotten the mom’s phone call at the end considering he’s the one who hears the dead whereas Gwen has the dreams. I thought so too at first. He deserved closure too and hearing from his mom or Robin would have been a more satisfying ending, but after thinking about it, maybe it makes sense that Gwen got the call from her mom. They have the same psychic dream ability, so maybe that links them closer together. Also, Gwen has accepted her abilities more than Finn has. Finn made important steps toward acceptance and healing, but I don’t think he would have been ready for that call at the end. He has his trauma from the basement to overcome before he can even think about understanding and accepting his psychic abilities.
For All Story Lovers! 