DVD Corner

The Black Phone 4K UHD Review

‘Tis the season for a 4K horror upgrade.  

Writer C. Robert Cargill adapts Joe Hill’s short story in this 1978 set horror story that finds a Denver suburb being terrorized by a masked serial killer and child abductor known as The Grabber. The Grabber’s latest victim is a young boy named Finney who finds himself in an empty basement with a broken phone. The phone isn’t broken for Finney, however, as he begins to speak to past victims who may just be able to get Finney out of the house safely. The other key subplot here involves Finney’s psychic sister Gwen who is attempting to locate her brother.

Leaving “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness” seemed like a peculiar movie for director Scott Derrickson, but in retrospect, he made the right choice by helming this simple and chilling horror tale instead. Although there are “Stranger Things” vibes aplenty, this supernatural character centric story about trauma, childhood, family, and survival packs a punch. The stakes are high, the tension is unbearable, and the movie launched a new unforgettable human monster into the world of cinema with The Grabber. There’s something about the combined talents of Cargill, Derrickson and Blumhouse that just creates horror magic. Hopefully, we can get a ‘Black Phone’ prequel down the line as there’s clearly more stories to tell within this universe.

Going back to The Grabber, you can’t talk about this movie without talking about Ethan Hawke. The actor has shied away from villain parts in the past, but he goes full bore here with an absolutely terrifying performance as the mysterious and deranged killer. The young cast members Mason Thawes (Finney) and Madeleine McGraw (Gwen) have the challenging role of carrying the narrative and they make it look easy with excellent performances. They will both no doubt be appearing in more films in the near future. Jeremy Davies also shines her as the abhorrent father of the siblings. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 2160p. How does it look? This 4K disc follows the odd trend of 4Ks coming out months after the Blu-ray hit stores. Maybe the studios are waiting to see how they sell before opting to put out a 4K? Whatever the case may be, if you didn’t pick up the Blu-ray, this 4K disc is the way to go. It offers up sparkling image clarity.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? A new Atmos track has been included here and it’s nothing short of dynamic.

Extras (same as the Blu-ray):
* Blu-ray copy
* Digital copy
* 2 deleted scenes
* Commentary by Scott Derrickson.
* Scott Derrickson’s “Shadowprowler” short film.
* Featurettes on the Super 8 film elements (“Super 8 Set”) and the production design (“Devil In The Design”).
* “Ethan Hawke’s Evil Turn” is all about Hawke taking on the villainous role.
* “Answering The Call: Behind The Scenes Of The Black Phone” contains set footage, interviews, discussions about the film’s origins and more.

October 4, 2023 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Ethan Hawke, horror, Horror Movie, Joe Hill, Scott Derrickson, The Black Phone, The Black Phone 4K UHD Review