Film Review: The Black Phone plays on the primal fear around child abduction

"The supernatural aspects of Scott Derrickson’s horror are strongly redolent of Stephen King, so it’s no surprise to learn that the movie is based on a short story by King’s son, Joe Hill."

Ethan Hawke in The Black Phone.

★★★☆☆

Set in Denver in 1978, The Black Phone (16s) opens with the city’s children terrified that they will be the next victim of The Grabber (Ethan Hawke), who has already abducted a number of children before he swoops down on Finney (Mason Thames).