I had the bar set low for The Black Phone, the latest horror collaboration between the writing/directing team of Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill. On one hand, I wasn’t the biggest fan of either the Sinister films or Deliver Us From Evil, save for the gnarly exorcism. On the other hand, I’ve enjoyed Cargill’s novels and this latest film comes with some true horror bonafides, being an adaptation of a Joe Hill short story. The result is a tight, thrilling film that might be my favorite Derrickson showcase to date, visceral and honest without resorting to funneling in needless exposition or backstory. It’s creepy urban legends mixed with the usual King small-town supernatural, and I fell for it hard.

ChrisSeptember 15, 2025September 20, 2025Leave a comment

Reviews

85 (2023)

Being Film #28 for Hooptober 2023

Oh V/H/S franchise…after so many entries have you finally gotten to the point where there’s nothing left to say? The rapidly diminishing returns of the shorts, the frayed ends of commitment to the format…all of that caused me to drop out after the initial run of film that ended in 2014. I don’t know what it was about V/H/S/85 that brought me back for another look, but I will say that like almost every other entry in the increasingly frustrating series it’s a mixed bag, albeit a bag where the lows and high are much closer together. Make of that what you will.

ChrisOctober 17, 2023October 17, 2023Leave a comment

Cinema Dual (TEST SITE)

Examining a life through the media we consume. In other words, I’m reviewing all of my physical music media in alphabetical order, one day at at a time. Except when I don’t, as has been the case for the past few years. Still, we march onwards…Coffee essential, but not mandatory

Tag: scott derrickson

Hooptober 12.0 – The Black Phone (2021)

Hooptober 10.0 – V/H/S/85 (2023)