2025 October Horror Challenge #36 "Black Phone"

The Black Phone is based on a story by author Joe Hill — who, as many of you may know, is the son of Stephen King. I grew up reading Stephen King’s novels and seeing his dedications to his children Naomi, Joe, and Owen. Because of that, I’ve always had a hard time being objective when it comes to anything related to Stephen King. In an interview once, King mentioned that Joe writes “exactly the way I write.” I always thought that was an odd statement — and honestly, I never really agreed. Joe Hill is an incredibly talented writer (I loved Horns and have heard great things about his other books), but his voice feels distinct from his father’s. And that’s a good thing. Horror doesn’t have to sound the same to be powerful. Writers like Edward Lee and Frank Peretti, for example, couldn’t be more different — yet both are amazing in their own ways. When I say I struggle to be objective about Stephen King, it’s because his work quite literally saved my life. If it weren’t for something I read in his novel Rose Madder, I don’t think I would be here today. That book gave me the courage to leave an abusive home. King wrote a truth I already knew deep down but had never dared to say: if I stayed, I was going to die. His words helped me understand that I had to choose life — to “get busy living or get busy dying,” as he famously wrote elsewhere. That’s why Stephen King will always be my favorite writer — not just because of his stories, but because he gave me the language to survive. So when he said Joe Hill writes just like he does, I couldn’t quite believe it. I’d been searching for a Joe Hill story that connected with me the way King’s work does, but I hadn’t found one — until The Black Phone. When I first saw the movie, I didn’t even realize it was based on a Joe Hill story. I just knew it was a new horror film starring Ethan Hawke, and of course, I had to watch it. And wow — it blew me away. Afterward, I found out Joe Hill had written the original story, so I read it, and it felt like finding a missing piece of a puzzle I’d given up on years ago. This movie gets me — the same way King’s books always have — and I love it for that. I don’t want to spoil anything, because I went into it knowing absolutely nothing, and I think that’s the best way to experience it. Don’t read the plot description, don’t look up spoilers — just watch it unfold. It’s chilling, emotional, and unexpectedly moving. There’s a sequel coming out soon, and while part of me is nervous they might not capture the same magic, I’m still excited to see it. The Black Phone has become one of my favorite modern horror films, and I can’t recommend it enough.