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The Black Phone

Name: The Black Phone
Director: Scott Derrickson
Released: 2022
Duration: 103 min

Representation Score

4.3/10

Fair

2022

Director

Scott Derrickson

Runtime

103 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Black Phone is a period-specific horror film that prioritizes atmospheric tension over demographic variety. It successfully challenges traditional gender roles by giving female characters active, influential roles in the plot. However, the film remains limited by its homogeneous casting and lack of LGBTQ+ representation. Its focus stays within a traditional 1970s suburban aesthetic, limiting its broader social relevance. Ultimately, the film explores psychological distress and the failure of institutional safety through a narrow lens of identity.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Black Phone have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-traditional gender identities.

How does The Black Phone portray gender?

Good

Gwen challenges traditional gender roles by actively driving the plot with her psychic abilities.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Black Phone?

Limited

The casting is primarily white, reflecting a homogeneous suburban setting. The story does not explore diverse racial backgrounds.

How does The Black Phone represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film critiques the failures of traditional authority figures and suburban safety nets, focusing on institutional shortcomings.

Does The Black Phone include disability representation?

Limited

The film uses supernatural elements to explore psychological trauma, avoiding direct depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Gwen actively drives the plot with her psychic abilities, avoiding the damsel in distress cliché.
The film offers a nuanced critique of the failures of traditional authority and suburban safety nets.

Limited or Absent

The casting lacks racial and ethnic diversity, remaining largely homogeneous.
There is a complete absence of LGBTQ+ representation or non-traditional gender identities.
The film lacks intentional representation of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Finney Blake, a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.

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