The Black Phone: The Film Adaptation of A Horror Masterpiece

When I saw they were making one of my favourite short stories, The Black Phone by Joe Hill, into a film… I was concerned.

Graphic: author’s own, made with Canva

The Black Phone is one of my favourite short stories of all time, from one of my favourite authors of all time, Joe Hill.

I’ve read the collection 20th Century Ghosts (where The Black Phone appears,) more times than it’s truly a good thing to admit to — it’s my comfort reading, don’t judge me.

So I love this story. It’s a masterpiece.

Not perfect, no — it mentions how fat the villain is at least six times too many, for a start — but a masterpiece, all the same.

And I’m fully prepared to admit that I’m entirely biased when it comes to this story. So be aware of that. 😅

As the novel Heart-Shaped Box also shows, Joe Hill is the best there is at supernatural phonecalls.

What that man can do with fictional phones is truly impressive.

Still, when I saw they were making The Black Phone into a film…

I was concerned.