In preparation for the creepiest night of the year, October’s Netflix releases are largely horror-related and one of the most anticipated, Mr. Harrigan’s phone was recently released. The new film is an adaptation of a short story by none other than the king of horror, Stephen King. King has a son, Joe Hill, who is also a writer who had an adaptation of his own short story released in 2022: The black phone.
There is no denying that the King family has a very creative mind for horror and thrillers. The father and son have even collaborated before writing books and novellas, including the novel Sleeping Beauty. It’s interesting that both movies were released in the same year (which has been a lot of fun for horror fans around the world), because they have very similar aspects, but at the same time couldn’t be more different from each other. Their distinctive grasp of horror, mood and tone reinforce the difference between the two stories.
There’s no better feeling than getting in the mood for Halloween by watching new horror movies, especially those made by this family. Here’s a comparison and analysis of both movies, as well as recommendations for what to watch, depending on what you’re looking for.
The black phone and Mr. Harrigan’s phone
Before we get into what these movies have in common and what aspects they differ from, it’s necessary to have a broad idea of what they are about. the excellent black phone tells the story of Finney (Mason Thames), a young boy who is kidnapped by a serial killer named The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) and must escape before becoming one of the victims. Along with the supernatural help of his sister, who dreams about things before they happen, Finney gets help from a disconnected black phone in the dingy basement where he’s being held. Through this phone, he can communicate with the murdered former victims of The Grabber and devise an escape plan.
Mr. Harrigan’s phone is about a young teenager named Craig (Jaeden Martell, who is no stranger to King’s adaptations to the big screen; he was part of THE). Craig works for longtime billionaire Mr. Harrigan (Donald Sutherland) and they often communicate over the phone so they can talk more easily. Sadly, the billionaire dies, but before they bury him, Craig tucks the phone into his coat – and they’ll keep in touch after death.
In the synopses alone, there are a few similar elements, but the tone and the way these topics are approached are very different. It’s important to point out that they have very different age ratings, which can directly affect the level of horror and more explicit moments presented on screen. The black phone is a much creepier, more gruesome and disturbing film.
Similar themes between each phone
Both films have many themes in common. Both young male protagonists have lost their mother and are still dealing with grief and the lack of a parent, but the father is in The black phone is insulting while the other tries his best to keep everything afloat. Both children are subject to bullying, and there is a lot of violence, physical and psychological, when the bullying is depicted and the lack of obvious consequences the bullies have (at least until they are too severe). Both characters deal with loneliness: they have no friends (especially in the Netflix movie, because in The black phone Finney has a sister with whom he is close) or people they can rely on.
It was a great coincidence that both films explored, over the phone, the idea of connecting with those who have died. It is also necessary to ask deceased people for help: some more macabre than others, but no less important. Finney doesn’t immediately ask the ghosts of The Grabber’s other victims to help. It makes sense because he actually sees their ghosts and is terrified, and the film eerily shows the remnants of the violence they endure and what awaits Finney if he doesn’t escape. But since Mr. Harrigan doesn’t appear to Craig at all, it’s much easier to ask for help when he’s in need.
Another subject that takes on very different points of view is the idea of revenge and being able to avenge the dead. The black phone engages in revenge and prevents the killer from ever committing such crimes, where the children who died take revenge in a certain way. In Mr. Harrigan’s phonethe living boy uses the dead to get revenge.
Horror vs Drama in Harrigan’s and Black Phone
Understandably, when something comes out of a Stephen King short story, the horror genre is immediately attached to it. However, in the case of Mr. Harrigan’s phone, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The story is one of the author’s most optimistic, and the horror moments are short and very sparse. Also, having a PG-13 rating seems to have created a safety net that prevents the director from going as far into horror as Scott Derrickson did in The black phone.
Both movies are entertaining, but for very different reasons. If you’re looking for a more disturbing horror that will make you jump out of your seat, then The black phone is the one to watch. But if you’re looking for a more emotional and dramatic story that has a clear and optimistic message, but doesn’t focus on being scary, then Mr. Harrigan’s phone would be the one to choose. You can dial in both to get in the mood for Halloween – it just depends on what you want on the other end of the phone.