Ethan Hawke Terrifies in First ‘The Black Phone’ CinemaCon

Universal Pictures debuted the primary take a look at Scott Derrickson’s “The Black Phone” throughout its CinemaCon presentation on Wednesday, and it was completely chilling.

The footage opens with two youngsters a “Missing” poster. On his stroll dwelling, a black van pulls up subsequent to a teen named Finney and the person, performed by Ethan Hawke, asks for assist with fallen items and entices him to the van with black balloons.

“Would you like to see a magic trick?” Hawke’s character says.

In the following scene, we see Finney in a basement with a black telephone that doesn’t work. The kidnapper involves see him in a horrifying masks and taunts him. Later, the telephone does ring and somebody says, “Don’t hang up … you’re getting out of here.” Glimpses of beforehand kidnapped youngsters seem as Finney tries to flee the grasp of the kidnapper.

Mason Thames (“For All Mankind”) and Madeleine McGraw (“Toy Story 4,” “Secrets of Sulphur Springs”) are starring within the movie. Scott Derrickson is directing. Derrickson and frequent collaborator Robert Cargill tailored the script primarily based on Joe Hill’s quick story.

Although plot particulars are being stored underneath wraps, the ebook synopsis is as follows:

Imogene is younger and exquisite. She kisses like a film star and is aware of every little thing about each movie ever made. She’s additionally lifeless and ready within the Rosebud Theater for Alec Sheldon one afternoon in 1945. Arthur Roth is a lonely child with massive concepts and a present for attracting abuse. It isn’t straightforward to make buddies once you’re the one inflatable boy on the town. Francis is sad. Francis was human as soon as, however that was then. Now he’s an eight-foot-tall locust and everybody in Calliphora will tremble after they hear him sing. John Finney is locked in a basement that’s stained with the blood of half a dozen different murdered youngsters. In the cellar with him is an vintage phone, lengthy since disconnected, however which rings at evening with calls from the lifeless.

Derrickson, Cargill and Jason Blum, for Blumhouse, are producing the movie. Joe Hill is an govt producer. Universal and Blumhouse will current the Crooked Highway Productions.

“The Black Phone” is hitting theaters in January.