"The Black Phone" Review

The year is 1978, and a small community in Denver is living under a shadow. Children keep going missing, and others whisper of a figure known only as "The Grabber" spiriting them away to certain death. Finn (Mason Thames) is a bright and bullied boy, who fears this killer almost as much as he fears living with his abusive father (Jeremy Davies); and when he becomes the latest victim of "The Grabber", it falls to his sister Gwenn (Madeleine McGraw) to hunt for him, thanks to cryptic clues in her dreams. Finn must contend with The Grabber (Ethan Hawke), and whatever his plans for the boy may be, and all seems lost, until the phone in his cell starts ringing...

This movie was good.
Scott Derrickson has a good eye for horror, and makes them well. The central concept is strong, written as it is by Stephen King's clone, and unique. I love how the first 20/30 minutes of the movie are just Finn, Gwenn and their lives, as they live in the shadow of a great evil. It's excellent build up, and lays the foundations very well, establishing our characters, strengths and future plot points. When the plot kicks in, and The Grabber arrives, it's been worth the build up. The mask is trerrifying, and Hawke is always excellent. He seems to relish the part, and it is genuinely disconcerting to see him in this role. It's more concerning seeing him shirtless.
The film comes alive with him on screen, but wisely manages not to overuse him.
Thames and McGraw are excellent finds, and can carry the movie on their shoulders.
The film suffers from some of Derrickson's excesses, however, namely in the really awful jumpscares. He'll be using this concept incredibly well, weaving an interesting story, creating a brooding atmosphere, great editing (the use of Super 8 films as dreams is not only 100% a Scott Derrickson thing, but kind of inspired), when BOOM! There'll be an annoying loud orchestral score akin to somebody kicking a piano down the stairs of a violin shop, as if he thinks we're bored by this.
Thankfully these are not all over the place, like in a January horror movie, but they are frequent enough to get annoying.
The film has a good premise, oozes atmosphere, and doesn't have a lot of good things to say about the police (the ending shots are great), and its climax is very well-earned. James Ransone threatens to steal the show as a coke-fiend in a shirt made of numbers. I love him so much, he is a gift.

"Good Luck To You, Leo Grande"

Nancy Stokes (Emma Thompson) is a widow, repressed sexually after an incredibly boring marriage. But she has a plan: she has hired a sex worker by the name of Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) to try things she never had a chance to, and to give her a wild time. Over the course of a few meetings, Nancy starts to come out of her shell, learns about Leo Grande, learns about sex, and boundries are formed, pushed and tested.

This was a genuinely touching, sweet, nuanced and human look at sex, sexual awakenings and pleasrue. The characters are well sketched, McCormack is excellent (especially coming of the back of the also good "Pixie"), Thompson is always wonderful, and it doesn't feel exploitative or sleazy in any way. It's dam good, and the dancing sequence genuinely got me emotional. The script is by Katy Brand (a welcome surprise) and rather than being a laugh a minute romp, it focuses on the humanity of the characters and feels like a stage play, in a good way; though there is an excellent "Your Mum" joke which genuinely got me.
I really recommend this.