Film Review: "Mr. Harrigan's Phone" (2022).

"Some connections never die" in Mr. Harrigan's Phone. This horror film written and directed by John Lee Hancock, and based on the novella of the same name by Stephen King from the collection If It Bleeds. A boy and an ageing billionaire bond over books - and their first iPhones. But when the older man passes, their mysterious connection refuses to die.

In early July 2020, it was reported by Deadline Hollywood that Netflix had acquired film rights to King's novella of the same name, to be produced by Blumhouse Productions and Ryan Murphy and with Hancock penning and directing the film adaptation. In early October  2021, it was reported that Donald Sutherland and Jaeden Martell were cast as the leads. By late October, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Cyrus Arnold rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late December. Filming took place in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA.

The film stars Martell, Sutherland, Howell-Baptiste, and Arnold. The performances are lukewarm, and the film lacks momentum with them. It’s just a shame to see great talents largely go to waste. Sutherland is creepy as all heck but too much of this film feels paint-by-numbers.

I was entirely willing to go where this movie wanted to take me… right up until the end, when it decided to sell the creepy message. It is a film where an entire plot hinges on a magical doodad and some psychic abilities the complete and total avoidance of their interrogation discombobulates the world and superimposes a sense of falseness to its entirety. A perplexing puzzle that won’t leave you hanging up. It won’t necessarily have you on the edge of your seat either, but that’s only because the film is more creepy than it is frightening. It’s more like watching a crime drama with jump scares, quickly reveals its true face: a clumsy thriller that drags its ambitions far beyond its means. The effort is appreciated as far as it goes. But it doesn’t matter how enthusiastically you dial if you end up with a bore on the other end of the line. Has a few things going for it, but can’t overcome some plot machinations that don’t quite add up, as well as other elements that aren’t quite developed. There are very few classic hallmarks of horror films in the film. They arrive in the third act, but before that, it is a lot of nothing. Talking. No cat-and-mouse chasing. No killing. Not even any suspense. Despite some inspired shots, and jump scares that will have you tossing your popcorn in the air, lackluster teen acting and silly lapses in plausibility undermine an otherwise intriguing idea. This is one incoming call that simply can't find a connection. The film has some solid set pieces and decent performances from the child leads, but it never quite musters enough substance to horrify in the way that it should. Frustratingly, potential is all Hancock’s movie has, as it’s stymied by poor scripting and awkward execution.

Simon says Mr. Harrigan's Phone receives:

Also, see my review for The Little Things.