The Black Phone (2021)Director: Scott Derrickson

Writers: Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill (screenplay); based on the short story by Joe Hill

Summary: The Black Phone is a supernatural horror film set in the 1970s. It follows 13-year-old Finney Shaw, who is abducted by a sadistic killer known as "The Grabber" and held in a soundproof basement. While trapped, Finney begins receiving mysterious calls on a disconnected black rotary phone from the killer's previous victims—who try to help him escape. Meanwhile, his younger sister Gwen, who has psychic dreams, searches for clues to find him.

In this episode, John, Tiffany, and Matt delve into David Cronenberg's 1979 film, The Brood. Despite the movie's intriguing premise, the trio finds themselves struggling to unravel its complexities. From questionable special effects to a seemingly slow-moving plot, they share a range of opinions on the film. The episode also poses the question: will The Brood earn John enough points to secure a Quarter 1 victory?

In this month’s episode, Tiffany brings Magic (1978) to the table, a psychological horror film starring Anthony Hopkins and his eerie ventriloquist dummy. Before diving into the movie, we start with a discussion about the video games we’ve been playing lately.

Once we get into Magic, it quickly becomes clear just how slow this film is. With its sluggish pacing and lack of real scares, this could have been a strong contender for The Worst Horror Movie Ever in Season 2. By the end of the episode, one thing is certain—Tiffany’s pick earned a low score, and she might need a miracle to not end up in last place this quarter.