Mr. Harrigan’s Phone Review: Netflix has released a Horror Film titled “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” which is based on a short story by Stephen King. Starring Donald Sutherland, Jaeden Martell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Joe Tippett, Cyrus Arnold, and Carl Zohan.
The film tells the story of a high school boy named Craig who finds a meaningful relationship with a business mogul Mr. Harrigan who is living a secluded life in his small town and hires him to read novels to him because of his deteriorating eyesight but when Mr. Harrigan dies of a heart attack, Craig as a means of still being connected makes calls to his cell phone about who torments him and those people start to end up dead by the ghost of Mr. Harrigan who seems to avenge Craig.
Strong Points
Interesting Blend of Satire & Aladdin
The fact that Craig starts to ask things of Mr. Harrigan indirectly and Mr. Harrigan’s ghost completes those wishes, it feels like Aladdin but with unlimited wishes and much grim.
Also, the whole story revolves around the communication established because of a phone and there are places in the film where Mr. Harrigan & Craig seem to be discussing the effects of a phone at one point, Craig looks around him and all he could see are people with their phones which seems like a satire of the current society who is so addicted to their phones.
Dark At Times
From a Horror Film, you expect some grim scenes and you get that in this film. The way the killings are done by Mr. Harrigan’s Ghost is an homage to some conversation that’s happened before which makes the killing far more obvious that it’s Mr. Harrigan who killed them.
Strong Cast
The acting in the film is spot-on. Donald Sutherland, as always is tremendous while Jaeden Martell is amazing too! Their chemistry works beautifully in the first half which is dedicated to showing us the relationship between them which although is a transactional relationship ends up being a lot more meaningful and essential for one another.
Read: Dead For A Dollar Review: A Lousy Thriller
Weak Points
Not So much of a Horror Movie
For a Film that is supposed to be a Horror Film, there are no Jump Scares or anything particularly special that you can say easily that it belongs to that genre. It could be a Thriller & Drama at best, but it is definitely not a Horror Film.
Predictable
The film is pretty predictable for a Horror Film and after some point, you don’t get much from a film that sounded promising. Apart from the satirical punches and meaningful relationship that a typical Horror Fanatic wouldn’t have it on the top of their list, the film is pretty basic.
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
“Mr. Harrigan’s Phone is a Drama, Thriller at best, and definitely not a Horror Flick so do not get your hopes up and watch it in a Horror Film setting because you will be disappointed. Instead, watch it as a Drama and you’ll like it”
