After reading Mr. Stephen King’s Harrigan’s Phone is a brilliant and surprising new novella. It is only natural to expect that the screen adaptation would have similar levels of thrills, insights, and enjoyment. Sadly, this new Netflix movie, produced and directed by camp horror fanatic Ryan Murphy is nothing but another disappointment of a great work by Stephen King.
Mr. Set in Maine, (where else?) ), Mr. Harrigan’s Phone is about Craig (Jaeden Martell), a boy who, as his vision deteriorates, has to be read old classics by Mr. Harrigan. Craig (Jaeden Martell) and Mr. Harrigan (Donald Sutherland), a mysterious billionaire, become friends over the years. They even became so close that Craig bought him his very first iPhone. Harrigan is infatuated by his iPhone, and Craig stuffs it into Harrigan’s coffin after he passes away. Craig laments his death and the man lies peacefully in the earth. This is the end.
Just kidding! Craig begins to leave voicemails about Harrigan and his bullies shortly after the casket has been closed. Then, bad things start happening to those who bully. Coincidence? Perhaps not. When we discover that Harrigan has been using his cellphone from beyond the grave, we get a hint that might finally deliver what we have been looking forward to: macabre terror and jump scares in abundance. In its 115 minutes, Harrigan’s Phone fails to deliver on this promise.
It’s hard to imagine a less frightening horror film than Mr. Harrigan’s Phone. Craig’s overly-expositional narration undermines any potentially tense moments, such as when Craig discovers that something terrible happened mysteriously to one of the bullies he has been bullying. The film only attempts a few jump scares, and even these are not very effective. The majority of them are just Craig’s phone rings, and that’s not enough to get you to break into a cold sweat.
But even if you remove Mr. Harrigan’s Phone’s horror is hollow, even if you remove Mr. This is really a tale about technology’s dangers – the risk of accessing too much information, and the loneliness that comes with holding a small rectangle. Most of the elements in this film are too unrealistic for these messages to be believable.
We’ll start by introducing the title character, Mr. Harrigan. Sutherland’s portrayal of Mr. Harrigan, played with gentle firmness in his best performance for the film is a caricature that never goes beyond the surface. Harrigan is never revealed to be anything more than a callous, mysterious billionaire, with white hair and expensive suits. He also has a fondness for old books. After all, we never get a good reason to consider him a character that is compelling, much less a ghost.
His relationship with Craig, the central character of the novel, suffers as a result. Why is Craig so upset when Harrigan passes away? What is it that Craig sees in Harrigan? What does Harrigan think of Craig? Hancock does not seem to be interested in providing any further insight.
Harrigan’s not the only one in the movie who comes across as highly unrealistic.
Mr. X is the most realistic character (only?) The most (only?) Craig is the main character in Harrigan’s Phone, though he does not have the same cartoonish personality. He’s a passive, forlorn protagonist who doesn’t have a compelling storyline. It’s hard to comprehend some of his choices because of the way he is written. His near-constant narration should be a way to explain the important stuff.
The film Mr. As Mr. These aren’t new lessons: Phones are addictive and help spread fake news. They also disconnect people from each other. These lessons seem heavy-handed in the context of this hollow film. If the movie had more to offer as a complete package, perhaps we would be more likely to answer when it rings.