Netflix releases a trailer for the new Stephen King movie titled Mr. Harrigan's Phone. The film is based on the novella of the same title from King's short story collection If It Bleeds. This is the latest of several short stories from King that have been adapted for the screen, with notable past adaptations including Children of the Corn, The Night Flier, and 1922, although it seems like Mr. Harrigan's Phone will not be the last of King's short stories to be adapted, as several stories from If It Bleeds earned option deals.
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John Lee Hancock (The Little Things) adapted the script for Mr. Harrigan's Phone, and is also directing the film. Additionally, Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story), Carla Hacken (Hell or High Water), and Blumhouse Productions' Jason Blum serve as producers on the film that will star Donald Sutherland (The Hunger Games) and Jaeden Martell (It) in the leading roles. The film has already started garnering buzz as King openly praised it on Twitter after viewing a cut of Mr. Harrigan's Phone, an uncharacteristic move from the writer who, in the past, has been critical of several adaptations of his books including Stanley Kubrick's The Shining.
A new trailer for Mr. Harrigan's Phone from Netflix shows that Craig (played by Martell) is a young boy who is bullied and forms a bond with reclusive billionaire Mr. Harrigan (played by Sutherland). Mr. Harrigan seems to act as a mentor to Craig and even gifts him the first version of the iPhone. After Mr. Harrigan dies, his relationship with Craig becomes more complicated as he continues communicating with Craig through the gifted phone, but his mentorship, as well as the full nature of Mr. Harrigan's past, takes a twisted turn. The full trailer can be viewed below:
The fact that King himself is excited about the upcoming film is a sign that the film may stay more true to the original source material, and offer a satisfying watch for those obsessed with King's characteristic tone and style of storytelling. Besides Sutherland and Martell demonstrating themselves to be seasoned actors in the horror and mystery genres, both have also worked on previous adaptations of King's works with Martell starring as young Bill Denbrough in It and It Chapter Two, and Sutherland starring as Richard Straker in Salem's Lot. Hopefully, this familiarity with King's works and adaptations means that the two actors will be adept at walking the line between a film centering on friendship, while also being shrouded in the atmosphere of mystery and horror that any King project is sure to have.
The film has a release date of October 5 and is coming after the summer indie horror hit, The Black Phone, which includes some similarities not only in its title but also in its plot. Based on the trailer for Mr. Harrigan's Phone, it seems to offer a type of horror film not as dark or full of jump scares as The Black Phone, although Mr. Harrigan's Phone may include more of a fright than is initially let on. Viewers will have to continue following news regarding Mr. Harrigan's Phone ahead of its premiere and watch it for themselves on Netflix to see whether it will be the next King adaptation to offer a delightfully spooky tale around Halloween season.
Sources: Netflix