📝 Synopsis
Overview
Based on a novella from Stephen King's 2020 collection If It Bleeds, Mr. Harrigan's Phone is a 2022 Netflix film that blends coming-of-age drama with supernatural horror and moral mystery. Directed by John Lee Hancock, known for more grounded dramas like The Blind Side and The Founder, the film presents a slow-burn, character-driven tale that explores the complex relationship between a lonely boy and a reclusive billionaire, and the eerie consequences that outlast death. Anchored by a poignant final performance from the legendary Donald Sutherland, the movie is less a traditional horror flick and more a melancholic meditation on grief, guilt, technology, and the lingering connections we forge.
Plot Synopsis (NO SPOILERS)
In the small town of Harlow, Maine, young Craig (Colin O'Brien), grieving the loss of his mother, is hired by the wealthy, elderly Mr. John Harrigan (Donald Sutherland) to read to him several days a week. What begins as a simple business transaction slowly deepens into a genuine, if unconventional, friendship. Mr. Harrigan, a shrewd and reserved former businessman, becomes a mentor to Craig, offering life lessons and financial advice, while Craig introduces the old man to the new digital world, eventually giving him a first-generation iPhone.
When Mr. Harrigan passes away, Craig is heartbroken. He continues a ritual of leaving voicemail messages on his old mentor's cell phone, which was buried with him. To Craig's shock and terror, he discovers that Mr. Harrigan seems to be listening from beyond the grave. The phone becomes a conduit for a supernatural presence, one that appears to act on Craig's deepest, darkest feelings of anger and injustice. Craig is forced to grapple with whether this phenomenon is a comforting continuation of their bond or a terrifying corruption of it, as he navigates the perils of high school and the weight of a power he cannot fully understand or control.
Cast and Characters
The film's emotional core rests entirely on the shoulders of its two lead performers. Donald Sutherland is masterful as Mr. John Harrigan, imbuing the character with a granite-like exterior that slowly reveals cracks of warmth, intellect, and deep-seated loneliness. His performance is measured and powerful, making the character's presence felt long after he leaves the screen. Colin O'Brien as young Craig delivers a remarkably mature and nuanced performance, perfectly capturing the boy's vulnerability, intelligence, and moral confusion. The dynamic between them feels authentic and earned, which is crucial for the story's later developments.
The supporting cast, including Joe Tippett as Craig's loving but struggling father and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as a kind teacher, provide a solid foundation for Craig's world. However, this is unequivocally a two-hander between Sutherland and O'Brien, and their chemistry is what makes the supernatural elements resonate on a human level.
Director and Style
John Lee Hancock approaches this Stephen King story with a distinctly dramatic sensibility, prioritizing character and atmosphere over jump scares. The horror in Mr. Harrigan's Phone is subtle, creeping, and psychological. Hancock uses the muted, autumnal palette of rural Maine to create a feeling of timeless melancholy. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the relationship between Craig and Mr. Harrigan to develop organically, which makes the supernatural turn in the second half more impactful.
The film's style is clean and classical, with a focus on close-ups that capture the actors' nuanced performances. The iPhone itself is filmed not as a flashy gadget but as an ominous, glowing rectangle—a modern-day talisman or tomb. Hancock smartly avoids over-explaining the supernatural mechanics, leaving the audience, like Craig, to wonder about the source and nature of the phenomena, which amplifies the unease and thematic weight.
Themes and Impact
At its heart, Mr. Harrigan's Phone is a story about the permanence of connection in the digital age. It questions what happens to our relationships, and even our souls, when they are mediated by technology that outlives us. The phone becomes a metaphor for unresolved grief, unspoken guilt, and the dangerous ease with which we can now act on our darkest impulses, even indirectly.
The film deeply explores mentorship and the legacy one person leaves on another. Mr. Harrigan's lessons—both about finance and about life's harsh realities—continue to shape Craig, for better and for worse. Themes of class and loneliness are also prevalent, contrasting Craig's modest life with Harrigan's gilded isolation. Ultimately, the movie serves as a cautionary tale about wishing for cosmic justice, reminding us that such power is rarely clean or without profound personal cost. The impact is a lingering, contemplative dread rather than a fleeting fright.
Why Watch
Watch Mr. Harrigan's Phone for a performance-driven, atmospheric piece of horror that favors mood over mayhem. It is an ideal choice for viewers who prefer the quieter, more psychological side of Stephen King's storytelling, akin to films like Stand by Me or The Green Mile with a supernatural twist. Fans of Donald Sutherland will find a magnificent final bow in a role that showcases his immense talent.
This is not a film for those seeking constant action or conventional scares. Its 6.0/10 rating reflects a divide between audiences expecting traditional horror and those appreciating its dramatic heft. If you are in the mood for a thoughtful, melancholic, and beautifully acted exploration of grief, friendship, and the ghosts we create in the modern world—both literal and figurative—then this film offers a uniquely haunting experience that will linger long after the screen goes dark.