A haunting tale of isolation and resilience, “The Black Phone” by Joe Hill is a masterclass in short-form horror and the inspiration for one of the most critically acclaimed horror films of the past five years.

Thirteen-year-old Finney Blake is abducted by a sadistic killer. Held captive in a locked basement, Finney discovers a disconnected black rotary phone mounted to the wall. At first glance, it seems useless. But then the phone begins to ring. One by one, Finney begins receiving calls from the killer’s previous victims—boys who were once in his place and who didn’t survive. Their whispers echo through the line, offering fragments of advice, warnings and a chance at escape that may be Finney’s only hope.

With razor-sharp pacing and a mounting sense of dread, “The Black Phone” delves into the psychology of terror, the resilience of a young boy forced to face the unimaginable and the chilling persistence of trauma that lingers beyond death. Hill conjures a visceral sense of place in the basement prison and gives voice—literally and figuratively—to the children whose lives were stolen too soon.

Originally published in Hill’s acclaimed debut collection 20th Century Ghosts, “The Black Phone” stands out as a chilling testament to his ability to blend emotional depth with supernatural suspense.