Table of Contents
Introduction
Robin the Black Phone focuses on the experiences of a 13-year-old kidnapped child. Finney Shaw, a shy but intelligent boy, is held in a soundproof basement by a sadistic killer. Things change when the phone, which is on the wall and doesn’t seem connected, starts ringing. Finney can hear the voices of the killer’s other victims through the phone. Finney is determines to prevent what happen to the other victims from happening to him, and he embarks on a tough fight. Scott Derrickson, whom we know from films such as The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Sinister, and Doctor Strange, and who left Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness at the last minute due to creative disagreements, is the son of Stephen King’s Joe Hill.
Adapted from his short story, Black Phone brings together a story that took place in Denver with the audience in the aesthetics of the 70s. 13-year-old Finney is a shy child with an abusive and alcoholic father and his sister Gwen, who inherited her deceased mother’s clairvoyant ability. While life is hard enough for Finney, who cannot deal with the bullies at school and cannot open up to the girl he likes, the existence of a serial killer who hunts his peers one by one and leaves black balloons behind makes things even more difficult. The final blow for Finney, who knew more or less all the previously abducted boys. It was his friend Robin who saved him from his bullies.
Who Plays Robin The Black Phone?
Miguel Cazarez Mora plays Robin. The young actor tackles the role of a former victim of the Grabber. He has been speaking with and helping Finney (played by Mason Thames) throughout the events of the film courtesy of the titular phone. As it turns out, this is a breakout role for Miguel. Robin stands high as the actor’s first listed screen role but is sure to open some avenues and opportunities within the industry. While you won’t find him in any other movies, you will find him on social media. His TikTok is Miguel. Cazarez. Mora has over 3,500 followers at the moment.
Who Was Robin The Black Phone?
Robin taught Finney about fighting back against bullies in high school. The opening act had Robin pummeling a racist white kid, impressing Finney’s sister, Gwen, but scaring Finney, who hated violence. It stemmed from an abusive childhood, which made Gwen more aggressive than Finney.
Still, Finney didn’t cut the bond with Robin, who always believed Finney was special. It was part of a warm dynamic, with Finney helping Robin with his academics while Robin educated him on R-rated action movies. Luckily, Robin made it clear on school grounds Finney was protected by him, but things got tragic when the Grabber killed Robin. That was the fifth abduction and yet another mystery in the quiet little suburb.
Background
Robin was a boy of Mexican descent who moved to Denver, Colorado, where he met and quickly became best friends with Finney Blake. Sometime before 1976, he lost his father in the Vietnam War. He was great at martial arts and would often spend time with his uncle, going to drive-ins with him.
In the morning that Finney and Gwen are walking to school, Robin is seen starting a fight with Moose. It was witness by the Blake siblings and some students from his school. The Grabber’s van is seen passing by. Gwen later mentions the fight, saying that Moose deserved it since he had cause harm to Finney before. Robin consider the most muscular boy in school, as former bully Vance Hopper was taken in by The Grabber the year prior.
Later, Robin goes to the bathroom to wipe Moose’s blood off his hands and comes across school bullies Matt, Buzz, and Matty making fun of Finn. Soon after, Robin defends him, threatening the trio and saying that if they ever messed with Finn again, he would end them. Shortly after that, he and Finney talked about movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Enter the Dragon, which were off-limits to minors, but they both liked those movies. Robin asks Finn if he could come by to help him understand his Math assignments. Robin also tells Finn that he will have to fend for himself one day.
Kidnapping
On November 9, 1978, Robin was walking past an establishment (presumably to get snacks for himself and Finney since he schedule to tutor Robin with math.) when a black van was waiting for him. The Grabber is seen exiting the van. Robin place in the soundproof basement by The Grabber and was subsequently kill by him. Later that night, Terrence is tipped off about Robin’s disappearance. A search is carried out by the police in the regions of the city, but without leads. Days later, the bullies take advantage of Robin’s disappearance to return to bullying Finn and his sister Gwen.
After his Death
Robin’s ghost remained in The Grabber’s basement. During Finn’s kidnapping, Robin manages to talk to him over the phone and encourages him not to give up on the idea of filling the phone with dirt and teaches him to strike. After that, he tells Finn that it is now up to him and that if he can’t do it for himself, let him do it and show him that he didn’t die for nothing. Gwen sees Robin’s ghost alongside the other victims of The Grabber, in which they make her stop in front of the house where they are all buried.
In the end, Robin’s voice is heard by The Grabber and his previous victims. He says he couldn’t kill him, but Finney would do it for him.
How Did Finney Become Robin The Black Phone?
Unfortunately, Finney got taken by the Grabber. However, the ghosts of the dead boys contacted Finney through a broken phone in the cellar, trying to help him escape on various occasions. Finney ended up reconciling their plans to set a trap, but the icing on the cake came when Robin’s spirit made contact, urging Finney to fill the receiver with sand from beneath the tiles.
It would give it heft so he could crack the Grabber’s skull. Finney scare of confrontation, but Robin guided him, reminding him the kidnapper was the worst oppressive bully. He told Finney he always impress with how he could take a hit, no matter how hard, and get back up. Robin even gave a speech like a coach, complimenting Finney on how he’d always move forward, rolling with every punch in school. It was a remix of Rocky’s line from 2006’s Rocky Balboa, where he told his son, “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s near how hard you can get hit and keep touching forward.”
What Happened To Robin After The Black Phone?
Even with multi-time Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke at the forefront in the role of the masked criminal known as the Grabber, the suspense horror “The Black Phone” wouldn’t reach the heights it does without its cast of Hollywood newcomers. For instance, Mason Thames turns in a stellar performance as Finn “Finney” Blake, and Madeleine McGraw does an excellent job as his psychic sister, Gwendolyn “Gwen” Blake. Of course, the actors behind the deceased children who help Finney escape the Grabber’s lair are just as deserving of praise, especially Robin actor Miguel Cazarez Mora.
Though he’s a minor player in the grand scheme of “The Black Phone,” Mora’s Robin is undoubtedly a highlight. Labeled one of the most demanding kids in school by his classmates, Robin strikes up a friendship with the timid and often bullied Finney, with them studying together outside of school. Despite his nature as a rough and tough kid, Robin is not only kidnap by the Grabber but kill for not playing by the rules of his “game.” Thankfully, he gets revenge through the disconnected phone in the Grabber’s basement, using it to give Finney the courage to escape his captor’s clutches.
How Did Robin Die In The Black Phone?
Robin’s tragic end in “The Black Phone” saw him meet his fate at the hands of a remorseless killer, further intensifying the film’s suspenseful atmosphere.
Robin’s Role in The Black Phone
In “The Black Phone,” Robin is one of the main characters. Understanding his role in the story is essential to appreciating the film’s terrifying scope and psychological foundations. As the plot develops, Robin’s persona serves as a catalyst, moving the story along and laying the groundwork for the following spooky occurrences.
The Dark Room and The Ominous Phone
A darkly lit basement area is where most of the tension in the movie is center. Robin is entrappers in this location together with other unhappy people. The enigmatic black phone that serves as the room’s focal point plays a crucial role in the developing drama. When cut off from the outside world, the phone becomes a source of hope and fear.
The Heartbreaking Truth
As the story develops, it becomes clear that Robin and other victims are the victims of a cold-blooded serial killer. They stalk the protagonist’s every move, serving as a constant reminder of the hopeless circumstances she is in. The narrative guides the audience toward the sobering reality of Robin’s death amid the echoes and shadows of the past.
The Chilling Climax
“The Black Phone” has a heartbreaking and moving climax. Raw intensity depicts the sad reality of Robin’s death at the hands of an unrelenting murderer. The suspenseful and emotional climax resonates strongly and leaves a lasting imprint on the viewer’s mind. A terrifying conclusion to the story is provided by Robin’s untimely death amid the horrors of the cellar.
Symbolism and Interpretation
The movie uses Robin’s death as more than just a plot device. It represents both the passing of innocence and the harsh realities of life. The black phone stands for a bridge between life and death, hope and misery, with its sporadic calls from the afterlife. The movie dives deeply into survival, fate, and the human spirit’s unbreakable will through Robin’s death and the subsequent occurrences.
Impact on the Audience
The ability of “The Black Phone” to elicit sincere feelings from its audience is one of the film’s notable accomplishments. Robin’s terrible demise is more than just a plot development; it is a shocking incident that forces viewers to face the harsh truths of life and the constant threat of death. A thrilling and profoundly touching cinematic experience is provided by the film’s excellent blending of suspense, horror, and emotion.
Conclusion
From the trailers alone, Robin The Black Phone evoked a sense of claustrophobia and dread many movies hope to encapsulate in the horror genre. There was a lot of fear seeing Ethan Hawke as the Grabber, teasing how he’d kidnap and kill kids in Denver. And make no mistake, the film was deeply unsettling as the Grabber went about his mission. However, when the villain sought to make Finney his sixth victim in the finale, The Black Phone quickly turned into a Rocky movie thanks to Finney’s old friend, Robin.
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