🎬 Mr. Harrigan's Phone (2022)
Based on short story
Mr. Harrigan's Phone is a 2022 American supernatural horror film directed by John Lee Hancock, based on Stephen King's 2020 novella of the same name from the collection If It Bleeds. The film stars Donald Sutherland as the titular John Harrigan and Jaeden Martell as Craig, the young boy who forms an unlikely friendship with the reclusive billionaire. The story follows Craig as he wins a lottery ticket from Harrigan, uses the money to buy him an iPhone, and later discovers he can communicate with Harrigan after his death through the phone buried with him.
The adaptation stays largely faithful to King's original story, capturing its melancholic tone and exploration of grief and technology. However, the film expands on certain elements, including a more detailed backstory for Craig and additional supernatural occurrences. Hancock, known for The Blind Side and Saving Mr. Banks, brings a measured, character-driven approach that emphasizes the emotional core over jump scares. The film was released on Netflix on October 5, 2022, to mixed reviews, with praise for Sutherland's performance and the film's atmosphere, but criticism for its pacing and lack of horror intensity.
King's novella, published in 2020, is part of a collection that also includes The Life of Chuck, If It Bleeds, and Rat. The story was originally conceived as a standalone piece, reflecting King's fascination with the way modern technology can amplify ancient fears. The film adaptation marks another entry in the long history of King's works being brought to the screen, joining classics like The Shawshank Redemption and It. While not as widely acclaimed as some King adaptations, Mr. Harrigan's Phone offers a thoughtful, slow-burn take on the author's signature blend of the ordinary and the supernatural.
Mr. Harrigan's Phone is a novella by American author Stephen King, first published in 2020 as part of the collection If It Bleeds. The story is set in the early 2000s and follows Craig, a young boy who befriends a reclusive elderly billionaire named John Harrigan. After winning a lottery ticket given to him by Harrigan, Craig buys his friend an iPhone, and the two develop a close bond through phone calls and texts. When Harrigan dies, Craig buries the phone with him, only to discover that he can still communicate with the dead man through the device, leading to supernatural consequences.
The novella explores themes of grief, technology, and the moral implications of using power beyond the grave. King's characteristic blend of horror and coming-of-age storytelling is evident, with a focus on the relationship between youth and age in a rapidly changing digital world. The story was well-received by critics and readers, praised for its emotional depth and eerie premise. It stands as a modern addition to King's extensive body of work, which often examines the intersection of everyday life and the supernatural.