[imagesource: Empire]

Scoring 100% on Rotten Tomatoes is generally a good indicator that you’re doing something right.

It doesn’t mean a film or series has been given 10 out of 10, or a perfect score of any variety, but rather that each professional review recorded by the website is assessed as positive rather than negative.

As you can see from this extensive list it’s not highly unusual. In 2022 alone, four films currently have a 100% score.

The number in the right-hand column denotes how many reviews there have been:

Image: Wikipedia

Let’s hone in on the first of those films, The Black Phone, starring Ethan Hawke, and the synopsis via Universal Pictures:

Finney Shaw, a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.

Starring four-time Oscar® nominee Ethan Hawke in the most terrifying role of his career and introducing Mason Thames in his first ever film role, The Black Phone is produced, directed, and co-written by Scott Derrickson.

He’s the writer-director of Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and Marvel’s Doctor Strange so he has some pedigree:

Despite what the above trailer says, the film will only be released this Friday (June 24).

CinemaBlend has a summary of some critic reviews, starting with their own:

 Corey Chichizola rates the horror 4.5 stars out of 5, saying that Scott Derrickson is a horror master, and this film proves it.

“Overall, The Black Phone is everything you want in a horror movie: terrifying, thrilling, and delivering an ending you won’t forget.”

Mike Manalo of Nerds of Color would seemingly agree with the above assessment, grading the movie an A-. This review praises everything from the acting — both in the leading and supporting roles — to the score in what is so much more than your typical horror flick.

Variety’s Owen Gleiberman wasn’t totally won over but, on the whole, this looks to be a must-watch for those who like horror movies.

As a certified wimp, I will give it a hard pass.

[sources:unipictures&cinemablend]