Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Coming-of-age thriller has some graphic violence, language.
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Mr. Harrigan's Phone
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is a mix of creepy and emotional, with many finding it engaging yet not particularly scary or intense. While some appreciate the compelling performances and themes, others criticize the pacing, lack of action, and reliance on jump scares, suggesting it might be more suitable for older kids.
- creepy elements
- engaging performances
- pacing issues
- suitable for kids
- emotional themes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In MR. HARRIGAN'S PHONE, it's 2003, and Craig (Jaeden Martell) is a young teen starting high school in a small town in Maine. He lives with his father two years after the untimely death of his mother. After hearing Craig read from the Bible during church service, a reclusive elderly billionaire named John Harrigan (Donald Sutherland) reaches out to him to offer him a job: Go to Harrigan's mansion and read novels to him three times a week. Craig agrees to the job, and over time, an unexpected bond forms between Craig and the gruff and no-nonsense Harrigan (a vengeful and much despised member of the community), so much so that when the iPhone is first introduced on the market, Craig buys one for Harrigan with money he received from a winning scratch-off lottery ticket that Harrigan gave to him for Christmas. Shortly after, Harrigan passes away, and Craig leaves Harrigan's iPhone in Harrigan's pocket at the funeral service. As Craig mourns Harrigan's death while trying to navigate the challenges of high school (including the unwanted attention of the school bully), he makes a shocking discovery: It appears that the messages Craig leaves for Harrigan while grieving are being answered. In addition, Craig's expressions of desire for retribution against those who have wronged him are being more than answered. As he gets older and leaves for college, Craig must decide if he's willing to get revenge after a particularly painful tragedy befalls innocent victims.
Is It Any Good?
Viewers might expect a horror-thriller, but this is more of a coming-of-age story about the perils of revenge and a reflection on how we've changed since the arrival of the smartphone. Mr. Harrigan's Phone is set in 2003 and the years after as the first iPhones came onto the market, but aside from some period music from the 2000s and the rise of texting and scrolling, the nostalgia isn't particularly heavy. The story is about the good and bad ways the wisdom and advice of older generations influences younger generations.
It's not for everyone, particularly those who see that it's a Stephen King story and expect scares on par with The Shining or It. Those expecting horror, gore, and even scares will be particularly disappointed when they learn that the "secrets" that the despised reclusive billionaire (wonderfully played by Donald Sutherland) keeps behind a locked door in his mansion aren't dead bodies, severed limbs, demons, etc., but are more in line with what the story is actually about. In the King canon, it's more akin to Stand by Me than anything else he's known for, and it's best for those who want a simple story that has some graphic moments but isn't defined by those moments.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the messages in Mr. Harrigan's Phone. What does the movie say about smartphones and how they are used? What does it communicate about the perils of seeking and getting revenge, even if the person in question clearly deserves it?
While the movie is a drama-thriller, it's also a coming-of-age story. How is it a tale about growing up?
This movie is based on a short story by Stephen King, a writer whose work has been adapted into movies many times. How is this similar to and different from King's other stories and novels that have been adapted into movies?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 4, 2022
- Cast : Jaeden Martell , Donald Sutherland , Kirby Howell-Baptiste
- Director : John Lee Hancock
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Thematic material, some strong language, violent content and brief drug material.
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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