Turning a short story into a movie often means adding extra scenes to reach a reasonable length, and this film falls into that trap, especially in its initial thirty minutes. This section focuses too much on introducing characters whose presence doesn't significantly contribute to the central plot. However, once the narrative gains momentum, it evolves into a skillfully made horror film revolving around "Finn" (Mason Thames). He experiences bullying at school but finds support from his friend "Robin" (Miguel Cazarez Mora), who then vanishes. Robin’s disappearance isn’t isolated; five children in this small town have gone missing recently. While walking home, "Finn" stops to assist a man who has spilled groceries. Suddenly, he finds himself imprisoned in a dirty basement containing only a soiled mattress and a disconnected phone. His masked captor – someone with a vaguely “Joker”-like quality – claims Finn is safe, but the ringing phone introduces the other five victims, who warn him and attempt to aid his escape from this adversary. While there are a few startling moments, the film primarily builds an unsettling atmosphere, supported by strong performances from Thames and his sister "Gwen" (Madeleine McGraw), who seems to have inherited her mother's ability to foresee future events in dreams—a talent that could be crucial for helping the police rescue her brother from what appears to be a deadly fate. The film hints at violence but avoids explicit depictions as the young man confronts personal struggles and seeks freedom. The final ten minutes significantly improve the overall experience, leading to a genuinely gratifying resolution. Scott Derrickson has delivered one of Blumhouse’s stronger productions in recent times and is certainly worth seeing.

Source on TMDB