Mr. Harrigan's Phone

*In the end, the supernatural force belonging to Mr. Harrigan reveals itself as a result of his troubled past and the guilt he carried from how he treated people during his lifetime. After Craig, now older and in college, makes a desperate plea for Mr. Harrigan’s supernatural help—asking him to kill Deane Whitmore, the reckless driver responsible for his teacher Ms. Hart’s death—it’s implied that the spirit of Mr. Harrigan responds by killing Whitmore in a symbolic act of revenge. Whitmore is found dead in a way reminiscent of Kenny’s death, with a can of shoe polish and a choking incident involving soap—both objects linked to previous deaths and to Mr. Harrigan’s own dark history.

As Craig uncovers more about his former employer’s past, he realizes that Mr. Harrigan’s spirit is not benevolent but driven by unresolved guilt and darker motives. The old man’s prior ruthlessness and neglect during his lifetime seem to have bound his spirit to a vengeful existence, which he continues to manifest through supernatural acts inspired by Craig’s requests.

Eventually, Craig understands that his connection to Mr. Harrigan and his phone is too dangerous, especially since his messages and calls, albeit symbolic, seem to influence real deaths. Feeling responsible for the chaos and grief he has caused—by unknowingly summoning a vengeful spirit—Craig decides to break free from this supernatural bond. He visits the graveyard, apologizes for the past, and throws away the phone into the water, symbolically ending his ties to Mr. Harrigan and the supernatural force.

This act signifies his acceptance that he must let go of old guilt, death, and the dangerous dependence on technology that can unintentionally unleash harm. The story concludes with Craig reflecting on his choices, wishing he could be free from the influence of his phone and the ghostly presence, emphasizing the movie’s underlying warning about modern dependence on smartphones and the potential for unseen consequences. Ultimately, Craig’s final decision to dispose of the phone is a metaphor for seeking peace and releasing the spirits and guilt that haunted him, even as he acknowledges that he can’t completely escape the shadows of his past or the consequences of his actions.*

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:58