Are you Afraid of the Dark?: “The Tale of the Phone Police” (S3E04)
Are you Afraid of the Dark?: “The Tale of the Phone Police” (S3E04)
Plot Summary
In this cautionary tale about technology and authority, we meet Jake, a mischievous boy who loves making prank calls. He and his friend Chris spend their free time dialling random numbers for laughs, ignoring warnings about the mysterious ‘Phone Police’, a shadowy organisation that supposedly punishes prank callers. When Jake accidentally calls the wrong number and hears a chilling voice threaten to trace the call, the boys dismiss it as a joke. But soon, strange things start happening.
One night, Jake is abducted by uniformed officers and taken to a cold, bureaucratic facility run by the Phone Police. Inside, time seems frozen, filled with other captured prank callers who’ve been trapped for decades. With Chris’s help, Jake must find a way to escape before he’s erased from every phone record—and from everyone’s memory.
Highlights:
- A creative premise that turns a common childhood prank into a genuine nightmare.
- The concept of being forgotten adds a surprisingly dark layer to the story.
- The retro switchboards and eerie office setting create strong visual tension.
What Doesn’t Work:
- The Phone Police themselves could have been developed further beyond their concept.
- The ending, while chilling, feels slightly abrupt.
- Some dialogue feels forced, especially during the rescue scene.
Final Thoughts
“The Tale of the Phone Police” is one of the most memorable episodes for its dystopian atmosphere and creepy take on urban legend. Its blend of paranoia and punishment echoes adult sci-fi thrillers, making it stand out in tone and theme. While not the scariest, it’s among the most thought-provoking, especially for a show aimed at younger audiences.
