Scott Derrickson’s Black Phone 2 is a follow up to the original 2022 film. It follows Mason Thames and Madeleine McGrawas as Finney and Gwen in a new story that feels colder and sharper than before.
The film blends eerie retro visuals with a growing sense of emotional weight as the two leads face new terrors that reach beyond the world of the original. As critic Karina Adelgaard puts it, “Whether you will find the first movie or this sequel the scariest is probably depending on your personal fears. ”
Black Phone 2 stands out most in its look. The dream scenes feel rough and grainy, almost like old film reels, which gives them a strange and uneasy mood. Outside these moments, the movie uses lots of cold colors which make the world feel drained.
The pacing shifts quite a bit. The opening takes a while to set up the new environment and the returning characters; but once the supernatural thread tightens, the movie picks up.
Mason Thames is a master at bringing real frustration, emotion, and hurt to Finney who is older now and carrying more emotional weight. Unfortunately, Madeleine McGraw doesn’t deliver the same great performance. Although her emotional scenes were solid, her dialogue felt very dry.
Ethan Hawke’s return as the Grabber was magnificent while also providing a different kind of fear. He is still threatening, but now has a presence that feels more otherworldly. Unfortunately, the Grabber didn’t have as much screen time as one might want.
This sequel leans toward supernatural horror more than the original. It reaches for an atmosphere that feels dreamlike and dangerous, and nods to classic horror styles: the grainy lens used in the dream sequences, smoky lighting, and the use of ideas from both Friday The 13th and Nightmare On Elm Street.
The first film told a tight, grounded story centered on a single location. The sequel opens into a larger world with a broader vision of the threat at hand. While this shift loses the sharp focus that made the original so strong, the new direction adds fresh energy, even though it loses some of the subtle yet disturbing terror of the original.
Black Phone 2 is a very different film from the original which brings both positives and negatives. Although the sequel struggles with its pacing it has some incredible visuals and atmosphere. Viewers who want a supernatural follow up will find plenty to enjoy, but if you preferred the narrow, claustrophobic, fear of the first film then the second may be a let down. If you’re someone who’s interested, then peacock is where you can find it!
