Skip to main content

The Black Phone 2 – The Sequel That Answers Some Calls and Mutes Others

I went into this having been burned by a million horror franchises that mistake "sequel" for "apology tour." After a first movie that left me genuinely wishy-washy, I braced myself for a film that would either lean too hard into explaining the mystery or, worse, just be a paint-by-numbers rehash. I had little choice but to expect the worst: a cash-grab that neutered the menace for a wider audience. Instead, what arrived was a picture that was—and this is the only way to put it—kinda' hard to rate, pivoting from genuinely striking atmosphere to curiously muted menace in a way that kept me leaning in, if only to figure out what it was trying to be.

Image by encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com


Answering the Call

Let’s start with the stuff that worked. The atmosphere the film conjures is genuinely excellent. There's a brilliant, palpable isolation to the camp setting that brings to mind the heavy dread of something like The Shining. You feel the remoteness, and the filmmakers attempt to generate a serious sense of suspense this time around, which I appreciated. They clearly tried to up the ante and go bigger than the original, a welcome, if not fully successful, ambition.

The visual effects generally hold up, though there is one truly jarring exception. It’s a scene involving a person spinning horizontally that, while it should be terrifying in concept, looks distractingly hokey in execution. It's the kind of special effect that takes you right out of the moment, reminding you you're watching a movie instead of submerging you in the terror.

Image by Nerdist

Decent Performances

The core cast is definitely the film's anchor. Both Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw play their roles with a convincing weariness. Their shared history and the lingering trauma of the first film are carried well, and their individual character arcs are, for the most part, decently rounded.

Image by Polygon

Not a Fairytale

The premise itself was a decent choice, attempting to deal with events that happened before the first film while the main action takes place after it. It shows a desire to build a deeper mythology. However, this structure leaves a few significant holes between the two movies, information the audience needs but doesn't receive, unless a prequel is already on the docket.

Image by JoBlo

The Grabber Problem

Now, we have to talk about the man behind the mask, or rather, the lack thereof. For a film about the Grabber, he really isn't in it very much—maybe ten minutes total of screen time. Those brief appearances are generally effective, but the reason for his return is bafflingly thin, apparently driven only by revenge. Worse, Ethan Hawke's portrayal felt completely lackluster this time around. His presence is there, yes, but he didn't seem dialed in; he felt like a guy just picking up a pay-cheque and not someone who wanted to be the monster. He's strangely muted, robbing the film of its central force. The other small issue I had with this version of the Grabber was they don't explain why or how he can do the things that he can do. There's a throw away line of "That gives him power", but that is flimsy at best.

Image by JoBlo

A Meandering Narrative

The story is simply all over the place. Shifting back and forth between before the first movie and after it, and sometimes touching on things seemingly unrelated to either, it becomes genuinely difficult to follow at times. This lack of focus is compounded by a truly glacial pace. I understand the need to re-familiarize the audience with the characters and the stakes, but 45 to 60 minutes into the film and you’ve barely scratched the surface of the central plot is too much time to ask for patience.

Image by Bloody Disgusting

Supporting Actors Unsupported

Lastly, the supporting cast is utterly wasted. They basically do nothing. You could have cut the cast down to Finn, his sister, and their friend, and the script would have largely remained unchanged. While the old man at the camp has some utility, the information he provides could have been discovered by the kids through a journal or document. It’s a huge missed opportunity to flesh out the world.

Image by Front Row Centre

Final Score: 6 out of 10

Black Phone 2 is a frustratingly mixed bag. It succeeds in building a dread-inducing world and leveraging strong performances from its young leads, but it falters significantly by almost sidelining its chief villain and presenting a narrative that constantly trips over its own ambition.

Pros: 

✅ Excellent, isolated atmosphere reminiscent of classic horror. 

✅ Strong, committed performances from Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw. 

✅ Attempts to introduce heightened suspense and raise the stakes.

Cons: 

❌ Ethan Hawke's Grabber is shockingly lackluster and underutilized. 

❌ The story is difficult to follow and constantly shifts focus. 

❌ The opening takes far too long to get to the main plot (45-60 minutes). 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Bagman (2024): A Surprising Slow Burn That Defies Expectations

Going into The Bagman , I was fully prepared to sit through a low-budget gorefest, packed with cheap jump scares and predictable plotlines. But to my surprise, what I got was something much more refined—a slow-burn suspense thriller that outshines many bigger-budget projects. The film uses its time wisely, building tension and setting up a compelling atmosphere, while steering clear of the typical pitfalls that drag many horror flicks down. Image by IMDb Slow and Steady Wins the Race This movie doesn’t rush. It takes its time to develop the story, but does so in a way that keeps you mildly hooked. It’s one of those rare films where the slower pacing actually benefits the narrative, allowing each element to breathe and come into focus. You won’t find rapid-fire scares here, but rather a creeping sense of unease that makes you wonder what’s lurking in the shadows. The way The Bagman sets up its "rules"—through a twisted fairy tale—was pure brilliance. By tapping into something...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Monkey (2025): Don't March to This Drum

I had no idea what I was getting into with The Monkey. I went in more or less blind, but given that it was based on a Stephen King story, I had some hope. With the success of It and even the more mediocre Pet Sematary remake, I figured this could be another solid King adaptation. Man, was I ever misguided. Image by IMDb Aesthetic Confusion: What Year Is It? Right away, something felt off. The film starts in 1999—or at least that’s what it claims—but absolutely nothing in the children’s room or the general set design reflects that era. No Blockbuster VHS tapes, no Nirvana posters, no era-appropriate TV shows, not even the right music. Instead, it all feels straight out of the 80s. Then we meet the boys’ Aunt and Uncle, and we’re suddenly in That 70’s Show . The uncle even has the classic 70’s sideburns. The entire aesthetic is a bizarre mishmash of decades, making it feel like the filmmakers didn’t actually care about immersing the audience in the supposed time period. Image by Th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fantastic Four: First Steps – A Cautious Beginning That Barely Walks

Going into Fantastic Four: First Steps , I’ll be honest—I was hesitantly optimistic. Marvel's recent track record hasn’t exactly been confidence-inspiring, and I didn’t know whether this film would add to the pile of forgettables or manage to pull something worthwhile from the rubble. The short version? It’s better than what came before it... but that’s a low bar to clear. Image by Disney Better... But That’s Not Saying Much Yes, this is the best Fantastic Four film so far—but let’s not throw a parade just yet. That’s like saying a sprained ankle is better than a broken leg. It’s still not a good time. This isn’t Infinity War or No Way Home . It’s more like a cautiously made, safe middle-ground that never dares to do anything bold or game-changing. Image by Consequence.net Retro Aesthetic Done Right On the positive side, I liked the unexpected characters that popped in here and there, and I thought the alternative 60s timeline worked surprisingly well. The aesthetic was actually ...
Post a Comment
Read more