Black Phone 2 Review: The Sequel to Blumhouse’s $160M Hit Is a Disappointing Elm Street Copycat

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As a huge movie fan, I wasn’t surprised at all when raked in over $160 million worldwide in 2022 – a sequel just felt like a given! It’s pretty incredible considering the film was based on a very short story – only 27 pages! – by Joe Hill (Stephen King’s son, no less). The first movie really grabbed me because of its clever idea: a young boy, Finney Blake, played by Mason Thames, gets kidnapped by a terrifying serial killer known as The Grabber (Ethan Hawke). What makes it special isn’t just the thriller aspect, though. It’s not a typical slasher film; there’s a really cool supernatural twist. While trapped, Finney starts getting phone calls from The Grabber’s previous victims through an old, broken black phone in the basement, and that’s where things get really interesting.

The first Black Phone movie was a big success, mainly because of the strong acting. Ethan Thames, who became a rising star after this film and landed roles in other popular movies, and Madeleine McGraw, who played Finney’s brave sister Gwen, both captivated audiences. Ethan played the terrified Finney, while Madeleine portrayed Gwen as she used her psychic abilities to try and save him – a power reminiscent of the character ‘Shining’. Ethan Hawke’s villain, the Grabber, was also incredibly effective, switching between unsettling politeness and genuine menace, and his mask quickly became iconic. The story was gripping and ended in a way that felt complete and satisfying – a rare treat in horror films. However, Blumhouse has decided to revisit the story with Black Phone 2.

Black Phone 2 is Thinly Plotted & a Bit of a Slog

The new movie starts with an interesting idea: four years after the first film, Finney and Gwen find themselves caught up in another case involving a child’s murder. Gwen’s disturbing, prophetic dreams begin again, pulling them into the mystery. The film also reveals the backstory of Gwen and Finney’s mother, who shared Gwen’s ability to see the future and passed away before the first movie’s events. Meanwhile, Finn is still deeply affected by being held captive and struggles to cope, often using marijuana to numb his feelings.

I really wanted to love the sequel, even though, honestly, another film didn’t feel necessary. It started with such an interesting idea, but it quickly lost its grip. The story felt too stretched, bouncing between Finn’s struggles and Gwen’s own anxieties. It felt like they were trying to give both stories equal weight, but it just didn’t quite work, leaving neither feeling fully developed. We only get a glimpse of what could have been, because the film spends so much time focusing on Gwen’s increasingly vivid and surreal visions. And that’s a weird thing – it’s what makes the movie stand out, but also what ultimately holds it back.

Black Phone 2 Has Some Great Visuals & Set Pieces

The second Black Phone movie takes place in a very different location than the first. Gwen and Finney are stuck in the snow at a spooky Christian youth camp where their mother used to work, accompanied by Gwen’s potential boyfriend, Ernesto. Ernesto happens to be the identical twin of Robin, a friend of Finney’s who was a victim of the Grabber in the first film, and his inclusion feels unnecessary. He likely exists solely to provide a romantic interest for Gwen, preventing the potentially awkward sibling-like dynamic between her and Finney from becoming something more. And speaking of unnecessary characters, the film never really explains the purpose of Mustang – I kept expecting her to at least interact with Finney, but she remained largely irrelevant.

The plot that brings the siblings to the camp isn’t very strong, but the movie is worth watching for its beautiful, creepy winter setting. Camps are classic horror locations, but placing this one during a huge Colorado snowstorm is a brilliant idea. The atmosphere is so unsettling and eerie, it almost makes up for some of the sillier details, like a pay phone by a frozen lake. (Almost!)

The Grabber, now a terrifying, invisible force that haunts children from the dream world, has a new look. The special effects team did a fantastic job updating his frightening appearance with subtle details suggesting decay—like glimpses of bone and rotting flesh—while still keeping him instantly recognizable. Even his signature masks appear realistically worn and damaged.

Based on overall feel, this movie is a success. Director Scott Derickson’s stylistic choices are excellent, especially the hazy, muted sound and look of the dream world, which features heavily. In fact, Gwen quickly becomes the central character. However, the dream world’s inconsistent rules and the repetitive storyline eventually become noticeable. This also feels similar to how the villain’s powers work – they’re unclear and seem to shift whenever the plot demands it.

Black Phone 2 Gets Stuck in a Nightmarish Loop (& Not a Fun One)

By the second act, the movie becomes repetitive, particularly with Gwen falling asleep repeatedly and being captured by the ghostly Grabber. It’s frustrating to watch essentially the same scene play out over and over – Gwen dozes off, the ghost of a disfigured boy asks for help, she wakes up hurt – and then it happens again. Finn’s role is limited to worrying about Gwen and answering taunting phone calls from the Grabber. The movie’s attempts at big reveals feel underwhelming. The first one is easily predictable, and the final reveal in the third act doesn’t add anything new – it simply confirms that the Grabber was a dangerous killer, something viewers already understood.

The ending feels rushed and chaotic, and while it might have sounded good on paper, it comes across as ridiculous. The image of the villain skating around on ice is just over-the-top. The final showdown also feels like a weaker version of the one in the first movie, and it’s not as emotionally impactful, although Gwen does have a cool moment.

Overall, Black Phone 2 isn’t the absolute worst horror movie of the year. It’s fairly average, mainly benefiting from our connection to the characters from the first film and the effectively creepy, isolated setting. However, it doesn’t reach the heights of the original, and the story feels patched together. Ultimately, the sequel wasn’t worth the watch, and I don’t anticipate being eager for another installment.

Black Phone 2 is now in theaters.

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2025-10-24 05:37