REVIEW: “Black Phone 2” (2025)

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Scott Derrickson’s 2021 horror film, “The Black Phone,” was a truly unsettling and suspenseful experience. However, the standout performance came from Ethan Hawke, who delivered a uniquely terrifying role unlike anything he’d done in his decades-long career. He played The Grabber, a frightening serial killer who kidnapped children in a Denver neighborhood, completely immersing himself in the character to create a villain that was both chilling and strangely captivating.

Scott Derrickson is back directing the sequel to “The Black Phone,” and he’s teamed up again with writer C. Robert Cargill. “Black Phone 2” takes place four years after the first movie. Ethan Hawke will also return as The Grabber – the villain who, for those new to the series, seemingly died at the end of the first film. Derrickson and Cargill have found a clever and surprising way to bring the character back, expanding the original story in a fresh and impactful way.

The movie “The Black Phone” was originally based on a short story by Joe Hill published in 2005, and it set the stage for the surprises in “Black Phone 2.” The sequel takes place a few years later and follows siblings Finney and Gwen Blake (played again by Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw). Now 17, Finney has been trying to move past the terrible experience of surviving The Grabber’s crimes, which made him famous.

The film focuses heavily on Finney’s sister, Gwen, and her strange ability, which was important in the first movie. Gwen has dreams – or visions – that she doesn’t quite grasp, and recently, they’ve become terrifying nightmares. She’s seeing the violent deaths of three boys, and these visions are accompanied by the sound of an old-fashioned black phone ringing, possibly linking her to the killer. With each new nightmare, the images become clearer and more upsetting, and they all seem to point to a youth camp called Alpine Lake, located in the Rocky Mountains.

Finney, Gwen, and Gwen’s friend Ernie disguise themselves as counselors to investigate Alpine Lake, hoping to find some answers. They arrive during a blizzard and meet a small staff, including the camp owner, Armando Reyes. While there, Gwen’s frightening dreams become worse, starting with visions of the three murdered boys and escalating to encounters with The Grabber – now a furious ghost seeking revenge against both Finney and Gwen.

Derrickson fully embraces the supernatural elements, making an already creepy story even more disturbing. The film offers fascinating connections and surprising twists that cleverly reshape how we view the original movie. We also learn more about the Grabber’s past and the challenges Finney and Gwen’s family face.

The young actors generally deliver solid performances, but the script sometimes holds them back. This is particularly noticeable with McGraw, who is often stuck saying cheesy, 80s-style insults that don’t feel genuine. However, both she and Thames mostly rise to the challenges of their roles. Bichir and Jeremy Davies also provide strong supporting performances as Finney and Gwen’s father, Terrence.

We don’t see much of Hawke’s character until almost an hour into the film, when he finally appears as The Grabber. He’s just as terrifying as you’d expect, creeping around in Gwen’s nightmares and delivering his lines with a spooky, otherworldly quality. He’s a truly unsettling figure, reminiscent of Freddy Krueger, but his anger and cruelty feel more intense and directed.

The film is full of strong creative decisions, and its striking visuals are particularly effective. Director Derrickson films Gwen’s dream sequences using older film formats like Super 8mm and 16mm, making them look like grainy home videos. Combined with static sounds, this creates a truly unsettling and frightening mood. It’s a deliberate and powerful visual technique that feels meaningful, and it becomes even more noticeable when Derrickson starts blending these dream sequences with the film’s more realistic, digitally shot scenes.

“Black Phone 2” is a surprisingly excellent sequel. The movie excels in every area, from its compelling characters to its genuinely creepy scenes. It manages to be both terrifying and emotionally resonant, exploring universal themes like dealing with trauma, overcoming fear, the importance of family, and questioning beliefs. While the line between what’s real and what’s a dream isn’t always perfectly clear, particularly towards the end, it’s a minor flaw in an otherwise impressive film. The sequel successfully balances nostalgic nods to the first movie with fresh, unexpected turns, making it a truly worthwhile experience.

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2025-10-18 19:58