The Black Phone 2 – REVIEW

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A movie about a child killer – something that usually doesn’t attract audiences – surprisingly became a hit thanks to its supernatural elements, Ethan Hawke’s chilling performance as the masked villain, a strong script, and skillful direction. Despite the killer’s death in the first film, a sequel, *Black Phone 2*, is now here. It starts at a wintery children’s camp, where a woman receives a disturbing phone call from a remote phone booth near a frozen lake.

The film begins in 1982, four years after the events of the first movie. Finn, the sole survivor of The Grabber, managed to defeat him, but still struggles with the trauma. He tries to cope by smoking weed to quiet the constant ringing in his ears – a phantom sound from a broken phone. His younger sister, Gwen, is also haunted by the same ringing and terrifying dreams of abused children beneath a frozen lake. These dreams, and a particularly disturbing one where she speaks to her deceased mother who shares similar visions, propel the story forward.

The film, written by C Robert Cargill and director Scott Derrickson, is smartly crafted, drawing inspiration from ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street.’ The villain, The Grabber, operates similarly to Freddy Krueger, relentlessly pursuing and terrorizing Finn as he, his sister, and a friend find themselves at a winter camp by a lake, seeking revenge.

Director Scott Derrickson and writer C. Robert Cargill, known for the terrifying film ‘Sinister,’ deliver another chilling experience. Like ‘Sinister,’ this film uses unsettling, grainy flashback sequences – though this technique feels somewhat familiar. One particularly disturbing image involves Gwen being haunted by a tragic event at a window. The film builds tension with moments like Finn trapped in a snowy phone booth, a single shot revealing mysterious figures in the background. The characters begin to understand the meaning of their disturbing dreams at a winter camp, realizing everyone is at risk. While exploring complex themes, the script thoughtfully incorporates Christian theology, even adding a touch of humor with an awkward comment from Gwen’s suitor, Ernesto, during a moment of prayer.

Ethan Hawke returns as The Grabber, but he’s almost always masked, and even without it, heavy makeup makes him look completely different. However, his face is so terrifyingly memorable that his return – seemingly from the dead – could make him a new generation’s Freddy Krueger (both villains, notably, were obsessed with teenagers). While the first film was a classic ‘child in peril’ story with a supernatural element, this sequel is more ambitious and experimental. This is likely because the first film was adapted from a novel, while this one allows the filmmakers to create their own path. Cargill and Derrickson are talented and willing to take risks, but as with their previous sequel to *Sinister*, audiences might not fully embrace this new direction.

Here’s The Black Phone 2 trailer…..

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2025-10-16 02:23