'Black Phone 2' Review: A Terrifying And Inventive Sequel
The Grabber may have met his maker, but that hasn’t stopped him from clawing his way back to terrorize finney and Gwen yet again in ‘Black phone 2’, a horror sequel that provides chilling scares and an exciting expansion of the overarching mythology.
‘Black Phone 2’ picks up a considerable amount of time after the events of the first film, reuniting audiences with Finney (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), who are trying to return to a sense of normalcy after the traumatic events put into motion by The Grabber (Ethan Hawke). However, that is easier said than done, especially when Gwen’s supernatural visions draw them both to an old youth camp where three young boys were murdered. Making matters even worse is the return of The Grabber who has somehow overcome death in order to haunt the siblings once again.
It was difficult to imagine a follow-up to the original film considering it was a highly effective self-contained story that wrapped up its story with a neat bow. However, director Scott Derrickson and co-writer C. Robert Cargill have found a highly fascinating path forward that allows the series to evolve and expand its story and central characters. The sequel leans far more into supernatural territory than its predecessor, allowing this gruesome follow-up to channel its inner A Nightmare On Elm Street as it continues to carve its own unique path in the horror genre. Not only is the central mystery emotionally engaging and gripping, but the mythology involving The Grabber is given more intriguing layers that are nicely interwoven into the narrative. Simply put, this is a tight, well-rounded script that mostly sidesteps the myriad of pitfalls most horror sequels suffer from as it finds its singular voice.
The performances are also very strong here, Thames and McGraw carrying the film with effortless ease which is no easy task considering the weighty material they’re given. Thames is able to wonderfully channel the new layers of Finney, who has successfully isolated himself from other students at school, getting into a healthy amount of blood-drenched fist fights to distract himself from his underlying pain and ceaseless fear. As he once again faces his tormentor, that underlying anguish leaps to the surface, resulting in an arc that makes Finney a far more three-dimensional character this time around. Hawke remains terrifying and intimidating as The Grabber, making each of his scenes count, relishing every juicy line and fully embracing the grotesque new look for the villain.
However, this film fully belongs to McGraw, who has a far more substantial role in the sequel as Gwen. After establishing her supernatural visions and abilities in the first film, her gift is given far more screentime to develop and inform the trajectory of her character. What many would see as a blessing or gift, Gwen sees as a curse, unable to control her ability or how her dreams can hurt herself or others. Watching Gwen slowly learn and gain a firm, confident grip on her abilities is easily the highlight of the film, McGraw delivering heartbreaking and deeply impressive work. She’s given a truckload of responsibility to carry on her shoulders as the emotional core of the film and she carries that responsibility with a weightlessness that is truly mesmerizing.
Derrickson’s direction also helps make this sequel even more visually immersive than the first installment, continuing to use his signature vintage visual aesthetic as he makes complete use of a far more exciting and isolated icy setting. His camerawork feels far more refined, thoughtful, and playful here, delivering highly effective jump scares that will not only make audience members jolt, but serve the narrative instead of coming across as empty gimmicks. The overall atmosphere is immensely immersive, the viewer feeling a sense of dread and impending gloom and doom from the opening frame. His direction is aided by stellar sound design that pulls the viewer in and is able to blur the world of Gwen’s dreams and the real world in a way that is incredibly visceral. This is also a much meaner, bloodier film than the first, Derrickson delivering set pieces that provide terrific entertainment value and utilize the film’s R rating to showcase just how horrifying Gwen’s dreams and visions are in order to feel her palpable terror and anxiety.
However, this sequel isn’t without its flaws. While the film is able to breath new life into its characters and take the story in a fresh direction, there are still many elements that feel a little too familiar and repetitive, especially in regards to certain supernatural elements of the story that feel like retreads of the first film. The film also suffers from a sluggish start that takes a bit too long to generate narrative momentum and place the pieces on the board. Fortunately, once all the pieces are place, it hits the ground running and becomes relentlessly exciting and haunting.
Black Phone 2 is a rare horror sequel that not only justifies its own existence, but takes its characters and mythology into new territory that is sure to satisfy hungry fans of the original. Whether or not a third film will see the light of day remains a mystery for now, but the sky is the limit for this series after this continuation. The Grabber may have been an unsettling and vicious presence in the first film, but if this follow-up proves anything it’s that he’s even scarier from beyond the grave.