How does one top a near-perfect piece of cinema such as 2021’s The Black Phone? This supernatural thriller from Scott Derrickson is easily one of the best horror films in recent years, with a story so creepy and haunting that you’ll need to sleep with the lights on. The right blend of the supernatural and real-life circumstances gives me chills every time I watch the film, but the ending feels final. The story wraps up nicely, with a satisfying conclusion that ultimately feels right. So, where exactly is Black Phone 2 supposed to go narratively?
Derrickson, who returns to direct this Black Phone 2 with co-writer C. Robert Cargill, pushes the sequel further into the supernatural, creating an incredibly unique identity while staying true to the world he sets up in the first film. Shifting the focus to a wider cast of characters and thrusting them into a vastly different setting, this horror film from Blumhouse Productions explores the wicked side of life after death. As an icy snowstorm traps our heroes in unknown territory, the past collides with the present in a refreshing, inventive way that sets Black Phone 2 apart from its predecessor and many other horror movies currently on the market. So why should Black Phone 2 be your next spooky film this Halloween season? Read on to see the highs, lows, and spine-tingling chills that make this movie worth the trip to the cinema.
[Warning: Spoilers from Black Phone 2 are below!]
There’s no hiding from your past in Black Phone 2
Finney Blake (Mason Thames) hasn’t recovered from his stint in The Grabber’s basement, and frankly, who can blame him? While he may be four years removed from the events of the previous film, can anyone really outrun being kidnapped and almost dying at the hands of a serial killer? Factor in the help from a mysterious phone and the spirits of those children killed before, and frankly, you’d be messed up too. And yet, The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) is dead, and those around the teenager are pushing him to move on.
However, nothing is ever that simple, really, is it? Finney finds solace in pot, although even then, he’s having nightmares about the horrible events from his past. And he’s not alone. Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), his younger sister, is finding her psychic powers growing, with visions in her sleep almost daily. These dreams are calling her to Alpine Lake Camp, a Christian organization that has ties to both their mother and the monster that ruined their childhood.
Arriving amidst the biting winds of a horrible storm, which closes the camp, Finney, Gwen, and the latter’s love interest, Ernesto (Miguel Mora), are trapped in the mountains without a way out. As the snow piles up, the supernatural world rips itself open, with an ill-placed phone booth serving as a window between the land of the living and those long dead. Can those trapped at the camp save themselves from the ghost of The Grabber, who refuses to leave the moral realm quietly, or are they destined to become his next, and perhaps final, victims?
Reinvention saves this horror story in this Blumhouse film
I’ll be the first to admit it: I was worried about Black Phone 2 when I first saw the film’s previews. The trailers made it seem like The Grabber has become nothing more than a Freddy Krueger knock-off, haunting our heroes’ dreams in his vile attempt to tie up some loose ends. It almost felt cheap, but the narrative in this horror film was even more nuanced, providing a rationale for the return of Ethan Hawke’s character.
While I’m always in the mood for a scary film and have watched both good and bad ones, I enjoy horror movies that offer a sense of logic to their terror. Sure, we can just dive into a story where The Grabber is back from the dead without any real, definitive reason, but providing context for his spirit to be tethered to the mortal realm adds more realism to the narrative. Not that I’m saying deadly ghosts are real, but the rules for what is happening allow audiences not only to understand but also to more easily embrace the film.
Derrickson has managed to do what few horror franchises have: strike gold more than once. He doesn’t retread a story that he’s already told; reheating his own nachos, as the children would say. Instead, he tells a completely different story that continues the narrative ties from the first film, providing a new and engaging structure in which to torture them. Not only are the protagonists moved into a completely new environment, but they are also trapped by unpredictable weather, unable to escape the horror, even if they wanted to.
He’s also managed to weave in the mystery of the missing children, which is ultimately tied to the origins of The Grabber, an additional layer that grabs audiences’ attention, refusing to let them go. With each additional layer added to Black Phone 2, the story becomes richer, ultimately deepening the appreciation for what Derrickson and the rest of the creatives are going for.
That said, some voiced disappointment about the film upon leaving the screener, and I understood some of it. This isn’t your typical type of horror film, but instead borders on being a thriller more so than what most might classify as scary. Black Phone 2 ratchets up the tension, which is where the visceral horror really takes over. With each passing moment, audiences are unsure of what’s going to come next, which to me is more terrifying than blood, guts, and never-ending murder. The anticipation of death was always on the horizon, but this film teeters back and forth on that line, which stopped my breathing multiple times.
Final thoughts on Black Phone 2
That isn’t to say that the film itself was perfect, as Black Phone 2 wasn’t nearly as good as the first film in my book. While there was so much to appreciate, there was something missing in this movie that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. The horror itself was impressive, and the effects they used to differentiate between Gwen’s dreams and the real world also added to the film’s retro feel. Perhaps the biggest problem is that Black Phone 2 had an uphill battle before it even began, as the shadow of its predecessor was daunting to say the least.
Regardless, Black Phone 2 is a solid horror film, offering audiences a story that is both engaging and terrifying. Those looking for a carbon copy of the first film, as with most horror franchises, might be disappointed, but if they approach it with an open mind, they might be surprised by the story that unfolds in chapter two.
Black Phone 2 is now in theaters!
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