Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
Scott Derrickson has a knack for creating new horror franchises. Here, he follows up his successful 2021 film by connecting to our characters four years later. Finny struggles to separate his negative feelings associated with The Grabber from his regular life, using marijuana as an escape from his pain. Gwen also starts having horrific nightmares, where she sees the past murders of three boys at a youth Christian camp. Gwen and Finny decide to visit the camp to make a connection to these visions. But they soon realize that the camp has a dark history associated with The Grabber. They realize that The Grabber isn’t done with them yet, finding a way to continue his heinous killings beyond the grave. Can Finny and Gwen defeat him once and for all?
Positives:
“Black Phone 2” was one of my most anticipated horror films of 2025. While the first film was mostly successful, it had a few areas of improvement that could have made it a horror classic. It is a film that stood well on its own, feeling complete in its own right. But here we have “Black Phone 2”, a sequel that elevates everything from the first film. There is more gore, an expansion of Gwen’s dream power, and further exploration of The Grabber’s backstory. These three areas are where the film shines. Credit to Scott Derrickson for crafting a sequel that mostly makes sense in the lore expansion when the original film was not intended to have a sequel. “Black Phone 2” is not based on a short story (like the original film), so it is able to play around in the sandbox and connect to the events of the first while having its own unique identity. The two films couldn’t be more different which is great in a horror sequel. The claustrophobic basement setting is traded for an icy cold camp in the woods. Credit to Derrickson and his team for making the winter camp setting feel both immersive and realistic.
I also enjoyed seeing how Gwen’s visions from the first film are an even bigger part of this story. We knew she inherited these abilities from her mother, so seeing this connect her and Finny to The Grabber once again was a nice utilization of an established character trait. Having The Grabber torment Gwen through her dreams and therefore reach the real world is a clever way to mix up the formula while raising the stakes. It truly feels like a bigger story this time, where his influence is more angry and resentful. He wants to punish Finny for killing him in the first film and do it in the most heinous way imaginable. This also puts Gwen in danger for most of the film, making her presence in the story more prominent. The “Nightmare on Elm Street” inspiration is evident throughout the film which is a great stylistic touch. Derrickson is able to separate reality from the dream sequences by using a grainy Super 8 camera while Gwen is asleep. This adds to the intensity of The Grabber’s appearances and gives the film a great aesthetic. The Grabber’s first reveal is the best scene in the film, where he enters the frame out of a dark shadow donning a decaying mask. This is where Finny and Gwen recognize his elevated threat in the dream world.
Mason Thames is truly a star in the making. After the success of “The Black Phone” and “How to Train Your Dragon”, he delivers another convincing performance here. We see Finny in an angrier state, struggling to deal with the trauma that consumes him. He conveys this rage well, while still looking out for Gwen and their recovering father. Thames has a scene where he finally shares how this pain has been eating away at his soul, flexing his acting muscles while making Finny a truly sympathetic lead. Ethan Hawks is once again excellent as The Grabber. While his screen time is limited compared to the first film, he conveys the evil nature of his character through a raspy voice and angry demeanor. His performance is entirely behind the mask so it’s even more impressive he’s able to be this intense. Demián Bichir also turns in a surprisingly good supporting performance as the owner of the camp.
Negatives:
If I were to describe the film with a metaphor, I’d describe it as someone completing a marathon for the first time. The runner is battered and broken, limping across the finish line gasping for air. But…the runner still finished. Although I’m giving “Black Phone 2” a mild recommendation, it is a complicated experience that has lots of issues rather than exceeding this franchise extension. This is one of the most blatant examples of a forced cash grab sequel that probably shouldn’t exist. The first film ended with character arcs complete and plenty of clarity. But this clearly feels like an expansion that might muddy the waters and answer questions we aren’t asking. I loved the self-contained story of the original where a strong and simple story was complemented by a mysterious, demented villain. “Black Phone 2” attempts to add more backstory to The Grabber in ways that work to a varying degree. Some of these additions build his mythos while others feel convenient and cheap.
There is an exciting conclusion to the film on a frozen pond where The Grabber is on ice skates tormenting a group that cannot see him. Unfortunately when Hawke rips off his mask the character is missing most of his skin. While cool looking, he continues to talk as if he has all of his muscles and tissue. This was extremely corny in its execution and made The Grabber feel silly in a moment where he should feel intimidating. There are so many convenient plot points in the script that audiences will see from a mile away. Any reveals about The Grabber, Gwen’s dream abilities, or story directions aren’t surprising in the slightest. These issues in the script are also hurt by a handful of extremely clunky dialogue sequences. The characters would gather for exposition heavy exchanges that choreographed how the story would unfold. None of it was left up to the viewer’s imagination or a mysterious reveal.
There are also a few awkward character interactions, mostly between Gwen and her love interest. Their chemistry was terrible, forcing a romance into a story that probably didn’t need it. This leads me to Gwen, a character I have conflicting feelings on. While Madeline McGraw clearly has acting talent, the character she plays is unlikable. She frequently comes across as a whiny brat, yelling immature profanities throughout the film that she should have outgrown. Although this was a weak script choice in the original, I was more forgiving since she was so young. Unfortunately…I think this quality is a permanent part of her character. Her love interest is also a dull, wooden character who didn’t need to be in the film at all. Jeremy Davies returns as the father as well. He does a fine enough job but hasn’t grown as a character outside of quitting alcohol. He still acts as a useless caricature of a parent, frequently missing opportunities to step up and comfort his children. That’s another area where the first film succeeded better, where it kept its cast very small and let them run the show. It didn’t overcomplicate the lore but told a simple story that was character driven. Black Phone 2” raises the stakes but fails to capture the intimacy of the original.
Conclusion:
“Black Phone 2” is as exciting as it is frustrating. On one hand, we are treated to a sequel that uses a great setting, creepy evolution of The Grabber, and expands on our strong characters from the first. But it also struggles with sequelitis, failing to feel like it should exist. This extends into a script that fails some of the supporting characters and falls into predictability on multiple occasions. I admire the film for taking creative risks and differentiating itself from the original. Seeing where Gwen and Finny are four years later is a great way to propel their stories forward, both struggling in their own unique ways. Ethan Hawke once again shines as The Grabber, who makes the most of his limited screentime. I wish the film didn’t take so long to get going because his dream sequences are the highlight of the film. While the film elevates the gore and intensity, it lacks the simple story execution. It occasionally abandons its own logic that gets muddier as the film goes on. For better or worse, the film is certainly different from the first. Does the movie need to exist? Absolutely not. Was I interested in where the story would go? Mostly. When it succeeds it really succeeds..but when it fumbles it really fumbles. Check this out on streaming but no need to run out to see it.