Spoiler-free review
Scott Derrickson is a great filmmaker who understands the Horror genre and how to craft ingenious scares, while giving us characters we care about. And, in his new film, Black Phone 2, he does just that. But, instead of the Horror/Thriller Derrickson directed in 2021’s The Black Phone, based on a short story by Horror author Joe Hill, this time Derrickson plunges the audience into a nightmare scenario more akin to A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).
The Plot
Finn (Mason Thames), the protagonist from the first film, now 17, struggles with life after his captivity. His sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), begins receiving calls in her dreams from the black phone and seeing disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp known as Alpine Lake. Gwen convinces Finn that they need to go to Alpine Lake and find out what happened to the missing boys. Soon, they discover that “Dead is just a word.”
Gwen’s Story
Even though Mason Thames as Finn is featured in the marketing and promotional materials, make no mistake, this is Gwen’s movie, and Finn is more of a strong supporting character. I, for one, love this change because Madeleine McGraw as Gwen was a standout in the first film, capturing, and almost stealing, the movie from under Thames and the Grabber himself, Ethan Hawke.
In Black Phone 2, Gwen is the one being tormented by visions of three murdered boys, while Finn does his best to ignore his sister’s pleadings for help, as well as phone calls to out-of-order payphones from spirits seeking his help. Finn has post-traumatic stress from his encounter with The Grabber, and copes by smoking dope and getting into fights at school.
What Derrickson does by placing Gwen front and center, is raise the emotional stakes to an unbearable level. The script, co-written by Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill, weaves a supernatural tale of suspense, grief, horror, and love. At this point, Cargill, who has worked on most of Derrickson’s films since Sinister in 2012, is well-versed in how to tell a horrific story, but here he and the director keep the emotional bond of the siblings front and center, making this a far more powerful story than the first film. The film also does not shy away from bloody and gruesome images. There is one jump scare in particular that got me, even though I am a “seasoned” Horror-watching veteran.
The Grabber
Ethan Hawke’s Grabber is much more frightening and powerful in this film, and Hawke gives this spirit of vengeance the stench of true evil that won’t rest until he has what he wants. If this is the last film in this duology, I will be satisfied. But, if the Grabber is somehow resurrected, I will be more than happy to spend more time with him, because Derrickson, Cargill, and Hawke have crafted a great cinematic Horror monster. Without spoiling, it’s revealed why the Grabber is connected to Gwen and Finn.
Supporting Players
Overall, the supporting players in this film are pretty good, with the great Mexican actor, Demián Bichir, as Armando, the Camp Counselor, serving as a beacon of light and reason for Finn and Gwen. Armando, like Gwen, becomes obsessed with locating the three boys.
Miguel Mora as Robin, Gwen’s love interest, is sweet and protective of Gwen, while the young guide named Mustang, a strong Arianna Rivas, provides some needed humor and heart. Another welcome sight is the return of the siblings’ father, Terrance, played by character actor Jeremy Davies.
The two remaining supporting players, camp administrators Barbara (Maeve Betty) and Kenneth (Graham Abbey), are less effective; their performances coming off as a bit hammy and inauthentic when compared to the rest of the cast. Also, the tired trope of hysterical and overly pious Christians is used to poor effect whenever Barbara is on screen.
Watch The Black Phone 2
Spiritual Themes
There are many spiritual themes found in this film that surprised me. Overt references to Christianity (they are investigating events at a Christian Youth Camp after all) are peppered throughout the film, with some characters quoting Scripture. This is all done in service of the story, but I understand how this may repel some audience members. For a major Hollywood film to dip its toes into the waters of spirituality and faith seems like a brave choice, outside of the more obvious religious-themed films like The First Omen (2024), Immaculate (2024), and The Pope’s Exorcist (2023). These films had religion and faith baked into their premises, unlike Black Phone 2.
Conclusion
Black Phone 2 is a more ambitious film than its predecessor, The Black Phone, and it ups the emotional ante by several notches, making this a film not to be missed. The cinematography is well-done, the score is top-notch, and the effects are amazing. All of this is elevated by the performances of McGraw as Gwen, Thames as Finn, and of course, veteran actor Hawke, providing another, even more sinister turn as the ethereal monster, The Grabber.
If you liked the first film, you will probably enjoy Black Phone 2. Just enter it with an open mind, as it expands on the mythology of The Black Phone, and centers the battle between Gwen and The Grabber as a spiritual one, flowing between our world and the next.
Black Phone 2: Horror Done Right - Malevolentdark
Director: Scott Derrickson
Date Created: 1970-01-01 00:33
4.5