I love horror movies, but with how many Hollywood churns out these days, even I have trouble keeping on top of them all — and it’s literally my job to watch movies! “Black Phone” is one that slipped through the cracks for me. I heard nothing but good things about it, then dragged my feet long enough for a sequel to come out. With “Black Phone 2” hitting Netflix last week, I figured it was finally time to see what all the fuss was about. The original “Black Phone” is on Netflix too, making it the perfect weekend spooky double feature.
It became immediately apparent why “Black Phone” became such a hit: Ethan Hawke delivers a truly unsettling performance, the gritty ’70s vibes are immaculate, and director Scott Derrickson pushes its threadbare setting to its most terrifying potential. The premise is simple but affecting: A masked killer (Hawke) terrorizes a small town, abducting kids and trapping them in a soundproof basement where, unbeknownst to him, a disconnected black phone connects them to voices of his previous victims. And they’re eager to get revenge.
“Black Phone’s” strong box office return, earning more than $160 million globally on a $18 million budget, made a sequel all but guaranteed. Still, I had my doubts about a follow-up. The original’s story ties up beautifully (I may have shed a tear or two) with our intrepid hero Finney, played by rising star Mason Thames, finally learning to fight back when it counts. There’s no last-minute sting or gaping plot hole left open for a potential sequel that you might expect. Given how often horror sequels struggle to recapture the tension of the original — or worse: lessen its impact in hindsight — my expectations were low.
Thankfully, “Black Phone 2” manages to avoid those obvious pitfalls. It doesn’t just deliver scares, but also expands the lore and backstory in a way that makes the first movie even more impactful upon rewatch. I can confidently say “Black Phone 2” is definitely worth adding to your watchlist this weekend.
What is ‘Black Phone 2’ about?
Years after he escaped the Grabber’s clutches, Finney, now 17, is still haunted by the trauma he endured and processing those feelings with his fists. This time around, the focus is more on his little sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), whose psychic abilities have only grown stronger since she helped solve her brother’s case. When she starts having dreams of her late mother — who shared the same supernatural abilities — answering a phone call somewhere in the snowy mountains, she becomes obsessed with finding out what it means.
Her investigation leads her to Alpine Lake, a remote youth camp where her mother once worked. Finney joins her on the journey, alongside her crush Ernesto (Miguel Mora), the brother of one of the Grabber’s victims in the first movie. While the group is snowed in, the Grabber begins to menace them from beyond the grave, and he’s only grown more powerful in death.
Stream ‘Black Phone 2’ on Netflix now
“Black Phone 2” stands out as one of the best horror sequels I’ve seen in years. While it doesn’t quite stack up to “Black Phone,” (reflected in each movie’s Rotten Tomatoes scores: 72% to the original’s 81%), it builds on the visual language and lore in satisfying ways. The sequel continues the ’70s feel of the first, showing Gwen’s dreams in grainy, low-resolution footage reminiscent of Super 8 film to denote what’s real and what isn’t. It gives these moments a grimy, lived-in feeling that immediately feels uncanny.
The tone once again slips effortlessly between nightmare fuel and disturbingly comedic turns that reminded me of the “Nightmare on Elm Street” films. Her character arc doesn’t wrap up as succinctly or hit the same emotional highs as Finney’s in the first movie. Her badass streak we got a peek at in “Black Phone” is given the floor to shine, though, and it’s entertaining enough to excuse the lack of depth. Some of her killer one-liners like “grievous festering ass wound” would have made Freddy proud.
While the pacing occasionally stumbles and the visual effects trend toward campy rather than terrifying, “Black Phone 2” still packs plenty of atmospheric horror and supernatural thrills to make it well worth your time.
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