Black Phone 2 Dials Up the Supernatural and Delivers Chills That Stick

by Noah Santiago

Mason Thames, left, and Ethan Hawke in "Black Phone 2." (Sabrina Lantos/Universal Pictures/TNS)

This month of October saw the release of Black Phone 2, a sequel to the hit 2021 film from director Scott Derrickson.

Black Phone 2 is already a commercial and critical success, garnering 80 million dollars worldwide on a 30 million dollar budget while also posting a score of 73% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film plunges us back into the world of The Black Phone, taking a more supernatural approach. With a combination of eerie visuals and strong performances, the sequel expands the story of Finney and the Grabber while keeping the audience on edge. But does it succeed in matching the impact of the first movie? Here's my take:

A Quick Spoiler-Free Synopsis

Four years after the events of the first movie, Finney and his sister Gwen are still haunted by their past. A series of troubling dreams for Gwen reveals clues about their mom and the Grabber's past, leading the pair to a youth camp in the woods, where The Grabber makes a return.

The Review

First off, I love how this film takes a different approach than the first one. This one leans more into supernatural elements, unlike the first one, which felt a lot more grounded. However, Gwen's dreams feel a bit repetitive toward the end. Let's dive into more of the pros and cons.

Visuals

The visuals are great in this movie. A lot of the CGI and practical effects look great and the cinematography is outstanding. During Gwen's dream sequences, the camera switches to 8mm, which makes for a unique stylistic choice that works out well. The Grabber looks absolutely menacing, and the entire wintery ambience of the movie really enhances the story. And the production design is one of, if not the best part of the movie.

Performances and Characters

Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw deliver great performances as Finney and Gwen. Overall, the performances are great all around. We get a lot of new insight to returning characters, especially Gwen. However, a lot of the new characters feel shallow and don't contribute to the overarching story.

Story and Writing

The plot is really solid. The contained location of the youth camp helps escalate tension. The entire mystery of the Grabber's presence and the story of Finney and Gwen's mom keeps you on the edge of your seat. Although the dialogue fell a little bit flat at times.

Overall

Overall, this was a really great film. I would even put it in my top 10 movies for 2025. It had great visuals, performances, and production design that helped push it over the top. Although it had some flaws in the characters and writing, everything else makes up for it. This marks itself as a standout in Scott Derrickson's filmography.

Final Rating: 4.3/5