On Oct. 17, the highly anticipated sequel Black Phone 2 debuted in theaters. Combining thrill, horror and the supernatural, Black Phone 2 went above and beyond; it is a must watch.
The franchise’s first film, The Black Phone, follows the story of Finney Blake, a young boy who is kidnapped by a masked man called The Grabber. While in captivity, Finney receives phone calls from The Grabber’s previous, deceased victims, who help him evade The Grabber’s traps. In addition, Gwen, Finney’s younger sister, has psychic dreams that she uses to find where Finney is. In the end, Finney escapes and kills his captor.
In Black Phone 2, Ethan Hawke returns as The Grabber, and Mason Thames continues his role as Finney. Madeleine McGraw, who plays Gwen, steps into the spotlight even more in the second film.
The movie begins back in North Denver; Finney has become reclusive, burying his trauma and distancing himself from those around him. The Grabber is dead, but Gwen is sleepwalking through vivid, gruesome dreams about murders that happened at Alpine Lake, a Christian youth camp nearby.
She is determined to discover what these dreams mean and if they connect to The Grabber. Gwen, Finney and her “friend” Ernesto head to Alpine Lake to be counselors over winter break. Here, they are confronted with The Grabber. He is back from the dead, and is seeking revenge.
Black Phone 2 is full of chilling plot twists, jumpscares and perfectly timed jokes. Being in the theatre on opening night, the energy and anticipation from the crowd was apparent. From the first scene, this film comes to life through its unique stylistic approach.
Unlike the first movie, viewers are shown more meaningful and intricate plotlines, which bring depth to each character. Gwen and Finney’s emotionally complex relationship with their father, to name one, is perfectly displayed on the screen.
The film also embraces raw emotions; Thames’s and Hawke’s performances were excellent, highlighting each actor’s ability to act in both emotional and disturbing scenes.
To balance the gory scenes and numerous jumpscares, there is comedy throughout. Executed well, the jokes provide the viewers with time to breathe during heart-racing scenes. We were pleasantly surprised by how often the audience erupted in laughter.
In addition to the comedic relief, the plot twists are off the charts. Shocking revelations and jaw-dropping flashbacks deepen the meaning of certain scenes in the first movie, adding to the emotional arc of the sequel.
Despite all the film had to offer, there is one aspect that came up short: it isn’t scary enough. There were times where it lacked the simple, stressful horror that made the first film what it is. However, the combination of perfectly-timed jumpscares, gory makeup and thrilling music ensures that the movie is far from calming.
This film had a larger focus on characters besides Finney and The Grabber, and filmmakers artfully incorporated these characters’ storylines into the broader plot. The mother’s story, for example, fits perfectly into the entire plot and provides viewers with a clear understanding of her complex past. There are zero plot holes; every character, relationship and background is thoroughly addressed.
While many sequels leave viewers disappointed and underwhelmed, Black Phone 2 left us speechless and asking for a third movie. This film has solidified the franchise’s legacy.