Scott Derrickson’s “Black Phone 2” returns as a continuation that the first movie set with its familiar eerie tone that made it so memorable. Although, this time, something feels a little different. The movie is visually stunning, ominously atmospheric, and full of sentiment, but fundamentally it raises one question: did “Black Phone” really need a sequel?
Instantly the cinematography stood out to me. The movie looks dreamy. I loved how you could tell when Gwen, played by Madeleine McGraw, was dreaming by the use of grainy texture.
It made those moments feel nostalgic and unsettling at the same time. It gave off that perfect vintage horror vibe without overdoing it. Every scene was filmed in muted colors that matched the film’s horror tone. I think the cinematography and lighting alone deserve praise, especially because they separate Gwen’s intense dreams from reality in such a natural way.
The soundtrack was an important part in the sequel, the music reminded me a lot of the movie “Sinister”, and after searching up the cast I realized it’s the same director. The music has similar slowing tension with ruptures of intensity, using silence to draw you into the story. I think it’s the perfect blend of unsettling but also strangely beautiful, which is one of Derrickson’s strengths.
The performances were another feature. Every actor brought depth to their characters, especially all of the returning cast. You could feel the emotional weight behind their trauma and how they’ve tried to move forward especially from the character Finney, played by Mason Thames. My only critique was I had mixed feelings about the dialogue, mainly with Gwen. I love her character because she’s tough, witty, and has strong emotions. But, this time around, her lines sometimes came across as too childish. The cursing and humor that made her funny in the first movie don’t land the same way here. It feels like the writers forgot that she’s supposed to be older now. Her immaturity was believable when she was twelve, but by “Black Phone 2”, it just doesn’t fit the tone of her growth.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t love that people are treating the Grabber like the next big horror icon. Despite Ethan Hawke’s performance in the first film being unforgettable, and the mask design is definitely creepy, I think turning him into a “franchise villain” like Michael Myers, Jason, or Freddy Krueger actually undermines what made “Black Phone” special in the first place. The original wasn’t meant to build a new horror legend, it was about the terror of real-life evil. The Grabber wasn’t a monster from another world, he was a man who kidnapped and murdered children. That’s what made it terrifying.
The first movie worked because it blurred the line between psychological horror and supernatural mystery. The phone calls from the dead could be taken literally or symbolically. Fin might have actually been communicating with spirits, or maybe he was just imagining them as a way to survive his trauma. Either way, it made the story more layered and grounded in emotion.
But “Black Phone 2” leans heavily into the supernatural side. The Grabber’s return feels like the movie is trying too hard to keep him alive (literally and figuratively), which kind of defeats the emotional finality of the first story.
Nevertheless, I don’t think this sequel is bad. In fact, I actually liked it. If The Black Phone had to continue, this was probably the best possible way to do it. The story makes sense as a follow-up, and the new supernatural elements are creative and visually engaging. The pacing is tight, and the tone stays consistent with the original film’s world. You can tell Derrickson still cares about these characters and their stories, he just leans more into fantasy and less into fear this time.
However, it’s hard to shake the feeling that “Black Phone” didn’t need to become a franchise. The first film was powerful because it ended with closure, a victory from pain, survival, and inner strength. Expanding that into a recurring “Grabber universe” turns something deeply emotional into something more basic. But even knowing that, I walked out of the theater thinking it was good. It’s a sequel that at least tries to be meaningful, not just another lazy cash grab.
At the end of the day, “Black Phone 2” is beautifully made, well-acted, and full of heart. It’s not as tight or emotionally raw as the first movie, but it still manages to capture that strange mix of hope and horror. It might not live up to the original, but it’s a worthy continuation for fans who wanted to pick up the phone one more time.
