Black Phone 2 Review: A Justified Sequel
- Chad Marriott
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Black Phone 2, starring Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, and Madeleine McGraw, is a strong follow-up to 2021's The Black Phone, based on the 2004 short story by Joe Hill. Scott Derrickson, always a strong director of horror, crafts an intense blend of horror and a new mythology, essentially crossing horror and fantasy. Many sequels retell the original story with nothing new to say, attempting to cash in on the franchise's popularity (see The Conjuring: Last Rites), but this film doesn't.
Black Phone 2 Review: Acting
The acting in this film is strong. Of course, Ethan Hawke is terrifying in his performative portrayal of a demon/serial killer, blurring the line between a clown and a predator. One particularly effective sequence has him ice skating, which should be funny, but it isn't because it mimics the way someone might see a predator (think mountain lion) after it's too late to do anything about it.
Thames and McGraw take on their new characters, giving them depth from their traumatic experiences, thus providing the story a new lane to explore. It is always a challenge for an actor to perform a high-intensity role without going overboard. The horror genre has recently focused on stoicism and heightened (see Nicholas Cage in Long Legs) styles. In Black Phone 2, the actors find a way to use both to make the story of supernatural abilities as part of their very natural lives believable.
Black Phone 2 Review: A Blend of Horror Genres
The story blends the terrifying elements of grainy film, grotesque imagery, and possession of great cinema (Long Legs, Weapons, The Conjuring) with the more quirky mystery elements of shows like Supernatural or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. These two elements give the story a very human feel because the first makes the stakes real and adds to the supernatural horror, while the latter makes the story something the audience can relate to: an unsolved murder.
The teenage protagonists deal with their gifts/curses in a way that is engaging rather than isolating. By making these oddities both their obstacles and their best tools for moving on from their trauma, the story naturally creates internal conflicts within the larger conflict. In fact, that reality aligns with the story's larger theme: how to move forward in life and how, without facing the past, no one can move on from it.
Black Phone 2 Review, Rating, and Ranking In Brief
Review: In a year of very strong horror films, Black Phone 2 finds a way to say something poignant and stand out by blending two popular horror forms. Any Black Phone 2 review should also mention how entertaining it is. Derrickson does what he does best, scaring the audience. This time, however, his narrative combines personal growth with a "Scooby Doo"- style mystery gang and adds interesting world-building elements. The combination doesn't overwhelm the audience; instead, it gives them something new to enjoy.
Rating: 5/5
Ranking: 8/35 (Ranking in the total number of films I've seen in the theater in 2025)
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