“Black Phone 2”: The Results of Prolonging a One-and-Done Story

Black Phone 2 was released in October of 2025 Photo courtesy of Tima Miroshnichenko

Following the success of the widely acclaimed horror movie from 2021, “The Black Phone,” director Scott Derrickson reunites with Blumhouse Studios, looking to capture the same success through the form of a sequel: “Black Phone 2.” With the impact its processor had on modern horror audiences, this installment aims to garner a similar effect by building upon its foundation as a newly established horror franchise.

Inspired by author Joe Hill’s short story, “Black Phone 2” takes place in the early 1980s, focusing on the returning lead characters Finn and Gwen Blake, who look to rebuild their lives four years following the defeat of the sadistic Grabber.

Gwen starts to dream about disturbing visions of three boys, all of whom are shown to be stalked and killed at an alpine camping site. Finn and Gwen head up towards this isolated camp in the snowy mountains, only to discover an old adversary has risen from the dead in search of brutality.

“Black Phone 2” deviates from the isolated, thriller approach of its predecessor, deciding to fully lean into the characteristics of an ‘80s horror flick. This is a choice that can make or break many viewers’ experiences, whether they appreciate the grounded, yet supernatural atmosphere of the first film, or the more conventional, horror feature that this sequel represents.

This begs the question: was a continuation warranted, or should the first film have been a one-and-done from the start?

To get the ball rolling, many significant positives of the original film translate right over to “Black Phone 2.” The central setting of the Alpine Camping Site builds the film’s ambience as a horror slasher, as snow blankets every inch of the area, and the neighboring lake is covered in a sheet of ice. This provides a larger scale for the story to exist within and escalates the mystery surrounding the Grabber’s return.

Mason Thames and Madiline McGraw reprise their roles as Finn and Gwen, serving as the major standouts from this limited cast. Each of them brings the exact camaraderie established in the first film, exhibiting growth in both their roles that brings more depth to their characters. The new supporting cast members are given enough room in the plot to stand out from one another without overstaying their welcome.

Scott Derrickson preserves many of his filmmaking practices, maintaining emotions of intensity and ambiguity around the plot. Derrickson utilizes a Super 8 Camera, imparting a grainy style on the screen, within the many dream sequences of the plot, to signify a distinction between the two realities. These narrative and tonal approaches continue to showcase Derrickson’s talents as a filmmaker within the horror genre.

Working in collaboration with the cinematography is a strong score composed by Atticus Derrickson. Each piece of the soundtrack emphasizes the atmosphere of the Alpine Camping Site and intensifies the mystery that Finn and Gwen take part in. Additionally, the few scenes of gory visuals are reminiscent of traditional slasher movies and please the viewers looking for brutality.

While there are many aspects that stay true to its predecessor, the film’s aspirations of expanding the franchise’s roots can turn off many viewers who appreciated the simplicity of the original. “Black Phone 2” makes hard efforts to reinvent itself as a slasher sequel, resulting in something that many audiences have possibly seen before.

With this film serving as a linear continuation of “The Black Phone,” the plot attempts to loosely tie many lingering details together to form a somewhat cohesive narrative. Not only do these new ideas inflate an originally concise storyline, but they also hamper the previously established narrative and characters in favor of continuity. In the film’s hopes of building an overarching history around its story, the structure somewhat crumbles under its own logic and rules.

Ethan Hawke continues to shine as the Grabber, yet the script waters him down to a traditional, supernatural slasher villain you would see in the ‘80s horror era. This betrays his character from the first film, as his grounded nature and creepy mannerisms presented to the audience are what originally made him an effective antagonist. Unfortunately, these qualities are stripped away in favor of transforming the Grabber into the next horror icon.

Derrickson continues his successful track record in horror cinema through “Black Phone 2.” Applying many of his traditional filming techniques and narrative approaches, Derrickson delivers a satisfying continuation through the evolution of the central characters, narrative tone and heightened setting. 

However, as the film digs deeper into its overlapping concepts and themes, it detracts from what viewers loved most about the original, compact story of “The Black Phone.”