BLACK PHONE 2
Starring: Mason Thames, Ethan Hawke, Miguel Mora, Madeleine McGraw, Arianna Rivas, Jeremy Davies, Demián Bichir, Maev Beaty, and Graham Abbey
Director: Scott Derrickson
KATIE
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Black Phone, but it didn’t seem like it needed, or even justified, a sequel. Still, I went into Black Phone 2 in good faith, only to be disappointed. It’s not as scary, compelling, or effective as its predecessor. I found some of the stylistic choices just didn’t work, particularly the way dream states are captured in a grainy, home video texture, which detracts from the impact. It’s overlong and the plot is convoluted, which is only exacerbated by the drawn-out finale.
PAIGE
Black Phone 2 is a sequel that probably shouldn’t have worked or even needed to exist, but I’d be damned if writer/director Scott Derrickson didn’t pull it off. He leans into turning The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) into a Freddy Krueger-like figure that makes him more creepy this time around. The story may not be as strong as its grounded predecessor, but its sound design and dream sequences shot on Super 8 truly enhance the eerie supernatural atmosphere. Some of the dialogue and scenes feel a bit rough and goofy, but they don’t take away from the fact that Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw kill it once again. These two are genuine young performers to keep an eye on.
