The Black Phone 2 Review: A Frustrating Descent into Franchise Fatigue
Blumhouse Productions, the horror stalwart behind hits like Get Out and A Quiet Place, is facing a daunting task with its latest endeavour, The Black Phone 2. This sequel to Scott Derrickson's 2021 remake of Joe Hill's short story attempts to revive a franchise on shaky ground, but ultimately succumbs to the weight of its own overcomplication.
The Grabber, the sadistic killer from the first film, is reimagined as a supernatural entity with abilities that allow him to cross between dreams and reality. Ethan Hawke returns as the villain, his performance this time marked by a stilted awkwardness that fails to deliver the menace that made him so compelling in the original.
Finn (Mason Thames) and his sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) are once again entangled in a desperate bid for survival, this time snowed-in at an alpine Christian camp. The stakes are raised as they encounter the Grabber, who proves to be a formidable foe, but one whose supernatural abilities are more trick than terror.
The Black Phone 2's greatest misstep is its decision to overstay its welcome. Clocking in at just under two hours, the film meanders through an excessive number of set pieces that fail to deliver on their promise of scares. The tone oscillates wildly between slapstick humor and genuine dread, leaving the viewer unsure of what to expect.
The script, penned by Derrickson and C Robert Cargill, is riddled with convenient plot devices and contrived scenes that feel like they were shoehorned in to further the narrative. The inclusion of a religious element feels particularly forced, as if Blumhouse is attempting to lean into the Christian masses who propelled The Conjuring franchise to success.
While Ethan Hawke still brings his unique presence to the role of the Grabber, it's a fleeting respite from the otherwise uninspired horror on display. The film's attempts at atmosphere are marred by an unconvincing use of 8mm texture, which feels more like a stylistic gimmick than a genuine attempt to create unease.
In conclusion, Black Phone 2 is a frustrating sequel that fails to live up to its predecessor's potential. With its overlong runtime and convoluted plot, it's clear that Blumhouse is struggling to find its footing in the horror genre. Unless you're a die-hard fan of the franchise, there's little reason to answer the call from The Black Phone 2.
Blumhouse Productions, the horror stalwart behind hits like Get Out and A Quiet Place, is facing a daunting task with its latest endeavour, The Black Phone 2. This sequel to Scott Derrickson's 2021 remake of Joe Hill's short story attempts to revive a franchise on shaky ground, but ultimately succumbs to the weight of its own overcomplication.
The Grabber, the sadistic killer from the first film, is reimagined as a supernatural entity with abilities that allow him to cross between dreams and reality. Ethan Hawke returns as the villain, his performance this time marked by a stilted awkwardness that fails to deliver the menace that made him so compelling in the original.
Finn (Mason Thames) and his sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) are once again entangled in a desperate bid for survival, this time snowed-in at an alpine Christian camp. The stakes are raised as they encounter the Grabber, who proves to be a formidable foe, but one whose supernatural abilities are more trick than terror.
The Black Phone 2's greatest misstep is its decision to overstay its welcome. Clocking in at just under two hours, the film meanders through an excessive number of set pieces that fail to deliver on their promise of scares. The tone oscillates wildly between slapstick humor and genuine dread, leaving the viewer unsure of what to expect.
The script, penned by Derrickson and C Robert Cargill, is riddled with convenient plot devices and contrived scenes that feel like they were shoehorned in to further the narrative. The inclusion of a religious element feels particularly forced, as if Blumhouse is attempting to lean into the Christian masses who propelled The Conjuring franchise to success.
While Ethan Hawke still brings his unique presence to the role of the Grabber, it's a fleeting respite from the otherwise uninspired horror on display. The film's attempts at atmosphere are marred by an unconvincing use of 8mm texture, which feels more like a stylistic gimmick than a genuine attempt to create unease.
In conclusion, Black Phone 2 is a frustrating sequel that fails to live up to its predecessor's potential. With its overlong runtime and convoluted plot, it's clear that Blumhouse is struggling to find its footing in the horror genre. Unless you're a die-hard fan of the franchise, there's little reason to answer the call from The Black Phone 2.
the thing about horror movies is they gotta stay true to themselves or it feels like more of the same 
... i mean blumhouse is doing something wrong here, trying too hard to mix things up and it shows in the execution 
. ethan hawke is still cool as the grabber but it's not enough to save this mess 
. they need to chill out and focus on creating a good story instead of throwing in random twists 
. overall, just another disappointment from blumhouse 
. I'm all for some good ol' fashioned tension, but this is just too reliant on jump scares 
. The script could've been so much better if they'd stuck with the creepy atmosphere of the first one... instead we get a jumbled mess of plot devices and cringeworthy attempts at humor 
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. And can we talk about how weird it feels to have a supernatural villain who's basically a dream demon? It's like they took every lazy horror trope and mashed them all together into one mess 
. The script is just so clunky and poorly written, it feels like they're trying too hard to be clever or something 
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. I'm not even gonna lie, I was bored out of my mind during the last 30 minutes 
. I mean, how many times can you rehash the same old horror tropes before it gets stale? And don't even get me started on that Grabber guy - what's up with his supernatural powers? Sounds like just another tired attempt to make him scarier than he already is 
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. If you're gonna make a sequel, at least try something new and different, right? Otherwise, it's just more of the same old horror formula... zzz...
, but his powers feel kinda forced this time around.
. I mean, I love Ethan Hawke as much as the next guy, but even he can't save this mess 
. Overall, I'd say skip The Black Phone 2 unless you're a die-hard fan of the franchise, trust me on that one 
he says it's like sitting on a cloud or something... sounds too good to be true, but i guess we'll just have to wait and see 
his performance is so stiff it's cringeworthy. and don't even get me started on the plot... it's like they took every bad horror trope and mashed them all together into one big mess 
it was like they tried too hard to be spooky and scary but ended up being a total snooze fest 
. Ethan Hawke still brings that creepy vibe, but even he can't save this thing from its own overcomplication 
. Overall, I'd say skip The Black Phone 2 unless you're super invested in the franchise – otherwise, there are better horror movies out there that'll give you the same thrills without all the frustration 
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The Black Phone 2 feels like it's trying too hard to be scary and it ends up being all over the place 
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