Blumhouse's attempt to revive The Black Phone franchise with its sequel has fallen flat, as it tries to milk a mediocre horror foundation for all it's worth. Writer-director Scott Derrickson and co-writer C Robert Cargill have taken the series in an unconvincing direction, turning a flesh-and-blood villain into a supernatural one that never quite materializes.
The Grabber, played once again by Ethan Hawke with a swishy flair, is now a ghostly figure with abilities to cross over from dreams to reality. However, his unsettling presence is consistently undermined by convoluted and confusing rules that hinder his ability to terrify audiences. Unlike Freddy Krueger, the Grabber lacks humor and genuinely frightening moments, leaving him feeling more like a caricature than a menacing foe.
The sequel's attempts to add depth and backstory to both the protagonist Finn (Mason Thames) and the antagonist Grabber only serve to overcomplicate the narrative, making it feel busier and less engaging. The film also relies on contrived scene-setting and an unnecessary religious element that feels like a desperate attempt to appeal to a wider audience.
The result is a sequel that feels overstuffed and unwieldy, with too much repetition and not enough scares. Even Ethan Hawke's presence can't save the day, as he's often buried under layers of exposition and poor storytelling choices. The film's tone veers wildly from atmospherically grand to cringe-worthy, with an 8mm texture effect that feels like a stylistic gimmick rather than an organic choice.
Ultimately, Black Phone 2 is a low-lift effort that fails to live up to the promise of its predecessor. At just under two hours, it's a needlessly long and unconvincing argument for a franchise that never quite materialized. Unless you're a die-hard fan of The Conjuring or Blumhouse franchises, there's little reason to get on board with this sequel.
The Grabber, played once again by Ethan Hawke with a swishy flair, is now a ghostly figure with abilities to cross over from dreams to reality. However, his unsettling presence is consistently undermined by convoluted and confusing rules that hinder his ability to terrify audiences. Unlike Freddy Krueger, the Grabber lacks humor and genuinely frightening moments, leaving him feeling more like a caricature than a menacing foe.
The sequel's attempts to add depth and backstory to both the protagonist Finn (Mason Thames) and the antagonist Grabber only serve to overcomplicate the narrative, making it feel busier and less engaging. The film also relies on contrived scene-setting and an unnecessary religious element that feels like a desperate attempt to appeal to a wider audience.
The result is a sequel that feels overstuffed and unwieldy, with too much repetition and not enough scares. Even Ethan Hawke's presence can't save the day, as he's often buried under layers of exposition and poor storytelling choices. The film's tone veers wildly from atmospherically grand to cringe-worthy, with an 8mm texture effect that feels like a stylistic gimmick rather than an organic choice.
Ultimately, Black Phone 2 is a low-lift effort that fails to live up to the promise of its predecessor. At just under two hours, it's a needlessly long and unconvincing argument for a franchise that never quite materialized. Unless you're a die-hard fan of The Conjuring or Blumhouse franchises, there's little reason to get on board with this sequel.