Black Phone 2 is a worthy sequel that continues the story in a way that makes sense. Both Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw bring their A-game.
With the way that The Black Phone ended, it is hard to imagine how things could continue. Thankfully Black Phone 2 is a worthy sequel, telling a terrifying and emotional story that is not only a great follow up to the first time, but that somehow makes it even better, knowing what we know now.
The Grabber may be dead, but this universe has already established that dead doesn’t always mean dead. Finney (Mason Thames) can communicate with those that are no longer with us, as we saw when he was in The Grabber’s basement, speaking with all of his young victims on the phone. As the story continues, we realize that he still gets phone calls, although he clearly is over it, having not fully dealt with the trauma he went through.
Now in High School, Finney and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) are still struggling with the events of the first movie. Robin’s younger brother Ernesto (Miguel Mora) is a friend of Gwen’s and while I do not want to give away too much about their relationship, it is fun to see him as a new character, after playing Robin in the previous movie.
As expected by the fact that we know The Grabber is reaching out to Finney from Hell, Black Phone 2 is very reminicent of The Nightmare On Elm Street: Dream Warriors. I absolutely love this aspect. Making the iconic, scary as heck villain essentially Freddy Krueger was a brilliant way to not only ensure his return makes sense, but to keep him just as terrifying, if not more so. Ethan Hawke once again manages to send shivers down my spine every time he speaks.
Where Mason Thames’ Finney was the main focus of the first film, the follow-up is where Gwen is given her time to shine. Yes, her “dreams” were a big part of The Black Phone, even helping to find the bodies of the dead children, but she really comes into her own in the sequel. This movie is much more her story than anything else. And Madeleine McGraw was absolutely up for the challenge.
She nails every single scene that she is in (and there are a lot). Gwen is a powerhouse. Even though she is scared at times, she also has a backbone, and will do anything to protect her brother – who will do anything to protect her. As she discovers more and more about The Grabber’s past, she finds herself realizing she needs to do the right thing.
I do not want to spoil too much, but I will say that Gwen is the key to everything in this movie. Madeleine McGraw delivers an incredible performance that left me in tears more than once.
All of that said, Mason Thames still has some unforgettable scenes as well. There is one monologue, towards the end, that had my literally clutching my heart as I cried. He is an extremely talented actor. I wouldn’t say he takes a backseat in Black Phone 2, but I would say that Madeleine steps even more to the forefront, if that makes sense.
This film is has more blood and gore than the previous one, mostly done with practical effects. They are impressive and really heighten the effectiveness of the scares. It also should be noted that the way Gwen’s dreams are portrayed in Black Phone 2 is brilliant. It makes them stand out all throughout the movie.
Black Phone 2 is emotional, terrifying, and more than I ever could have wanted. Both Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw deliver their best ever performances.
About Black Phone 2
Four years ago, 13-year-old Finn killed his abductor and escaped, becoming the sole survivor of The Grabber. But true evil transcends death… and the phone is ringing again. Four-time Academy Award® nominee Ethan Hawke returns to the most sinister role of his career as The Grabber seeks vengeance on Finn (Mason Thames) from beyond the grave by menacing Finn’s younger sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw).
As Finn, now 17, struggles with life after his captivity, the headstrong 15-year-old Gwen begins receiving calls in her dreams from the black phone and seeing disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp known as Alpine Lake. Determined to solve the mystery and end the torment for both her and her brother, Gwen persuades Finn to visit the camp during a winter storm. There, she uncovers a shattering intersection between The Grabber and her own family’s history. Together, she and Finn must confront a killer who has grown more powerful in death and more significant to them than either could imagine.
