'Black Phone 2' Review
Ethan Hawke returns in Scott Derrickson's horror sequel, alongside Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw, as they fight The Grabber in the Universal chiller.
Set in 1982, four years after the events of The Black Phone (2021), the story takes place in a snowy Christian holiday camp in rural Colorado, with the same characters and narrative focus as the first film.
The sequel expands on the original's elements, including the unsettling menace of a child killer and a beyond-the-grave plotline with special effects.
An exercise in diminishing returns
Despite the creepy fun, retreading familiar ground proves to be less effective than the first film. Black Phone 2, which premiered at Fantastic Fest, will be released globally from October 15.
Author's summary: A horror sequel with familiar elements.