Returning to the theaters with a supernatural twist, Black Phone 2 delivers a chilling return to its haunted world.
In this sequel, the film builds on the eerie mystery of the antagonist while introducing more complex characters and heightened threats. The story follows 17-year-old Finn Blake and his sister, Gwen Blake, four years after the events of the first film. As Finn struggles to cope with severe PTSD, Gwen begins receiving calls in her dreams, leading the two and their friend, Ernesto, to a winter camp with a history of murder.
Reviews are mixed compared to the prequel, with critics debating whether the film retains the same horror value as the original. Some felt it suffered a poorly executed plot, with one audience member criticizing the screenplay for “never flowing smoothly enough to make it believable.”
“Derrickson fills his frame with retro horror vibes, but he relies on them for too long and with too little variation,” said Matt Singer from ScreenCrush. Websites like Rotten Tomatoes show a 4 out of 5 rating from the overall audience.
Jose Wann, sophomore, says, “I don’t think Black Phone 2 was that good. You’re telling me the guy comes back in a phone to haunt them through the phone? Yeah, that makes sense to me a lot; he goes into a certain booth, he’s like, ‘Oh yeah buddy, I’m killing your sister now.’ Yeah, makes no sense to me. Honestly, downright horrible movie.”
By the end, Black Phone 2 closes its story by tying together clues, exploring past and present, and leaving several threads open for interpretation. In doing so, the film reinforces the sense of an unseen world just beyond reach, showing that some questions and fears persist even after the story ends.
