The horror genre has many great classics, from John Carpenter’s classic “Halloween” (1978) to Wes Craven’s comedic interpretation of the genre with the “Scream” franchise. 

The first “Black Phone” film, released in 2021, was anticipated as a candidate to join these horror classics. The film received high ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as positive reviews from critics and audiences, stating that the film boasted terrific acting, plot twists, and outstanding production.  

However, the film seems to be following the horror genre’s tradition of sequels missing the mark of the original, leaving fans severely disappointed. “Black Phone 2” received only 77% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to its predecessor’s 81%. And while this rating difference does not appear too large of a gap, especially considering that the film is a sequel, the viewers said otherwise. 

I recently saw the movie in theaters and was left with more questions than answers. First, being that, as a person who has seen both films, I found it unbelievable that they had the same director. The first film, while dark, had outstanding direction, symbolism and character development. It was more akin to the sub-genre of elevated horror, than a traditional slasher film. The audience was able to watch Fin or “Finny” as he is called by his family, the heroine of the Black Phone films, as he faced his kidnapper and made it to safety. This ending provided a satisfying conclusion where good conquered evil. 

However, in this sequel, the storyline was drowned out by awkward acting, middle school romance, and intolerable special effects. Madeleine McGraw, a returning actress who plays one of the young protagonists, “Gwen,” gave a stilted performance in her role and failed to portray the genuine emotions of her character. However, McGraw was not the only actor in this film to give a lackluster performance. 

Ethan Hawke, who played the “Grabber,” the kidnapper and serial killer from the previous film, also failed to evoke fear from his audience. Additionally, without the help of his signature mask, Hawke’s acting draws short of the emotion and aura that audiences have learned to expect from the classic horror genre.  

The plot of this film also posed several problems, as it attempted to tie in previous characters, relatives and a middle school romance, none of which served to move the plot forward. Granted, the connection between Fin and Gwen, the two heroines of this film and their mother, provided much needed background for the audience, the involvement of their father and other background characters did not add to the plot. 

Additionally, the movie felt as if it was trying to appeal to a human element through the addition of romance, when it did not belong in the film and failed to push the development of the characters or storyline forward. 

Another element that caused controversy was the sloppy inclusion of religious elements and symbolism in the plot. The storyline took place at a Christian sleep away camp and attempted to follow similar themes to the 2024 film “Heretic” by exploring religious mysteries and ideas, as well as debating the concept of “Hell.” 

However, “Black Phone 2” fell short, and the addition of religious elements felt last minute, and was a lackluster attempt to elevate the film without putting in the work of writing an original storyline.  

Finally, the special effects made the film feel more like a comedy, or a comedic interpretation of horror, like the movie “Scream,” more than a true horror film. The use of invisible forces to move objects and people was done sloppily and unnaturally, leaving the audience cringing and laughing, rather than afraid.  

For those who enjoyed the first film, my recommendation would be to see the sequel, only so that they can receive closure surrounding Finn’s life following the horrific events of the first film, and the fate of his family. However, for those who have not seen the first film or have no attachment to the characters, I recommend that you skip this one!