Scott Derrickson’s The Black Phone (2021), a chilling adaptation of a Joe Hill short story, captivated audiences with its retro charm and gripping tale of young Finney (Mason Thames) escaping the clutches of the menacing serial killer, Grabber (Ethan Hawke), with the help of a mysterious old rotary phone. It was a deserved critical and commercial success.
Black Phone 2 (English)
Now, the much-anticipated sequel, Black Phone 2, also helmed by Derrickson, proves to be a fantastic follow-up. It not only expands on the beloved elements of the original but also crafts an entirely new and compelling narrative.
The story begins in the late 1950s, introducing us to a young girl named Hope (Anna Lore) making a call from a desolate phone booth at the snow-covered Alpine Lake Camp in Colorado. The fierce winds and swirling snow create a palpable sense of unease, making her connection crackle with an unsettling energy.
Fast forward to 1982, four years after Finney’s harrowing escape from Grabber. Finney (Mason Thames) is now a teenager, still reeling from his trauma, finding solace in reckless behavior and smoking. His sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), is plagued by vivid, disturbing dreams that lead her to sleepwalk. Despite her internal struggles, she’s excited by the prospect of attending a Duran Duran concert with Ernesto (Miguel Mora), the younger brother of Finney’s friend, Robin, who was a victim of Grabber in the first film.
When Gwen discovers that her dreams are connected to her mother’s past at Alpine Lake Camp, where she worked before meeting their father, Terrence (Jeremy Davies), she insists they investigate. Thus, Finney, Gwen, and Ernesto embark on a journey to the remote mountain camp, only to find themselves snowbound as a blizzard rages. The camp is eerily deserted, manned by a skeleton crew.
Among the few present are Armando (Demián Bichir), the burdened supervisor haunted by the disappearance of three children, and his niece, Mustang (Arianna Rivas). They are joined by two distinctly un-charming camp employees, Kenneth (Graham Abbey) and Barbara (Maev Beaty).
Armando is consumed by guilt, having promised the parents of the missing children that he would never cease his search. As Gwen’s nightmares intensify and become more disturbing, Finney hears Grabber’s chilling voice, threatening him with a gruesome end and taunting him with the cold truth that “hell does not burn.”
Black Phone 2 masterfully blends genuine jump scares with deeply moving moments, allowing both the young characters and adults to confront profound truths about themselves. The on-screen chemistry between Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw is undeniably captivating. Thames, in particular, is having a notable year, with this being his third film release alongside How to Train Your Dragon and Regretting You.
The film’s score, composed by director Scott Derrickson’s son, Atticus Derrickson, is rich, layered, and moody, perfectly complementing the atmospheric tension. It’s punctuated by excellent needle drops, including Pink Floyd’s ‘Another Brick In The Wall (Pt. 1)’. The sequence featuring that drive through the blinding snow, set to the slow, thumping rhythm of the iconic psychedelic rock track, creates an intensely disquieting experience. Pär M. Ekberg’s cinematography further enhances the film, beautifully capturing the isolation, terror, and stark beauty of the snowy, icy landscape.
Through its terrifying yet revealing dreams, Black Phone 2 delves deep into the subconscious fears that lie buried within us, and the unsettling idea that past horrors can resurface, much like chilling secrets emerging from a frozen lake, to confront our present.
Black Phone 2 is currently playing in theaters.