In 2022, The Black Phone was released in cinemas, terrifying audiences around the world, receiving critical acclaim, and becoming a box-office success despite being released during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ethan Hawke played a terrifying villain known simply as the Grabber, delivering a performance unlike his other roles. With how the first film ended, it’s surprising that we’re getting a sequel with the same villain, but that’s what makes it interesting. Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, and Jeremy Davies are all reprising their roles in Black Phone 2, ready to haunt our dreams in cinemas worldwide.

In 1982, four years after the events of the first film, Finney is trying to deal with the trauma from his kidnapping by the Grabber and eventually killing him. Meanwhile, his psychic sister Gwen starts having terrifying visions of mutilated children and nightmares with a phone ringing. The Grabber, although dead, has somehow reemerged, but only Gwen can see and be affected by him in her dreams. Gwen and Finney head to Alpine Lake camp and must find a way to put an end to the Grabber once and for all.

Mason Thames reprises his role as Finney Blake, and his performance clearly shows the psychological effects he’s been suffering since the conclusion of the first film, even though the Grabber is no longer a threat, or so he believes. Thames may only have a few roles under his filmography, but he’s already displayed a wide range of his acting abilities, and his role in the Black Phone films is a big contrast to his role as Hiccup in the live-action remakes of How to Train Your Dragon. In Black Phone 2, he shows his dedication to protecting his sister, even if he can’t see the Grabber himself.

Madeleine McGraw also returns as Gwen Blake and has a much bigger role this time. Early in the film, she has nightmares of mutilated children, but these could be more than just dreams. She becomes the main target of the Grabber, which, in a way, makes her more of the main character over her older brother, Finney, and this works well in the film’s favour, giving the sequel a refreshing take on the story. McGraw’s performance will have audiences feeling her genuine fear as the Grabber haunts her during her dreams. Without giving too much away, her physical performance is also something to behold.

Ethan Hawke is back as the Grabber, which many would argue has become one of his iconic roles. After the character was killed in the first film, fans were surprised to learn that the same character would return in the sequel. This time, only Gwen can see the Grabber, who haunts her in her dreams and whose nightmares also come true in real life, similar to Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street films. This provides a refreshing take on the character and isn’t a rinse-and-repeat of the original film. With Hawke’s face covered for most of the film by that creepy mask, he relies on his body language to express himself, creating an unsettling presence on screen. Seeing him on ice skates sounds comical, but it surprisingly adds so much to the character and makes him an even bigger threat. Whether he’s in the real world or in your dreams, the Grabber is as charismatic, ruthless, and terrifying as ever.

The film features various other stars who all play a part in the overall story. Jeremy Davies also reprises his role as Terrence, the father of Finney and Gwen, and adds to their backstories. Demián Bichir stars as Armando, the supervisor of Alpine Lake camp, and has plenty of knowledge of the camp’s history. Miguel Mora originally played Robin Arellano in the first film, a friend of Finney and one of the Grabber’s victims.

This time, Mora portrays Robin’s brother, Ernesto, who helps make the two characters look like real brothers, and this brother has an interest in Gwen. Their romance may be one of the least interesting aspects of the film, but his continued interest in her, despite the supernatural events surrounding her, adds a personal touch. The film also stars Arianna Rivas as Armando’s niece, Mustang, Graham Abbey as Kenneth, and Maev Beaty as Barbara.

It can be difficult for modern horror movies to stand out, but both Black Phone films have reinvented the genre with original ideas. It may have borrowed a concept from the Nightmare on Elm Street films, but it still manages to make it something unique. The jump scares are occasionally predictable, especially for horror enthusiasts, but the scenes are disturbing and won’t be forgotten anytime soon. The music, sound effects, and overall presentation help deliver some of the scariest horror scenes, which feels like a lost art over the past few years.

There is also much more blood and gore than in the first film, adding to the horror, but the film never overdoes it for the sake of it and has the right amount to make audiences feel uneasy and help tell the story.

The story is incredibly well thought out and even ties up many loose ends from the original film. It also provides a lot of context for what’s happening on screen, adding to the unsettling feeling audiences will experience. This is certainly a world that no one would want to live in. The characters all have great chemistry, occasionally cracking some jokes to lighten the mood, so not everything has to be doom and gloom.

The original film was set in a more urban environment in Denver, but the sequel primarily takes place in Alpine Lake during the snow season, offering a completely different setting from the first film. The sights of snow-covered forests and frozen lakes are beautiful to look at, but also add to the chilling feeling (literally) of the film. Knowing that there’s a chance of being left out in the cold to die is a scary thought, and seeing blood spilled all over white snow and ice highlights all the bloodshed caused by the Grabber. Of course, anytime we see that one phone booth out in the open, nothing good ever comes from it.

The original Black Phone film was one of the better horror movies of the modern era, and the sequel keeps that momentum going. Even if it borrows some concepts from other films, it still manages to stand out from the rest and even continues the story from the first film without feeling like a repeat. The new setting, blanketed in snow, becomes a unique part of the film, and audiences feel the literal chills. Ethan Hawke delivers another terrifying performance that relies on his body language, Mason Thames shows significant character growth, and Madeleine McGraw surprisingly becomes a more prominent character, which works well in the film’s favour.

There is currently no word on whether there will be a third film, but Black Phone 2 is a sequel that didn’t feel necessary and took a big risk, but that risk more than paid off by tying up loose ends from the original film and providing a definitive ending rather than phoning it in. Black Phone 2 is an unlikely sequel done right and a must-see for fans of the first film and fans of the horror genre.

Written by: Sammy Hanson