Black Phone 2 is directed by Scott Derrickson and stars Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, and Ethan Hawke, all returning from the previous film, The Black Phone (2021). The first film was a smash hit and solidified Ethan Hawke’s character, the Grabber, as a modern horror icon. However, the film had a rather self-contained plot, leaving many with the question of “what can you do in a sequel?”. Well, let’s grab some spare change for the pay phone as we determine whether or not this sequel justifies its own existence!

One of the previous film’s greatest strengths was its cast that was able to deliver performances that gave weight and gravitas to the script, playing the characters in a believable and genuine way. This strength carries over heavily to the sequel, with all the cast members being even better this time around. Mason Thames continues to play his character, Finney, in a way that is a natural continuation of how his character would have been traumatized from the events of the previous film. Madeleine McGraw has grown the most in her role as Finney’s sister Gwen, who is the breakout star of the film. Her increased relevance and screentime this time around give her plenty of time to mature the character and develop her supernatural abilities in ways that weren’t possible in the first film. This makes her a bigger driver of the plot which works well with her giving a passionate performance that takes the character to new heights. Lastly, Ethan Hawke returns as the Grabber in a new form this time around. While he continues to give an excellent performance that maintains his iconic villain status, the changes his character has gone through generally make him less of a terrifying presence than he had been previously.

In general, the issues that plague the Grabber’s character are prevalent throughout the film’s plot. This film takes a more supernatural approach to the trials and tribulations the protagonists encounter. This makes the stakes feel lesser than those felt in the first film when the dangers they encountered were more visceral and immediate. This is ultimately a result of the first film’s plot being so self-contained and its central conflict resolving so cleanly, that the writers and filmmakers were forced into telling a story that felt like a natural continuation without being able to successfully raise the stakes. The story told here is good overall, but it has issues dealing with too many exposition dumps and a pace that drags too much in the middle, before eventually getting to an exciting and satisfying climax and conclusion.

Overall, the film is well-made and shows off its higher budget through incredible production value as a result of being a sequel to a successful film. But, it struggles to be as engaging or interesting as its predecessor. Despite this, it is still an entertaining thrill-ride to watch in theaters and gives fans and audiences another deadly dose of the Black Phone formula. Just don’t expect it to reach the same highs as the infamously low basement from the first installment.