Unraveling the Chills of ‘Black Phone 2’: A Full-blown Review
Just as the cinematic landscape seems filled with Stephen King adaptations, the sequel of ‘Black Phone’ appears to surface. Dubbed ‘Black Phone 2’, the sequel brings back Ethan Hawke’s character, a child-murdering psychopath, from the dead, transforming him into a low-cost, humorless Freddy Krueger. This transition, however, has left audiences feeling rather detached and cold.
Originally based on a short story penned by King’s son, Joe Hill, the first part, ‘The Black Phone’, was perceived as a somewhat lazy imitation paying homage to the King universe. It incorporated all the familiar elements – a 1970s backdrop, a high school cast, neighborhood villain, and psychic children – but was also accused of being overstuffed and out of place. The story revolved around a sadistic killer aiming at young boys, cruelly extending their death rituals. The sequel seems to take this gruesome premise a step further.
Blumhouse, the former horror hit-makers, are betting big on ‘Black Phone 2’, especially after their previous ventures like ‘Wolf Man’, ‘The Woman in the Yard’, and ‘M3gan 2.0’ failed to strike a chord at the box office. The sequel is expected to save the day, testifying if a short story can indeed give birth to a movie franchise. However, the task seems to be more challenging than anticipated.
The earlier part ended with the protagonist, Finn (played by Mason Thames), killing the Grabber, with the ghosts of the latter’s victims assisting him. The sequel needed to venture into new territories hence transforming the tangible villain into a supernatural one. However, unlike Freddy Krueger, the reincarnated Grabber seems less imaginative and totally devoid of humor. Ethan Hawke, who essays the role, also seems to have toned down the campiness, resulting in a villain that is no longer as terrifying as in the first part.
The story unfolds further with Finn and his brash sister Gwen (played by Madeleine McGraw) encountering the Grabber once again. Trapped in an alpine Christian camp for kids due to snow, the narrative borrows elements from Freddy’s one-time adversary, Jason Voorhees. Gwen, who is guided to the camp by a vision of her deceased mother, is joined by Finn who aims to protect her. The siblings’ struggle to outwit the Grabber once again forms the crux of the sequel.
The script, however, falters in setting the stage and appears clumsy in its effort to strand the siblings in a setting that aids the backstory of both the protagonist and the antagonist. An added religious layer, associating good with God and evil with the devil, seems to be a deliberate attempt to lure the church-going audience, reminiscent of the strategy used by the ‘Conjuring’ franchise.
Despite all the elements, the sequel seems to overcomplicate a plot that was already teetering on the edge in the first part, making it difficult for the audience to stay involved. Ethan Hawke’s performance, while powerful, is unable to save the day alone. The setting might be grand, but the non-scary sequences and ineffective stylistic choices mar the overall experience. In the end, ‘Black Phone 2’, with a runtime of nearly two hours, fails to convince the audience about the potential birth of a new horror franchise.
‘Black Phone 2’ is set to hit Australian cinemas on 16th October, and releases in the US and UK on the 17th. However, when the sequel rings next time, it might be a good idea to not answer.