DVD Corner

Black Phone 2 4K UHD Review

Sophomore slump.

Set 4 years after the events of “The Black Phone,” “Black Phone 2” begins with siblings Finn and Gwen once again experiencing troubling phenomenons. Gwen is having dreams about the Alpine Lake Christian Camp back in 1957 including one involving her late mother (who attended the camp). Wanting to find out what is going on, Gwen, Finn, and Finn’s pal Ernesto (the brother of one of The Grabber’s victims) sign up to become counselors at this winter camp. Almost immediately, things get worse for the trio as The Grabber (now a ghost) calls Finn on a dead payphone and tells him that he will get revenge on Finn by going after Gwen in her dreams. As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, Finn, Gwen, Ernesto, camp supervisor Armando and his niece Mustang, among others must look for the buried bodies of The Grabber’s victims on the campgrounds which could put their lost souls to rest and diminish The Grabber’s powers in the dream world.

Back in 2021, “The Black Phone” turned out to be a deeply chilling horror film based on a Joe Hill short story. WIth “Black Phone 2,” there is no preexisting material as this is an original script by writers Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill. With this entry, Derrickson (who also directed this sequel) and Cargill attempt to create both a sequel and a prequel of sorts, but the results are far less satisfying.

Blumhouse’s “Black Phone 2” may appeal to some fans looking for a different experience from the first, but to me it’s both bloated and all too familiar. The pacing is too slow, the runtime is too long, the dialogue consists of far too much exposition, and the general plot is too much of a Freddy rip-off. It’s clear the filmmakers were trying to go with an 80’s “Stranger Things” esque vibe here as well. What made the first film so memorable is that it felt more grounded and claustrophobic. The terror of the serial killer felt real despite the supernatural elements. This one tries to do too much as it digs into trauma, religion, and The Grabber (and Gwen and Finn’s mother’s) past. It’s also a bigger movie with a budget near double the size which is entirely unnecessary. We don’t need all this CGI drivel here. It just takes you out of the story.

Much like the first film, it’s the performances that once again stand out. Ethan Hawke continues to explore sinister depths as The Grabber. Rising star Mason Thawes shows even more depth as an actor as Finn. Madeleine McGraw is arguably the MVP here as Gwen gets an even bigger role.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 2160p. How does it look? The stylized cinematography shines in 4K.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? Expect yet another stellar Atmos track. The thumping score by Atticus Derrickson really sounds incredible here. 

Extras:
* Blu-ray copy
* Digital copy
* 7 deleted scenes
* “Dialed In: The Cast Of Black Phone 2”- A featurette on the returning cast and new faces and the characters they play. Set footage and interviews are included.
* “A Story Carved In Ice”- A general featurette on the plot of the sequel.
* Commentary by Scott Derrickson.
* “Frozen In Time” covers the visuals, atmosphere, the 80s setting, the location shooting, and more.

December 19, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Black Phone, Black Phone 2, Black Phone 2 4K UHD Review, Blumhouse, Ethan Hawke, Horror Movie, The Grabber