story over thought

There’s a lot to love about Black Phone 2, a distinctly Christian film about troubled teens moving on from trauma by answering the call to help others. Director Scott Derrickson does a nice job of setting the stage in the first hour, with stylish opening credits, surreal 8mm dream sequences that are downright superb, and an interesting hook that sends our protagonists to the claustrophobic cabins of a snowbound Christian youth camp.

However, as the clues unravel, my faith in Derrickson’s story weakens as well; the third act becomes bogged down by constant exposition, on-the-nose dialogue, and cornball action scenes that drag on forever. Worst of all might be the arbitrary rule that the Grabber (a very hateful Ethan Hawke) is now a supernatural force of nature who can only be quelled if the bodies of his victims are found, a detail that feels just as clumsy thematically. There’s also the odd fact that there aren’t any actual slasher kills in this, which certainly didn’t bother me, but could turn some people off. 

Still, the irresistible charm of Finney and Gwen keeps Black Phone 2 engaging. Their relationship is what makes the movie. And even if the ending felt downright silly to me (Gwen’s mother dials directly from heaven to assure her daughter that her psychic abilities are a gift), the exploration of self-belief leading up to it is handled with tact. Finny discovers that after experiencing trauma, the presence of evil only rings louder, but so do the voices of those affected.

Derrickson’s endorsement of faith in the face of uncertainty — both supernatural and otherwise — feels like a story worth telling on the big screen in 2025. The film’s meandering plot and unnecessary retcons might recall both Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street, but tonally, this sequel feels closer to an old Goosebumps paperback. That’s a good thing, I think. 11-04-25