Plot: What’s it about?
When it comes to horror, sometimes less is more. I can’t think of this personified more than in the movie Jaws. Granted, their approach had a lot to do with a dysfunctional shark, but hey – I think everything worked out OK for them and the film. My point being, that’s what a good horror movie is. It doesn’t have to have monsters, possessions or anything like that. Let’s face it, people are the scariest beings out there, right? Ethan Hawke has been acting since the mid 80’s and he’s encompasses nearly every genre of film out there. He’s done a lot more independent work than most other actors, but he’s good at what he does and I consider him to be one of my favorite working actors. It’s been a while since his last horror film, The Purge so nearly a decade later we’re treated to another – this time he’s not the good guy. We’ve got a sequel, but does it add up to the original?
We meet Finney (Mason Thames), now a teenager who’s struggling to cope with the trauma caused by his former captor, the Grabber (Ethan Hawke). He’s still haunted by the sound of a ringing phone which is the sound of spirits of murdered children trying to reach out to him for help. He ignores them. His sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) however, does not. She begins to have dreams about Alpine Lake and the siblings decide to investigate. They get jobs as C.I.T.’s (counselors-in-training), under the watchful eye of Mando (Demián Bichir). And the Grabber is there as well who’s looking for a little vengeance. The first film focused on Finney whereas this one centers on Gwen.
Writer/Director and Producer Scott Derrickson has made quite a name for himself in the horror movie genre. With films like The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Sinister and even his most commercial film – Doctor Strange, it might be considered the only true “horror” movie in the MCU. Suffice it to say that he’s got a niche and he’s very comfortable in it. I don’t know if these Black Phone movies will ever attain the level of success like that of The Conjuring, but they are a fun watch. And I have to give props to my Gen X brother with Ethan Hawke – he continues to impress. These films are just eerie enough to make you wince, but entertaining enough that you won’t notice (or care). If you’re fine with that, then this one is for you. Otherwise there are plenty of other horror films out there.
Video: How’s it look?
Maybe I’ve got a thing for 80’s fashion style or…I don’t know. At any rate, this film is dark. Both physically and the nature of the plot. That’s fine. Dark films have a very looming presence around them and I’ve found that these pull it off very nicely. Black Phone 2 has a certain “vintage” look to it and I was duly impressed at how spot-on amazing its visual appearance is. This seems to jump between a crystal clear “modern-looking” film and then lunges into an (intentionally) grainy “vintage” look. That being said, I wasn’t able to find a single artifact, strong black levels were present, consistent flesh tones and even minute details were impressive. All the usual boxes are checked with razor sharp detail, strong colors and contrast.
Audio: How’s it sound?
Unlike its predecessor, this one sports a Dolby Atmos track on both the Blu-ray and the 4K disc. But what we do have is a very atmospheric, encompassing mix that’s sure to please even the most finicky audiophile. Vocals are strong and clear, the front stage has the lion’s share of the work, but handles it with relative ease. I’ll freely admit that I didn’t do an A/B comparison with these two, but we’ll just go on the assumption that the Atmos mix takes the blue ribbon of the two. No complaints here, from me, in the audio department.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Audio Commentary – Producer/Writer and Director (how’s that for wearing all the important hats) has a lot to say about this one, as he should since this is pretty much his show. He talks of the sequel and the need for it as well as the theme and the casting. Derrickson has made a name for himself directing horror films and he’s right in his element here.
- Deleted Scenes
- Gwen and Ernesto Talk in the Library
- Mustang Talks to Group
- Mando Talks About the Camp Closing
- Mustang and Gwen Talk in the Chapel
- Ernesto and Gwen Kiss
- Gwen Prays
- Ken and Barb Ask Gwen and Finn to Come Back
- Dialed In: The Cast of Black Phone 2 – We get to know the actors whose creative decisions and personal connections breathe life into a wide range of characters.
- A Story Carved in Ice – We’re given a look at the immense creative and technical effort required to bring this visceral thriller to life.
- Frozen in Time – Dreamlike settings collide with unnerving terror in this behind-the-scenes look at the frightening set.
The Bottom Line
This is one of those films that technically checks all the boxes. It’s good. But it’s also forgettable. I had to go back and read my review of the original just to refresh my memory as what the theme was. Having said that, I know that not everyone’s reaction will be the same as mine and this does deliver what the first one did. Universal’s disc is spot on looking and sounding great with a nice array of supplements.
