Black Phone 2

Apparently, according to “science” Scott Derrickson has two films (SINISTER & THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE) lounging out in the top ten list of the scariest films ever made. I’m not sure if THE BLACK PHONE 2 will ever join them but it definitely belongs on a list of great sequels to movies that didn’t need one. It takes a certain amount of bravery to shuffle the cards in a follow up movie due to the likelihood of failure ( see SINISTER 2, BRAHMS: THE BOY 2 & M3GHAN 2) but when it works the results can be glorious (see THE ORPHAN : FIRST KILL , 28 YEARS LATER & of course my boo HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH). I may be extra partial to films that take place in the early eighties (sorta swooned at an early image of the NIGHT FLIGHT logo blazing on a big box TV) and I may be chronically susceptible to snowbound horror (witnessing this film’s solid high five to CURTAINS (’83) is a high point) and I may have an issue with experiencing euphoric dopamine blasts when beautiful music and haunting imagery are combined ( I got the goosebumps when this film played PINK FLOYD’S “The Wall” during a driving through a blizzard scene) so essentially this flick pushed all the right buttons for me. Sorry, but it’s legit gorgeous to my eyes, much of it (the otherworldly dream sequences ) is filmed on smudgy, scratchy, damaged and grainy 8mm film and the visual texture is such a delicious blast of complex flavor in this time of sharp, cringy high definition ugliness.

Elfish (I'm respectfully talkin' LORD OF THE RINGS, not Keebler) Mason Thames is back as Finn, the troubled survivor of the the first film and he’s instantly likable for therapeutically beating the hell out of a would-be bully. He’s joined by his sister Gwen (scene stealer Madeleine McGraw) who swiftly squashes her sidekick status to become a true force of nature. Cleverly, Miguel Mora who portrayed the deceased Robin in the first film throws some glasses on and transforms into his surviving brother who catches feelings for Gwen. The three embark on a journey to a mostly abandoned campground snuggled in a mountain surrounded, CGI-enhanced Colorado countryside during a ferocious snowstorm (!, this my jam) to unravel a very surreal, NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (!, also my jam) quandary involving the perplexing impossible return of the smiley-masked child snatcher known as “The Grabber” (portrayed expertly by Maya Hawke’s poppa). Spooky ghost kids abound, threatening static infested phone calls are made and invisible forces yeet our stalwart heroes at nearly every turn.

These days many a horror film contends with the aftermath of trauma but rarely do they provide solutions or dare to confront the anger and rage that survivors deals with. BLACK PHONE 2 with much thanks to the non phoned-in performances of it’s two leads, addresses these issues in truly cathartic ways. It does sorta lean to a troubling “magic Jesus” area at times but it balances that out with a hateful sanctimonious lady getting read for filth so I’ll let it slide. Like almost all of Derrikson’s films there’s a implausibility issue but it happens so late in the game here that it doesn’t make a dent. The atmosphere is awesome, the lead characters are severely root-worthy, the supporting characters (nice to see THE NUN’s Demian Bicher, IT’s James Ransom, RAVENOUS’ Jeremy Davis and up and comer Arianna Rivas) hold their own, and there’s an overall pleasing balance of old school scares, earned humor and heartfelt resolution ( Gwen receives a phone call from the other side that should leave anyone with a heartbeat verklempt). Did I mention that the snowbound cabins depicted have heaters that glow a beautiful neon red? It’s stunning. BLACK PHONE 2 is a dreamy stone cold keeper in my (phone) book, a creative victory for sequels everywhere and a handsome, semi-artsy nostalgic time capsule of a much missed era. I’m not sure if it’s superior to its predecessor, but it surely can boast having way more re-play mojo. Also, may I just say as a society we lost a lot when we lost landlines and phone booths? I really miss them. I hate my smart phone and it clearly hates me.