Spoiler Warning
When Gwen, played by Madeleine McGraw, becomes haunted with dreams of brutal murders at winter camp Alpine Lake, she petitions the help of her brother Finney played by Mason Thames, who is still shaken by being kidnapped by the Grabber, a bloodthirsty serial killer played by Ethan Hawke. Together, the siblings travel to the winter camp and attempt the rectification of the three boys’ deaths.
The Grabber’s costume design combined with Hawke’s actorial choices portray a gut-wrenching, overwrought masked executioner. His mask, for instance, is interchangeable throughout the whole movie, keeping the integrity of the character’s mental state. This is a big part of the Grabber’s identity. It represents his broken psyche — with each combination is a new personality. Every time the viewers see him with a new mask, he becomes increasingly furious. The killer’s lack of facial expressions leaves the viewers relying on body language for clues into his intentions, which Hawke portrays brilliantly. He stands tall and walks with his body straight up, seeming sure of himself. At the same time, he is slow to an eerie pace, leaving the viewer unsure of when he will strike.
Filmmaker Scott Derrickson furthers the uneasiness by separating Gwen’s dreams and the reality of the movie through the implementation of a grainy, retro, Super 8mm film aesthetic, making it look like a home video movie and as if the viewer is the one filming. Seeing, and almost living the events of the killings, instills a sense of hopelessness into the viewer. It is incredible that with these camera effects Derrickson was able to make already violent and adrenaline-surging scenes even more unsettling.
The movie also expands on Gwen’s powers. As Gwen sleeps, she envisions the past and astral projects herself into the present. She ventures out her body and explores. She can interact with the living and the spirits of the little boys and the Grabber. In turn, they can interact with her. Despite being an astral projection, the experiences translate to her body in the real world. This is not the only thing the movie expands on though.
In addition, the writers beautifully showcase how the Grabber has influenced Finney’s mind and life. He fears that he will never be free from his trauma. He refuses to talk about the events in the basement, and instead finds solace in the calming effects of a self-medicated joint and the release of a schoolyard fight, inadvertently turning into his father. Putting this in allows the character to feel more realistic because coming back from a series of horror unscathed is unfeasible. The writers do not outright say this to the audience, they show it through his actions, making his story more forcible. Intern makes the character’s emotions build until he is too exhausted he crashes. Healthy no but it causes Finney to finally admit the problems he has been plagued with.
The writers balance comedy, romance and horror, allowing viewers quick breaks from the mutilation and the supernatural to laugh at a joke. The events and witty commentaries from characters blend well, which is admirable. They do not interrupt any important scenes and allow the main focus to be saving the three spirits and defeating the Grabber.
“Black Phone 2” is the horror movie to watch. Not only did it meet expectations, it far exceeded them, integrating elements from the original and expanding them to fit the new movie while adding elements to keep it fresh, cutting off with a heart wrenching ending.
