Takeaway: Black Phone 2 isn’t a paint-by-numbers redo — it widens the scope, lets the siblings grow, and leans into surreal dream-logic. That mix gives it legs beyond jump scares.
What works
- Scale without bloat: The story jumps from basements to snowy exteriors and a creepy lodge, but keeps scenes purposeful.
- The Grabber’s presence: New mask permutations turn him into a symbol more than a person — unsettling without over-explaining.
- Memory & trauma: Super-8 style vision sequences sell the idea that memory itself can be haunted.
What might divide audiences
- Less containment means less claustrophobia — some will miss the first film’s single-location pressure cooker.
Source discussion: Draws on CinemaBlend’s review and general sequel context.