The recent release of Black Phone 2 has created a lot of discussion over the internet. While the movie has managed to scare and surprise the audience as did the first installment. However, there is also a side of the audience who are confused as to what has just happened. The sequel did quite well in the box office with the story following the same eerie and suspenseful atmosphere. Despite the divided opinion Black Phone 2 has made its place in the fans hearts. Let us take a closer look at everything surrounding the movie and its impact on the audience and critics.
The Return of Fear
The success behind the first movie was majorly due to its unsettling ambiance. This new installment is bringing the same energy but with a major twist. In the direction of Scott Derrickson yet again this time there are various new elements added. This part of the movie is going to delve into psychological horror a little more than the first one. There are also other psychological aspects like childhood trauma and supernatural mystery. With that said, the main focus of the movie both first and second is the idea behind communication from beyond. This concept is spine chilling and thought provoking. Rather one believes in supernatural elements or not but this kind of concept applies to all. The way that Black Phone 2 induces fear to the audience is very novel compared to most of the recent releases.
The psychological element does the trick to bring out the absolute fear among the viewers. Something about mental suffering seems scarier than any supernatural elements. The scenes and the dialogues become more relatable itself. The return of this movie just made Halloween all too spooky. The return of the fear couldn’t have chosen a better time than this. Now, those who haven’t watched the movie can tune it around the actual spooky night.
Does the Story Continue or not?
The story does continue from where the first left. The mental aspects have been thoroughly explored this time. Finney Blake who is the main character is dealing with trauma from his past experience. Just when he thought the horror was over another incident took place.
The way Black Phone 2 has plotted the idea of trauma and memory is what makes it so different. Instead of relying solely on jumpscare and cliche horror instances it focuses more on the emotional struggles of the character. The phone’s call became once again symbolic, representing the bridge between grief and the supernatural.
The Audience Reaction
The announcement of the sequel had fans both excited and nervous at the same time. The excitement was because of the continuation of the story and the nervousness was due to the high expectation. The fans’ expectations were sky high majorly because of the first movie’s hit. The story, plot, and the cast all were perfectly executed. While the story continues the fans were skeptical about the energy this sequel was about to bring.
Well, upon the release it is evident that there are two sides amongst the fans. Some really like the story for its originality and exploring the emotional side of things more. While others didn’t like the release much and expressed disappointment for how the story just dragged along and didn’t have the shock value as that of the first movie. Some fans clubbed it as though the initial story was nice but mostly it felt like “Vanilla and cheese”, indicating the mundane nature of the script.
The Visual and Emotional Tone
The first movie delivered the story with rich visuals and cinematography. This time the tradition continues with the same energy. Throughout the scenes the ambiance is kept eerie with very dim lightning. The BGM is also kept menial to match the uneasiness of the plot. All of these elements help the horror to creep in slowly rather than forcing it like those in jumpscares.
Though the story comes with striking visuals, it is an undeniable aspect that the emotional tone layered beneath all the cinematography is what makes the story relatable. The most scary experiences of any individual are not always supernatural but the human experience. This movie brings out the true struggle and thriller through pain, guilt, and trauma. So, it is safe to say that this sequel is an emotional experience wrapped in horror.
Box Office Performance
The movie has a collection of whooping $42 Million globally as of 20th of October 2025. The U.S collection only reached the numbers $26.5 Million. Now, with such high numbers it is going to be interesting to see how much gross it accumulates in the coming days. All the numbers so far are leaning towards a massive success even though the reviews are mixed with otherwise.
Also Read: Boots Netflix Series Ending Explained; Will the Story Continue in Season 2?
Critics’ Take
Just like the fans, critics are also divided in two sections. In one they are seen praising the sequel for being bold enough to dig deeper into characters’ emotions. While on the other hand the critics feel that the story didn’t add much new to the story. The horror in the story is also being called psychological rather than the traditional thriller. A few reviews also mentioned that the movie’s second half feels more emotional than frightening. Though many of the critics shared their disappointment towards the movie as it did not bring the shock as the first installment did. However, the movie overall is doing good at the box office. So, it is hard to make any judgement just by seeing the reviews. Audiences need to take a watch themselves to really understand how the movie did.
Final Thoughts
Black Phone 2 has been receiving much criticism and praise all round the world. It is going to be fun to see how this movie evolves with time. There are many movies and series out there which received tons of criticism but later became a cult classic. By this, the implication is not that this franchise is going to take a turn like that. In the end, whether the audience likes the story or not is completely up to individuals.
Written by Kenbi Riba