“Black Phone 2,” the highly anticipated sequel to the 2021 horror hit “The Black Phone,” continues to blend supernatural elements with gripping suspense. Produced by Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill, and Jason Blum, the film follows sibling protagonists Finney and Gwen Blake. Much like the first movie, they come face to face with The Grabber. However, in this movie the main story leans more towards the supernatural attribute, considering The Grabber is not technically alive. This movie was greatly inspired by “The Black Phone,” a novel by Joe Hill. It was also inspired by infamous serial killers such as John Wayne Gacy.

The movie starts off with a physical fight between Finney and  one of his schoolmates. Although he claims to have had a valid reason to start a fight, this reflects how the events of the first movie impact both his mental and physical state, also mirroring his growing drug addiction and eagerness to fight. His younger sister, Gwen, begins to experience psychic dreams which leave her in a state of delirium. In her dreams, she sees The Grabber stalking and chasing his 3 previous victims, believed to be his first killings.

Over time Gwen pushes her dreams aside and tries to label them as nothing more than terrible nightmares and a bad case of sleepwalking. These recurring visions soon prove hard to ignore, when she receives a call from someone on the black phone which is later revealed to be her own mother. She becomes determined to solve the mystery which leads her, Ernesto (love interest), and Finny to Alpine Lake Youth Camp. The Grabber continues to persecute all of them due to Gwen’s supernatural ability, which helps her make a connection between the spiritual world, where The Grabber resides, and the real world.

“I thought the movie was really good and scary,” Ever Umana, a senior at Mark Keppel, said. “I was covering my eyes because of how intense parts of the movie were.. I would recommend this movie.” 

Matt Estrada, also a senior at Mark Keppel, agreed, “ I think the movie was very entertaining.”

This movie was a great sequel to “The Black Phone,” offering closures to questions that hadn’t even been asked yet. It beautifully demonstrates how trauma is carried long after the original event is over and how we choose to interpret whether the things we are bound with are curses or blessings.