Faith and moving past trauma - a review of Black phone 2
Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill have once again stepped into the world created by Joe Hill, and much like The Grabber in this film, we can say that they are back with far less limitations in what they can do. The sandbox of the first film had very defined walls that Derrickson and Cargill were limited to playing in. Black Phone 2 has the freedom to test the firmness of those walls and in many ways, push past them altogether.
Mason Thames and Violet McGraw return as the Blake siblings Finney and Gwen, and Ethan Hawke returns as a far more sinister Grabber. The first film had the Grabber as a man, yes, an unsettling violent and abusive man, but still just a man that can be killed. The second film moves the character into a different direction by leaning into the supernatural. The Grabber’s anger and violence is no longer confined to a physical body, and his spirit has returned to torment Finney and Gwen.
The Black Phone performed so well at the box office that it seemed inevitable that another film would be greenlit. When I had heard the news, I was apprehensive, mainstream studio horror rarely gets it right when it comes to sequels and given that this second film would not have any source material to pull from, that felt like a gamble. I think that Derrickson and Cargill have been successful with their gamble by creating a wholly unique story that expands the world created by Joe Hill while also working as an homage to the classic horror character Freddy Kreuger. There are some fantastic set pieces throughout that lean into the terrifying concept that even our dreams are not safe. Ethan Hawke is truly dialling up the rage in his performance, and the film is stronger for it. Even though The Grabber is no longer a human man in this film, the character feels far more grounded and fleshed out.
One element of the first film that has morphed from a character trait to an integral element of the plot is Gwen’s faith. The primary location for the film is the Alpine Lake Bible Camp in the snowy Colorado mountains. When I saw the thematic direction that this film was taking, I will admit that I was initially concerned. I am a Queer person who has lived most of my life in a heavily culturally Catholic Ireland. I have witnessed the last negative impacts on this country after being under the thumb of the Church for so much of our history. However, this film was not propaganda for the Church, most evident by one scene where Gwen critiques two of the camp employees who would be the textbook idea of people who use the Church to push and justify harmful views. I found it incredibly moving that the film touched on the power of faith without preaching. This was Gwen’s individual experience of her faith, and not the film telling the viewer that they need faith.
Black Phone 2 is a film that on the surface is a supernatural tale of overcoming evil which has manifested as The Grabber. Though ultimately, this is about belief. Finney’s belief that he can move past his trauma. Gwen’s belief that she is not broken or cursed. Armando’s belief that the missing boys will be found. I think viewers will go into this film expecting a run-of-the mill supernatural slasher, but instead they will be treated to a film that is asking the question “what is truly possible when we believe in ourselves?”.
Black Phone 2 has been released in Irish cinemas via Universal Pictures and if you get a chance to catch it on the big screen, I highly recommend you do so.