The highly awaited film, Black Phone 2, landed in theaters on November 16, 2025. Many fans looked forward to this horror sequel. But early reviews suggest it is a big letdown. It tries to be scary, but it mostly fails.
This new movie takes ideas from a classic: ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’. The villain, The Grabber, now haunts dreams. This sounds like Freddy Krueger, right? But critics say it just doesn’t work well here.
‘Nightmare’ Inspiration Falls Flat
The original ‘Black Phone’ was scary because it felt real. It had a grounded story about kidnapping. The first movie grabbed you. You cared about Finney Shaw and his sister Gwen.
Now, The Grabber moves into their dreams. He tries to scare them there. This changes the whole vibe. It makes the story less real. Many viewers find it hard to get into. The terror just isn’t there.
The Grabber, played by Ethan Hawke, was a chilling bad guy before. He wore spooky masks. His new dream powers feel forced. They don’t make him scarier. Instead, he seems less threatening.
Critics point out that the film relies too much on this new idea. It copies too many things from A Nightmare on Elm Street. This makes the sequel feel unoriginal. It loses its own unique horror style.
What Went Wrong with the Story?
The story follows Finney and Gwen again. Gwen is now 18 years old. They must stop The Grabber for good. He is haunting their sleep. They get psychic messages through a familiar black phone.
This setup promises new scares. However, the film delivers mostly predictable moments. Jumpscares are common. They often fall flat. The plot feels weak. It lacks the suspense of the first movie.
Performances are still good from the main cast. Mason Thames plays Finney well. Madeleine McGraw is strong as Gwen. Even Ethan Hawke tries his best with The Grabber. But strong acting can’t save a weak script.
The original Black Phone movie was a huge hit. It had a unique premise. This sequel adds too much fantasy. It moves away from what made the first film great. Do you remember how scary that basement was?
The film ends in a way that suggests more sequels. But many feel this story already ran out of ideas. It is a shame for such a promising horror universe. Stick to the first film for real scares.