'The Black Phone 2' Review: A Horror Sequel Mostly Done Right
Scott Derrickson's follow-up is even scarier than "The Black Phone," but the second half has a bad ring to it.
From the outside looking in, horror sequels like “The Black Phone 2” probably look easy. You just take the monster from the first movie and make them kill someone else, right? Or at least, there’s a lot more to it.
Some horror franchises follow the villain, which means you need to introduce new heroes and settings and storylines with every film. You also have to raise the stakes with that villain, gradually adding to their backstory and modus operandi, making sure they never kill anyone the same way twice.
Eventually the rules of the series are codified, and the audience feels safe. We understand the villain well enough that we think we, too, could defeat them. Except they keep coming back, which means every sequel’s ending is a lie and the stories lack closure.
Author's summary: A horror sequel with a scary follow-up.
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