In North Denver back in 1982, things have been rough for Finney ever since he barely made it out alive from the hands of the serial killer everyone called “the Raptor.” That whole scary experience really messed with his head, so he tries anything to deal with it, even smoking pot. His sister Gwen was a big part of his rescue, but she’s caught up in some freaky stuff too. She keeps dreaming about kids trapped under icy lakes and hears her late mom talking to her from way back when at a winter camp her mom worked at in the ’50s.

Gwen can’t shake this weird connection. So, she ropes in Ernesto (who she’d like to call her boyfriend someday) and Finney. They decide to sign up as counselors-in-training at this snowy camp called Alpine Lake. There they try to figure out what ties their ghostly experiences with the chilling story of missing kids…and discover that somehow, there’s still a link to the Raptor even though he’s supposedly gone for good.

After the first movie, Black Phone did well; no one thought there’d be room for more story, but here we are! Even with problems like a dead killer? Easy fix—pull a Freddy Krueger on him and have him sneaking around where you’d least expect it. A bit nostalgic too since we are talking about the infamous ’80s era!
So in this flick, the director Derrickson really nails it. He doesn’t just copy some famous ’80s horror vibe—he brings his unique touch with a solid story gripped with dark, dreamlike vibes that’ll give you the creeps in a good way. His style stands out and doesn’t feel like you’re just watching another cheesy sequel.

This time around, it’s not just about tight spaces like in the first movie, but this one goes all out into wide-open snowy landscapes—all icy lakes and blizzards—that are pretty haunting on their own! They still nod to those cramped places from before, but snow takes center stage for freaking people out now.

There is a part that kind of drags on with explanations—really gets into details and character stuff. But don’t worry because Derrickson bounces back! He knows how to keep things visually intense and suspenseful with some wickedly creative sequences that look awesome while keeping you on edge. Overall, it’s got both brains and chills which is always fun.
This movie dives deep into the whole Good vs. Evil thing, not holding back on anything or anyone. It’s got this cool mix of mystical and religious vibes that weren’t so common back then. Yeah, the storyline doesn’t really bring anything new to the table, but what keeps you glued is how well they’ve set it up and those perfectly-timed scary moments that totally get your heart racing.

We’ve got our three main characters back from the last movie! Mason Thames and Ethan Hawke are still going strong with their roles, giving performances that really hit home. But honestly, Madeleine McGraw steals the show again as the psychic little sister. She’s just amazing—so believable and adds so much depth to her character.