Review of The Black Phone 2
Scott Derrickson's sequel to The Black Phone is even scarier, but the second half falters.
Horror sequels like The Black Phone 2 may seem straightforward, but they require introducing new heroes, settings, and storylines while raising the stakes and expanding the villain's backstory.
Some horror franchises follow the villain, which means you need to introduce new heroes and settings and storylines with every film.
- Introduce new heroes and settings
- Raise the stakes with the villain
- Gradually add to the villain's backstory and modus operandi
However, this approach can lead to a lack of closure, as the villain's continued return renders each sequel's ending untruthful.
Author's summary: A horror sequel with a strong start but a disappointing second half.