Sunday Scaries: More Horror Sequels Should Follow the Lead of ‘Black Phone 2’

The Sunday Scaries are upon us once again! Yes, as the weekend concludes, most of us feel an oncoming sense of anticipatory dread about the week ahead. Anxiety about work manifests itself into a feeling that’s known as the Sunday Scaries. However, we at Awards Radar are here to combat that, by taking back the name. Now, we want you think about a horror-centric piece on the site when you hear the term. So, let us continue on with another installment of the Awards Radar Sunday Scaries! This time around, we’re looking at how one new film is showing the way for other horror sequels to follow…

Black Phone 2 is in theaters now, and is, obviously, a sequel to The Black Phone. That’s not notable, of course, but what is actually is the type of horror film it is. This time around, the genre of horror has changed, resulting in a fairly different movie, though once again featuring Ethan Hawke as the villain known as The Grabber. That’s interesting on its own, but when you consider how safe horror sequels tend to play it, this is actually a pretty bold move on the part of Scott Derrickson and company.

For reference, this here is some of what I said back when The Black Phone came out:

This may sound like a criticism for a film that I like, but The Black Phone should be scarier. A horror flick that plays more like a thriller, this has a terrifying premise, to be sure. Oddly, the movie opts not to go overboard in terms of terror. While that could make for a less satisfying final product in some cases, here it’s not the case. This is so rock-solid in its craftsmanship that even if you’re not cowering in fear, you’re constantly compelled. There’s a ton to like here, even if sheer horror is not really something on the film’s mind.

The Black Phone may be a Joe Hill adaptation, but it really does feel like a Stephen King work. That’s obviously a comparison both have tried to avoid in the past, but Scott Derrickson really does lean in to the King of it all. It meets Stand By Me, with a bit of Panic Room thrown in, isn’t the worst way to describe this flick. Fans of the short story will likely be pleased, but it’s hardly a prerequisite for enjoying his one.

Now, nothing there suggests a sequel was needed. Hell, given the ending, one didn’t even seem to be possible. Yet, Derrickson, along with co-writer C. Robert Cargill, opted to do something very different with Black Phone 2, resulting in a way to actually have it make sense as a franchise, should they continue going in that direction.

This here is how I began my review a few day ago for Black Phone 2:

Three years ago, The Black Phone (reviewed here) made a real impression by being the rare horror film to feel both grounded and fantastical. The abduction/serial killer elements were gritty and realistic, while the voices from beyond the grave were a special sauce to give the flick a unique personality. At the same time, a sequel didn’t even seem possible, besides feeling unnecessary. Well, along comes Black Phone 2, and it turns out that all involved were aware of that feeling. Instead of rehashing what’s come before, the now series opts to change things up in a major way, giving it a freshness that fuels things from start to finish.

Black Phone 2 moves the franchise towards a more supernatural territory, clearly taking a page from A Nightmare on Elm Street and some of its own sequels. It has a slower pace and a more serious feeling, especially in the first act, and really the first half, but once we get to The Grabber being a new Freddy Krueger, we’re really cooking with gas. The horror wheel isn’t being re-invented, to be sure, but it is showing how a property can extend its life by being creative and not playing it safe.

Going forward, should Derrickson and Hawke want to continue to make Black Phone sequels, the possibilities are somewhat endless. They could continue to operate in a way like A Nightmare on Elm Street and that series, or reinvent themselves again. Very few fright flicks can say that, especially after they’ve already done a sequel. This one can. For me, that’s pretty exciting, as well as a message that other horror franchises should pay attention to…

Stay tuned for another Sunday Scaries installment next week!