Black Phone 2 4K – Evil is in Form in the 80s Chill

With Black Phone 2, Scott Derrickson and Robert Cargill choose an unpredictable path for a sequel: not to relaunch, but to restructure. Set in 1982 and temporally placed after the first chapter, the film expands the narrative and visual horizon, abandoning urban claustrophobia for a more atmospheric, diffused horror, linked to landscape and memory.

The focus shifts to Gwen, while Finney remains a marked presence, defined by trauma more than by action. The “Grabber” is no longer just a physical threat, but a mutated, persistent, and corrosive form of evil that permeates dreams, visions, and guilt. Derrickson works through emotional subtraction and iconographic accumulation, recalling 80s horror without indulging in self-serving nostalgia, but using its codes as a narrative structure.

What emerges is a film that views the franchise as a thematic possibility, rather than a serial mechanism, and that finds its true conflict in the spiritual dimension and unresolved grief. For those who loved the first one, this sequel is nothing short of unmissable. Here you can find the extended artistic review.

Shot almost entirely digitally (Sony CineAlta Venice 2) + some elements in 16mm, the work is finalized from a native 4K master for a spectacle that certainly hits the mark, especially on large screens. Original image format 2.39:1 (3840 x 2160/23.97p), HEVC encoding on a BD-100 triple layer disc.

The color palette decidedly shifts towards blue, accentuating the sense of chill in the sequences set in 1982 Denver and the snowy field. Transitions with heavy grain are part of the artistic choices. In scenes set in the real world, the transfer is detailed, though embedded in an overall very dark visual scheme. This choice relies on shadows and dim light to build tension, making the spectacle even more exciting on 10-bit screens with infinite black levels like OLEDs.

Italian Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 (754 kbps) with good rendition. Although far from sensational performances, the soundtrack on separate channels does not fail to emphasize the original mix between echoes, dialogues, effects from the rear channels, and a sustained stage presence also from the subwoofer. The English Dolby TrueHD 7.1.4 with ATMOS objects is superior, though not podium-worthy, with elements that are more controlled than booming, allowing the incredible musical selection to breathe, starting with the “Pink Floyd in the snow” track.

Black Phone 2 - 4K limited steelbook edition

36,99

Extras are very interesting: director's commentary; deleted scenes (8'); the cast talks about working on the sequel (11'); behind the scenes on genesis, story, effects, and stunts (11'); settings and historical context of the film told by cast and crew (10'). Subtitles for extras only in English, French, and German. Collectible steelbook.