After the conclusion of “The Black Phone,” a sequel had the chance to diminish any lasting impact the first installment had. And… that’s exactly what happens in “Black Phone 2.”

When someone says, “That’s what’s wrong with Hollywood today,” it usually results in an eye-roll response from me. In reality, however, they’re probably just talking about “Black Phone 2.”

This movie is the definition of greed.

A Story That Didn’t Need Telling

“The Black Phone” was based on a 2004 short story of the same name by Joe Hill. The film worked so well because it was simple – a child abductor serial killer with a supernatural twist through the ghosts of his previous victims. It was a stand-alone story.

“Black Phone 2” takes this idea and expands it into full-blown supernatural territory in every aspect. No longer a small-scale, terrifying story, the movie suffers drastically because of this.

Because this sequel wasn’t necessary, it takes many liberties – both through its characters and plot.

The movie takes a heavy-handed religious approach. This is largely through Gwen, who has a secret faith that wasn’t present in the first. This feels completely forced on numerous occasions, with several scenes of dialogue seeming like they were from a completely different movie. If religion were an important aspect of “Black Phone 2,” that would be fine. The problem is that it’s so haphazardly and lazily included that it ends up intruding where it doesn’t belong.

There are also many flashbacks and character connections that allow “Black Phone 2” to be the movie that it is. These ultimately reign as hollow attempts to provide lore for The Grabber. With character developments and relationships that are unearned, “Black Phone 2” continuously results in head-scratching moments.

The Small Moments That Almost Work

Even with its faults, the characters prove to be what the film handles most effectively. Exploring the aftermath of the first installment, “Black Phone 2” lingers on Finney’s trauma. There are brief instances when the movie makes genuine swings at exploring The Grabber’s lasting impact on this family. These small moments end up looming the largest inside of a story that is… well, lifeless.

In this are the performances from Mason Thames (Finney) and Madeleine McGraw (Gwen). Thames is very subtle, only showing emotion in brief spurts. This is purposefully so, playing a character that lives inside a shell of trauma and pain. McGraw climbs up and down the emotional ladder, often switching from sadness to full-blown terror in seconds.

Ethan Hawke (The Grabber) is just as effective as the first installment. His voice lingers through every scene, inspiring fear along the way.

When the Line Goes Dead

The small contrivances aren’t even the movie’s biggest problem. In no shape or form does “Black Phone 2” warrant its existence. Not only that, it’s also not original in the slightest.

“Black Phone 2” is very much akin to “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” It doesn’t deserve slack for paying homage to a horror classic. It does deserve shame for doing so in a sequel that had no inkling of this progression from its predecessor. This story isn’t charming, and it more often plays off as a rip-off than not.

With a 114-minute runtime, this unoriginal script wears thin very quickly. Large portions of the movie are a struggle to get through – disjointed and uninspired all in one. The first hour has shades of effort, but by the time it reaches the midway point, this all goes out the window.

The film does succeed in its cinematography, combining modern aesthetics with grainy Super 8 film stock. These distinct looks do add a sense of tension when they switch, although diminishing suspense in the process.

“Black Phone 2” is the worst kind of movie – not only completely unnecessary but also uninspired. It struggles to continue the story in any meaningful way, instead rallying off a barrage of horror clichés to make a quick buck at the box office… all in an attempt to stay relevant. Spoiler alert: it’s not.

Rating: 1 out of 5