Black Phone 2 4k Ultra HD

In "Black Phone 2," true evil transcends death and the black phone rings again as The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) torments Finn (Mason Thames) from beyond the grave by menacing his sister Gwen (Madeline McGraw). Haunted by horrific visions, the teens set out to stop their psychological torture only to uncover a disturbing secret as they confront a killer who has only grown more powerful in death. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director/Co-Writer/Producer Scott Deerickson, the featurettes "Dialed In: The Cast Of Black Phone 2" (HD 10:33), "A Story Carved In Ice" (HD 10:45) and "Frozen In Time" (HD 10:12), seven deleted scenes (HD 07:47) and a Movies Anywhere digital copy

The 2.39:1 HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed digitally in anamorphic /i Scope using the Sony CineAlta Venice 2 camera system and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate. The production design is exhibits creepy imagery during Feeney's sister's dreams of the "grabber" and flashbacks in the "grabber's" shadowy dark basement dungeon where Feeney is prisoner. The picture is stylized during dream sequences and realistic otherwise. The setting is a youth camp at the site of Alpine Lake during an intense snow blizzard. The color palette is often dimly filtered though during the wintery setting and the interior cabins hues appear natural. The dream sequences exhibit grainy noisy soft imagery. Otherwise, the imagery is rather soft though structures, clothing and objects reveal satisfying detail. Flesh tones are generally natural. Facial features appear soft except for closeups, but then not always completely resolved. HDR contrast is true to the exterior and interior segments. Blacks are deep, Shadows are deep but not well delineated. White levels are realistic, especially during sunset scenes of the lake and mountainous snow capped mountains. Overall, this is a uniquely stylized visual experience that is chillingly creepy.
(Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic and powerful with a aggressively strong synthesizer score and songs supported with intense bass and .1 LFE energy. Atmospherics sound realistic. Sound effects are intense with powerful hitting and slashing sounds and phone booth glass breakage. The score occupies a wide and deep soundstage that aggressively extends to the surrounds and wraps the sound field in energized SPL envelopment with directional imaging. The entire effect is heighten creepiness and horrific.Dialogue is intelligible except for a few instances, and often ADR produced..

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of segments of extension of the score to the height layer, predominantly during Gwen's dream sequences. There are a couple brief nuanced dialogue sequences, one in the WBH's basement and the other in the camp church, as well as pounding and water air bubble sounds. When the height layer is active it is intense and enveloping and intensely enhances the dimensionally of the sound field.

This is an intense holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack, especially the ear-level and dream height layer sequences and one that delivers the frights. (Gary Reber)