Pop Culture Happy Hour — "Black Phone 2 And What’s Making Us Happy"

NPR | October 17, 2025
Host: Glen Weldon
Guests: Jordan Crucchiola, Kristen Meinzer

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the new horror film "Black Phone 2," a sequel to the 2021 original, examining its story, style, emotional resonance, and place in contemporary horror. The roundtable—featuring Glen Weldon, Jordan Crucchiola, and Kristen Meinzer—unpacks what works, what doesn't, and the ways the sequel diverges from, and builds upon, its predecessor. The crew then shifts gears for their "What's Making Us Happy" segment, recommending recent pop culture highlights.

Black Phone 2: Discussion Breakdown

Plot and Key Developments

[01:11]

• Set in 1982, the film follows Finn (Mason Thames), four years after surviving "The Grabber" (Ethan Hawke)—a serial killer with a demonic mask—and his psychic sister Gwen (Meline McGraw), now haunted by dreams of the killer preying on boys at a Christian camp.
• The pair, acting on Gwen’s visions, end up at the camp during a blizzard, despite The Grabber’s supposed death, reopening the horror story with enhanced supernatural elements.

Visuals and Setting

[02:14] Kristen Meinzer:

• Praises the movie’s distinctive "Super 8 faded Polaroid" aesthetic, costumes, and set design.
• Appreciates the shift from the original’s claustrophobic basement to the “endlessness of the snowy wilderness,” which keeps the sequel feeling fresh, not repetitive.
• "[The] supernatural elements are more integrated into the story this time...It has almost more of a Nightmare on Elm Street feel." (03:03)

[02:46] Glen Weldon & Jordan Crucchiola:

• Positive about the expanded supernatural approach, moving fully into a dreamlike state versus the real-world horror of the original.

Tone, Structure, and Genre Connections

[03:05]

• Both guests agree on a "Dream Warriors" (Nightmare on Elm Street 3) vibe, introducing more ghostly, dreamlike horror rather than real-world grit.

[04:55] Glen Weldon:

• Finds the movie "pretty cheesy," but leans into enjoying it as a seasonal fall horror treat.
• Critiques the sequel’s less linear plotting, with increased "lore" and "hand waving" about how The Grabber's powers work. Feels the exposition is forced, especially for Gwen.
• "There's a lot of lore somehow...which is where for me the cheesiness really comes in." (05:04)

[05:49] Jordan Crucchiola:

• Points out the film’s "downloading" of exposition, noting it’s especially heavy in Gwen’s monologues.
• Appreciates the emotional underpinning and shifting main perspective from Finn to Gwen.

Character and Emotional Dynamics

[07:05] Jordan Crucchiola:

• Highlights the effectiveness of The Grabber’s mask and its evolving design as a fresh horror icon.
• Praises Madeline McGraw’s (Gwen) performance, especially her "excellent crying" and ability to anchor the film emotionally.
• Talks about the emotional relationship between the siblings, appreciating how the story explores their trauma and growth.
  • "At the end I cried...me and my wife were sitting next to each other crying at the end of a Black Phone." (08:21)

[09:22] Kristen Meinzer:

• Emphasizes the authentic sibling dynamics: loyalty, annoyance, and complex emotional ties, post-trauma.
  • "[The film] really did seem more confident...those core relationships with the brother and sister are so believable." (09:23)
  • Notes the realistic evolution of both Finn and Gwen into troubled teens—Finn “very aggro, very antisocial, very dependent on substance abuse,” and Gwen as a "detective" type.

Humor, Dialogue, and 1980s Flavor

[10:46] Glen Weldon & Jordan Crucchiola:

• Some dialogue, including Gwen’s swearing, feels forced or self-consciously “baroque.”
• "[Gwen’s] saltiness—like, it's marbles in the mouth...you've never heard these terms of phrase in your life." (11:06, Jordan)
• The 1980s references/tools (language, fashion) are sometimes deployed for Gen X nostalgia more than plot necessity, but the team mostly finds it fun and “clunky” in an endearing way.
  • "I love who she roasts in this movie. For the most part, there are great delivery moments for that." (11:44, Jordan)

Setting Quibbles

[13:03] Kristen Meinzer & Jordan Crucchiola:

• Jokes about the camp’s unrealistically large bunkrooms and the improbably situated lakeside phone booth.
  • "Is it routine for, like, a bunking cabin to be the size of a hotel lobby?" (13:16, Jordan)
  • "[The phone booth] is positioned in the landscape like a Tardis..." (14:22, Glen)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "This is Dream Warriors, absolutely. And I loved that about it."
  — Kristen Meinzer [03:05]
• "This Black Phone 2 is a superior movie. It felt like the one was starting blocks to get us to this point."
  — Jordan Crucchiola [03:28]
• "If one of the things you liked about that first film was its...linear plotting...there's none of that here."
  — Glen Weldon [04:55]
• "At the end I cried...me and my wife were sitting next to each other crying at the end of a Black Phone."
  — Jordan Crucchiola [08:21]
• "[The film] really did seem more confident...those core relationships with the brother and sister are so believable."
  — Kristen Meinzer [09:23]
• "Her saltiness—like, it's marbles in the mouth...you've never heard these terms of phrase in your life."
  — Jordan Crucchiola [11:06]
• "[The phone booth] is positioned in the landscape like a Tardis..."
  — Glen Weldon [14:22]

Recommendations: What’s Making Us Happy This Week

[16:32]

• Jordan Crucchiola:

  • Recommends The Woman in Cabin 10 (Netflix)
  • Thriller featuring Keira Knightley as a journalist among billionaires on a yacht; notes Guy Pearce’s sinister presence and Hannah Waddingham "vamping in finery."
  • "It's low investment, but a little high entertainment yield." [16:38]

• Kristen Meinzer:

  • Recommends Arthur’s Whiskey
  • A British film starring the late Diane Keaton; three friends find an elixir to become young again, ultimately learning self-empowerment.
  • "It's so cheerful. It's so upbeat. It's nice and snappy...It has some fun cameos, including Boy George and Hayley Mills." [18:17]

• Glen Weldon:

  • Recommends The Essential Peanuts by Charles M. Schultz (book)
  • Chronicles the history and emotional depth of the Peanuts comic strip.
  • "Grace and never talked down to the audience...happiness may be a warm puppy, but people do get depressed around the holidays and trees will eat your kite." [19:25]

Conclusion

The "Black Phone 2" discussion spotlights the film’s confident evolution beyond its predecessor, with bolder supernatural elements and a focus on raw sibling trauma. The hosts are divided on tone and plot coherence—some are charmed by its cheesiness and 80s nostalgia, while others miss the streamlined horror of the first. Emotional stakes, performances, and inventive visuals win consistent praise, with some lighthearted ribbing for plausibility and dialogue quirks. As always, the crew closes with upbeat, varied pop culture recommendations that reflect the show's eclectic, enthusiastic tone.

Segment Timestamps:

• Black Phone 2 Recap & Discussion: 00:23–14:29
• What’s Making Us Happy: 16:32–20:24

(Adverts, intros, and outros excluded.)