Sitting down for my early screening of “Black Phone 2,” I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect other than the fact that this sequel promised major “Nightmare on Elm Street” vibes. Honestly, that was enough to get me in the door.

The first “Black Phone” was a hit for good reason: Ethan Hawke delivered one of his most chilling performances, it introduced us to rising star Mason Thames, and audiences rewarded it with strong box office numbers that made a sequel inevitable. I’ll admit, though, I had mixed feelings about a follow-up. Sequels rarely live up to their predecessors, and sometimes they even dull the impact of the original story.

But “Black Phone 2” is a rare exception. Finney (Thames), now 17, is still grappling with the fallout of his trauma, while sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) f

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