The Big Picture The 10 Best Horror Movies of 2025 and ‘Black Phone 2’
5 snips
Oct 21, 2025 
Chris Ryan, a film critic who dives into the intricacies of contemporary horror, and Alex Ross Perry, a filmmaker known for his engaging short segments, tackle the intriguing landscape of horror in 2025. They discuss the disappointing sequel 'Black Phone 2' and explore the current imbalance in the genre, where high-quality auteur films clash with weaker studio releases. Alex shares his creative process for his short in V/H/S/Halloween, revealing how personal fears shape his storytelling and what makes a horror anthology truly standout.
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When Sequels Over-Explain
- Black Phone 2 tries to expand its villain into supernatural territory and leans heavily on exposition to connect to the first film.
- That approach dilutes momentum and risks turning a creepy concept into a bloated franchise setup.
Box Office Still Drives Sequels
- Blumhouse's recent commercial run has mostly faltered, but Black Phone 2 achieved significant box-office success.
- Box-office performance incentivizes continued franchise building despite mixed critical reception.
Horror's Two-Tier Year
- 2025 shows a paradox: top-tier horror is exceptional while mid-tier feels thin and over-explanatory.
- Great filmmakers raised horror's ceiling but left a gap where routine studio horror struggles to deliver.
