Mason Thames (left) and Ethan Hawke in “Black Phone 2,” directed by Scott Derrickson. Photo courtesy Universal Pictures

Scott Derrickson’s “Black Phone 2” is further proof that not every great movie deserves a sequel. The strength and goodwill of Derrickson’s “The Black Phone” (2012) has not carried over for this contrived, logic-free follow-up.

The survivors of “The Black Phone,” Derrickson’s surprising, riveting sleeper, are still haunted by memories of The Grabber (played by Ethan Hawke in a ferocious performance). It’s now 1982 and the setting changes to a snow-crusted and isolated summer camp, where our heroes have no choice but to face The Grabber, who is still deceased but can now attack his victims in their dreams.

Having recently revisited “A Nightmare on Elm St. 2: Freddy’s Revenge” (1985), I see not only similarities but the same problem: When you allow the dream world and reality to intermingle without explanation, it undermines the tension. Since anything can happen without reason or proper buildup (like a random explosion on a frozen lake), the suspense and stakes are gone.

It’s still so satisfying to watch The Grabber get one-upped by the heroes but considering how he was beaten fair and square the first time, the only reason he’s back is, well, because it’s a sequel, so here we go again.

Hawke is one of our hardest working and consistently excellent actors, terrific here whether in the flesh or just as a voice-over. Everyone in the ensemble cast — like returning lead and “How to Train Your Dragon” star Mason Thames — is first-rate.

Derrickson leans into matters of theology and religious belief, particularly Christianity. It may seem strange, but this is, no joke, a pro-faith slasher movie, though most of Derrickson’s films carry this quality, including his first breakout horror film, “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” (2005).

I appreciate the aesthetic Derrickson gives the nightmare sequences, making them appear like grainy VHS tape footage, in contrast to the clarity of the other scenes. It’s cool at first, but there’s so much of it I became aware that I was gazing at an ugly looking movie. Also, the method is now a cliche, as Derrickson’s “Sinister” (2012) also over-used this to showcase similarly grisly, trying-too-hard murder sequences.

The new setting for the story is welcome, but too many scenes are reminiscent of other movies. I like the camp and isolated environment, even as it made me think that nothing here can hold a candle to either “The Shining” or “Friday the 13th” (both 1980).

The image of The Grabber figure skating while holding axes isn’t just incredibly silly, it’s also an image lifted from the far better “Curtains” (1983). The scenes of characters wandering darkly lit and empty neighborhoods late at night was better staged and scarier in the surprise summer hit, “Weapons.”

“Black Phone 2” isn’t bad. It has been made with showmanship, and it will deliver for those seeking some chills for Halloween weekend. The dread-inducing first act gives way to a lot of horror movie cliches and melodrama that was handled so much better in the first film. The way Jeremy Davies is brought back as the sibling’s alcoholic dad is half-baked.

Derrickson should have considered that the Freddy Krueger installments that worked best were when the don’t-fall-asleep angle was clearly defined, while the least in the series were simply excuses for special effects that served a nonsensical story.

Horror movies can be events for young people, either because they’re so good (like “Sinners” earlier this year) or said to be terrifying (like the original 1989 “Pet Sematary,” which my grade school buddies reported had kids fleeing the theater in terror when it played at the Maui Theater in Kahului).

Sometimes being scared is fun. “Black Phone 2” has its moments, but what I remember the most is how it falls in line with most of Derrickson’s other films: lots of dead kids reappearing as zombies and depraved visuals overwhelming the moments that work. If they make a third film (and of course they will), I want the haunted device to be like my old flip phone that dropped calls after eight seconds. Now, that would be scary.

(2 out of 4 stars)

Barry Wurst II is the founder of the Hawaii Film Critics Society and teaches film classes at University of Hawai’i Maui College.