When a horror sequel is announced, skepticism often follows. Many fans and critics alike brace for disappointment, expecting a retread of familiar scares or a cash grab that fails to recapture the original’s spark. Yet, with "Black Phone 2," released in theaters in mid-October 2025, the creative team at Universal and Blumhouse have delivered a follow-up that both honors and deepens the chilling legacy of its predecessor, while taking bold narrative risks that mostly pay off.
The original "The Black Phone" made waves back in 2022, propelled by its unsettling villain, a claustrophobic setting, and breakout performances—most notably from Mason Thames as Finney and Ethan Hawke as the sinister Grabber. The first film, based on a Joe Hill short story, wrapped up its plot with a sense of finality, leaving many to wonder: why revisit this universe? According to CinemaBlend, the first movie’s massive box office haul, exceeding $160 million, made a sequel all but inevitable. But as critics note, "Black Phone 2" isn’t just about capitalizing on prior success—it’s a genuine attempt to expand the story’s lore and emotional depth.
This time, the film shifts its primary setting from the original’s infamous basement to a snowed-in Christian youth camp at Alpine Lake. The new locale, coupled with dreamscapes and supernatural elements, widens the narrative’s scope and introduces a mystical aspect that the first film only hinted at. As Attractions Magazine points out, "Rather than trying to recreate the beats of the first film, the sequel expands the world in ways I didn’t expect. It builds on the lore set up in the original, pulling small details and subtle threads forward to create a more layered narrative."
The sequel picks up several years after the harrowing events of the first movie. Finney (Mason Thames), now a high schooler, is still reeling from his traumatic encounter with the Grabber, whose legacy haunts him both literally and figuratively. Finney struggles with PTSD, anger, and the isolating effects of being a survivor—he’s even depicted smoking weed to cope, a detail that underscores the film’s darker, more mature tone. Meanwhile, his sister Gwen (Madeline McGraw) steps into the spotlight, grappling with burgeoning psychic abilities inherited from their late mother. Hollywood Outbreak notes that the film "deepens that connection, exploring trauma, courage, and the resilience of survivors. It’s more than just a scare—it’s a story that lingers."
Director Scott Derrickson and co-writer C. Robert Cargill make a conscious choice to shift much of the narrative focus onto Gwen. Her psychic dreams, which often involve cryptic messages from the Grabber’s past victims, drive the plot forward. As ClutchPoints describes, "First, she begins dreaming of one of The Grabber's victims, they deliver a clue regarding The Grabber, and then Finney finds her sleepwalking, waking her up. Eventually, this leads to Black Phone 2's main plotline." When Gwen’s visions lead the siblings and their friends—including Ernesto (Miguel Mora) and the brother of one of the Grabber’s victims—to the Alpine Lake camp, a brutal winter storm traps them there, escalating the supernatural tension.
It’s in this snowed-in, dreamlike setting that Ethan Hawke’s Grabber returns, more terrifying than ever. Though technically dead, the character’s presence in Gwen’s and Finney’s dreams is chilling and surreal. Hawke, freed from the constraints of the original’s realism, leans into the role’s supernatural menace. As ClutchPoints highlights, "Hawke's performance as The Grabber is ramped up in the sequel. He was always a sinister character, but Hawke is allowed to go to new extremes, since the character is technically dead." One memorable line—"Hell isn’t flames, Finney. It’s ice."—captures the film’s new thematic direction and the Grabber’s evolving threat.
Despite its strengths, "Black Phone 2" isn’t without flaws. Critics from ClutchPoints and Attractions Magazine both note that the film’s first hour suffers from sluggish pacing and repetitive dream sequences. The focus on Gwen’s psychic struggles, while necessary for the sequel’s supernatural expansion, sometimes feels heavy-handed and slows the narrative momentum. "The first hour teeters on unwatchable, due to the repetitive nature of it," admits ClutchPoints. However, once the group arrives at Alpine Lake and the supernatural elements fully kick in, the film finds its rhythm, delivering scares and emotional resonance that linger long after the credits roll.
Performance-wise, the cast steps up across the board. Mason Thames, now 18, returns as Finney with a performance that’s both raw and believable. Interestingly, Thames filmed "Black Phone 2" back-to-back with his starring role as Hiccup in "How To Train Your Dragon." He recounted to Dead Meat how director Scott Derrickson had to remind him to drop the faster, lighter Hiccup voice and return to Finney’s slower, more haunted demeanor. "Scott would sometimes, over his microphone, just go, ‘I hear Hiccup.’ And I’m like, ‘Ah! My bad, my bad.’ So I’d slow down my speaking and kind of get back into it," Thames shared. This anecdote, reported by CinemaBlend, highlights the unique challenges Thames faced transitioning between such different roles in a short span of time.
Madeline McGraw’s portrayal of Gwen is another standout, as she shoulders much of the film’s emotional and supernatural weight. Critics agree that while the script sometimes lets her down with repetitive scenes, McGraw’s performance is consistently compelling. The supporting cast, including Miguel Mora and Anna Lore (as Gwen and Finney’s late mother, Hope), add further depth to the ensemble.
Audience and critical reception has been largely positive, with Attractions Magazine and CinemaBlend both awarding "Black Phone 2" a score of 4 out of 5 stars. Attractions Magazine praises the film for "delivering in a way I didn’t expect," and CinemaBlend calls it "haunting, hypnotic" and notes that it "surpassed all the reviewers’ expectations." Still, not all critics are convinced the franchise needs another installment. Some, like those at ClutchPoints, warn that a third film could risk diminishing the impact of both the original and the sequel, stating, "It would be reckless to make a third movie and risk further tarnishing the brilliant first movie, but that hasn't stopped Derrickson before."
"Black Phone 2" is rated R and, notably, does not feature a post-credit scene. The movie is currently playing in theaters and stands as a testament to the power of smart, emotionally grounded horror storytelling. Whether or not another sequel is on the horizon, this chilling chapter leaves audiences both satisfied and unsettled—a rare feat in the world of horror sequels.
