Black Phone 2 Review: The Grabber Returns For A Scary, Standout Sequel That Gets Better The More I Think About It

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Black Phone 2 is truly unique. It’s the first and only sequel director Scott Derrickson has ever made to one of his own films. While the original movie was based on a complete short story by horror author Joe Hill, this new film only started with a simple idea from him. Usually, that would spell trouble, but the return of The Grabber is surprisingly captivating and exceeds all expectations.

Black Phone 2

Here are the details for the film: It will be released on October 17, 2025, and is directed by Scott Derrickson. The screenplay is by Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill. The film stars Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Demián Bichir, and Jeremy Davies. It is rated R for strong violence, gore, teen drug use, and language, and has a runtime of 114 minutes.

With *Black Phone 2*, director Scott Derrickson has delivered his most accomplished film yet. It’s a rare horror sequel that surpasses the original, improving in nearly every aspect. Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw deliver even stronger performances as Finney and Gwen, convincingly portraying them as true heroes, not just survivors. And Ethan Hawke is captivating as The Grabber, bringing a chilling presence with updated versions of his already infamous mask.

Unlike most horror sequels, *Black Phone 2* avoids clichés and delivers a surprisingly heartfelt, funny, and human story – one that rivals many mainstream films released this year. I’ll admit, my initial reaction wasn’t quite so enthusiastic. It took some time to fully process the film and realize how much I actually enjoyed it, and this review would have been very different had I rushed to write it immediately after seeing it.

Black Phone 2 is so different from The Black Phone that I initially questioned its very existence.

I was lucky enough to see *Black Phone 2* at its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025, surrounded by enthusiastic horror fans. The excitement in the theater was incredible, and it’s easy to see why – the movie perfectly fits the festival’s vibe, even starting with a classic Universal logo. But unlike some sequels, this isn’t just a rehash of the first film; it’s a well-made and original addition to the series.

It’s been four years since Finney escaped from the serial killer known as The Grabber, and he’s still struggling with the experience, often reacting with violence towards those he feels deserve it. This time, however, Finney isn’t the only target. His sister, Gwen, is also in danger because of her psychic abilities, which have attracted The Grabber’s attention even after his death.

Instead of keeping the main action in one place like before, director Derrickson and his frequent collaborator C. Robert Cargill broaden the story’s reach through Gwen’s ability to see visions. These visions reveal the ghosts of children who died violently and are unable to find peace. Their investigation takes them to the Alpine Lodge ski camp, where they encounter key figures like Armando, played by Demián Bichir, and a broken phone booth that hasn’t worked in over ten years.

From this point onward, the movie frequently uses Gwen’s visions and dreams, shown through a noticeable change in visual style. It shifts from standard film to a grainy, dreamlike quality reminiscent of Super 8 footage – a technique the director employs both dramatically and subtly, especially during scenes where Ethan Hawke’s menacing spirit torments Gwen. Despite being genuinely scary, the film’s visuals have a strangely warm feeling, which is a contrast to the isolating coldness I felt while watching the first movie.

When I first watched the 2021 movie and its sequel, I had mixed feelings. I enjoyed it, but I also wondered why the story wasn’t being told with completely different monsters, villains, and technology. It wasn’t until later that I realized I was seeing the sequel’s deliberate originality as a negative thing, instead of appreciating it as a positive change.

Some of my favorite horror sequels also went in completely different directions from the originals.

After premiering at Fantastic Fest, director Scott Derrickson explained his hesitation to revisit existing franchises. He prefers to create something original, unlike many other series that readily replicate past successes. A major reason it took years to develop *Black Phone 2* was Derrickson’s desire for his young stars to genuinely age into their roles, allowing for a more mature and realistic story about Finney and Gwen growing up.

As a huge horror fan, I immediately thought of the *Nightmare on Elm Street* movies when *The Grabber* started feeling less like a human villain and more like something…otherworldly. It’s similar to how those films kept building these crazy dream worlds, even though the core idea was always just Freddy Krueger hunting teenagers. *Dream Warriors* and *Wes Craven’s New Nightmare* are two of my all-time favorites, and what’s so cool about them is how different they are from each other *and* from the original *Nightmare* movies.

We’ve seen incredible horror sequels throughout the years – from Ti West’s *X* trilogy focusing on Pearl, to classics like *Aliens* and *Army of Darkness*, and even unexpected successes like *Bride of Chucky*. *Ouija: Origin of Evil* proved a sequel could be great even after a bad first film. Keeping these examples in mind made it easy to appreciate *Black Phone 2* for taking a different approach.

I’m thankful that the way I experienced Black Phone 2 specifically helped me appreciate it more.

Even if I’d gone into *Black Phone 2* knowing nothing about the plot, I likely would have still enjoyed the beautiful visuals, interesting characters, and the villain’s creepy appearance. I might have been more critical of the story and acting, though. But this is a movie where my enjoyment came entirely from *how* I watched it – it’s the kind of film that’s best experienced with a special memory attached, like watching it on a first date.

I don’t expect everyone to agree with my experience, especially since my concerns were pretty personal to begin with. A simple review could just say “Black Phone 2 is bigger, darker, and better,” and many people would likely feel the same way. But that felt too…flat. I wanted to offer a more engaging perspective.

I’d definitely watch a sequel following Finney and Gwen as they travel the country helping troubled ghosts and staying one step ahead of the villainous Grabber. Honestly, if the next movie felt like an episode of *Scooby-Doo*, that would be fantastic! It remains to be seen how *Black Phone 2* will compare to other horror sequels, but you rarely see a horror movie featuring a killer who skates, making this one stand out.

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2025-10-16 21:59