Four years have passed since Finn escaped the Grabber’s basement—a place so soaked in terror that even remembering it feels like reopening an old scar. But as The Black Phone 2 proves, some horrors don’t stay buried. Evil, it seems, knows how to redial.
Directed by Scott Derrickson and co-written with C. Robert Cargill (based on Joe Hill’s characters), this chilling sequel picks up where the first movie left off. Finn (Mason Thames) is older now, trying to move on, but trauma doesn’t fade as easily as bruises do. And when his sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) begins hearing the black phone ringing again—this time in her dreams—you know something dark is coming back to life.
Sounds creepy? It is. But in a good, goosebumps-on-your-arm kind of way.
A Story That Digs Deeper Than Before
Unlike the original film, which focused on Finn’s desperate fight for survival, The Black Phone 2 turns its gaze inward. It’s not just about surviving evil anymore—it’s about confronting it. Gwen starts having disturbing visions tied to the black phone and the Grabber, and her determination to uncover the truth leads her and Finn into a remote, snow-covered camp.
You might think: a winter camp, how bad could it be? Think again. The isolation, the endless white landscape, and the whispers of the past create the perfect stage for what becomes a psychological and supernatural storm.
As the siblings dig deeper, they discover that the Grabber’s presence didn’t die in that basement. In fact, it may be linked to their own family’s dark history. Yep—evil might have been closer to home all along.
The Cast Brings It Home
Mason Thames returns as Finn, delivering a performance that’s both grounded and haunted. He’s no longer the terrified kid we met years ago, but you can see that survivor’s guilt eating at him. Madeleine McGraw, on the other hand, completely owns the screen as Gwen. She’s fierce, intuitive, and heartbreakingly brave.
And yes, Ethan Hawke is back as The Grabber. You didn’t really think they’d make a Black Phone movie without him, did you? His presence—part ghost, part psychological nightmare—reminds us why he was one of the most unsettling villains in modern horror.
Supporting performances from Jeremy Davies (Terrence), Arianna Rivas (Mustang), and Demián Bichir (Mando) add layers of realism to this supernatural tale. Together, they make the world of The Black Phone 2 feel both lived-in and cursed.
The Haunting Craft of Derrickson
Scott Derrickson knows how to balance fear with feeling. Just like in Sinister and the first Black Phone, he uses silence and space as much as he uses screams. The snowy setting adds a cold, ghostly beauty—every creak of a cabin door, every faint phone ring, echoes louder in that frozen quiet.
And Derrickson doesn’t rely on jump scares alone. Instead, he lets dread build naturally. You start feeling uneasy not because something happened—but because you know it’s about to.
Family, Fear, and the Phone That Won’t Die
At its core, this film isn’t just a ghost story—it’s a family story wrapped in horror. Finn and Gwen’s bond drives the emotional pulse of the movie. They’re still haunted by what happened years ago, but their love and loyalty push them to face the impossible.
And that black phone? It’s more than a haunted object now. It’s a connection between worlds—the living, the dead, and everything in between. Each ring blurs the line between memory and nightmare, pulling the siblings closer to the truth.
You’ll probably find yourself asking: is the Grabber really gone? Or did Finn bring something back with him that night? The film doesn’t hand over easy answers—it lets you feel the confusion, the fear, and the desperate need to know more.
What Makes This Sequel Work
Sequels often struggle to match the impact of the original, but The Black Phone 2 doesn’t try to repeat itself. It expands. It deepens the mythology instead of just rehashing scares. You’ll find subtle nods to the first movie, but this one has its own soul—and its own scream.
It also dares to mix genres a bit more. There’s mystery, psychological tension, and even moments of quiet emotion that hit unexpectedly hard. It’s the kind of horror that makes you think and jump.
Plus, the script’s pacing keeps things tight. Every scene moves the story forward—no filler, no dragging. You’re either learning something new or bracing for what’s coming next.
Final Thoughts: Answer the Call
If you loved the original Black Phone, this sequel will feel like coming back to a nightmare you secretly missed. It’s colder, creepier, and emotionally sharper. The story grows beyond simple horror—it’s about trauma, family, and the way the past never truly hangs up.
So, should you answer the call? Absolutely. But be warned—once you pick up, The Black Phone 2 doesn’t let go easily. It rings long after the credits roll.
Because sometimes, the dead don’t want to talk.
They just want to remind you they’re still on the line.
