REVIEW: 'Black Phone 2' Turns Brutal Trauma Into Spine-Tingling Tension

Black Phone 2 © Universal Pictures

Scott Derickson is back in his element with Black Phone 2, a sequel to the 2021 pleasant surprise hit The Black Phone, which he also wrote and directed after basing it on an idea by Joe Hill, the son of horror icon Stephen King.

Where the first film centered around the 'relationship' between Finney and The Grabber, the sequel focuses the spotlight on Gwen, Finney's sister, and The Grabber, a decision already genius for a fresh expansion of the story, elevated further by Madeline Mcgraw's fantastic lead performance.

Speaking of the story, Black Phone 2 follows Finney and Gwen dealing with the aftermath of the ordeal years prior. But when Gwen begins experiencing nightmare realm dreams and visions, she begs Finney to help her find the truth about The Grabber and uncover how their stories intertwine more than they initially realized.

Ethan Hawke as The Grabber in Black Phone 2 © Universal Pictures

Gwen's visions and dreams are captured through authentic Super-8 film which elevates the film and aids the difference between the surreal and real in an instantly recognizable and unique fashion. And it's here where Ethan Hawke truly shines in his return as The Grabber - cementing him as one of the coolest and meanest modern horror icons. He's violent, cunning, and twisted sporting a crooked redesign under his mask.

As for Finney, Mason Thames does a commendable job at tackling the fractured life his character has had since the events of the first movie. He's much more volatile in the wake of what he went through as well as struggling to find himself being able to move on from the ordeal. Mason handles the material well and even though it feels the film could've leaned heavier into its exploration of Finney's blatant PTSD, its sprinkling moments across the film, including a pivotal scene of him letting it all loose, ultimately leads to a satisfying moment of euphoria for the character.

Another very highly praise-worthy part of the movie is its direction in tackling questions about the story. It manages to tread a very fine line of providing answers we never thought we'd need but are happy to get and avoiding ones that most horror sequels would leap to answer first, those being the wrong ones that typically explain, often in poor fashion, how certain things work. In this context, Black Phone 2 elaborates on the history of The Grabber and delves into the explanation of how he's suddenly returned, but it never explains the central supernatural mystery of this world, which is HOW the Black Phone itself works. And that's a good thing.

Mason Thames as Finney and Ethan Hawke as The Grabber in Black Phone 2 © Universal Pictures

There are a number of things lacking or not quite as intact as one would hope in this sequel that prevents it from excelling or even matching the original movie. One of these is a sense that something is missing to bring the second act recognizably into the third, which leads to the climax feeling slightly muddled as to whether all is really said and done in the moment. Weakening the final hits, so to say, of the culmination in the movie's story as well as the characters' journeys across it. Additionally, for a horror movie sequel coming in at just shy of two hours with the first being a slow sizzle to get things going, there are times when you wish there was a little more drive in getting to what scares and thrills the movie does imaginatively offer, and wouldn't be harmed from actually having some more in there for viewers to chew on throughout it. More scares don't always mean less effect!

Though Black Phone 2 doesn't surpass the quality level of its predecessor, it still serves as a slick and mean, satisfying expansion to its story and characters with some legitimately chilling and imaginative sequences, as well as strong humour sprinkled over its character work and bonds. Where Mason Thames shined as the leading star in the first go around with The Grabber, Madeline Mcgraw does so in this second and conclusive-feeling encounter with him.

Rating: ★★★ 1/2

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Black Phone 2 © Universal Pictures

About The Black Phone 2

Release Date: October 17, 2025

Executive Producers: Joe Hill, Adam Hendricks, Ryan Turek

Director: Scott Derrickson

Writers: C. Robert Cargill, Scott Derrickson, Joe Hill

Production: Blumhouse Productions, Crooked Highway

Distribution: Universal Pictures

Cast: Mason Thames, Ethan Hawke, Madeleine McGraw

Synopsis: As Finn, now 17, struggles with life after his captivity, his sister begins receiving calls in her dreams from the black phone and seeing disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp known as Alpine Lake.