The Black Phone 2 (2025) returns audiences to the eerie realm of supernatural horror with a chilling, atmospheric sequel tha t promises to up the ante. Directed once again by Scott Derrickson and co-written with C. Robert Cargill, the film reunites Ethan Hawke as the terrifying Grabber, now transcending death to continue his reign of terror.
Set four years after the harrowing events of the first film, Finney (Mason Thames), now 17, struggles to rebuild his life amidst lingering trauma. His sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), aged 15, becomes haunted by dream calls from the ominous black phone—visions that lead her to disturbing images of boys being stalked at a remote winter camp known as Alpine Lake. Driven by love and fear, Gwen persuades Finney to accompany her to the snowbound camp, where they uncover a horrifying connection between their family’s past and the Grabber’s supernatural vengeance.
This sequel shifts the tone from a middle-school coming-of-age horror to a more intense high-school setting, reflecting the characters' growth and the escalating stakes. Derrickson emphasizes a richly layered script that avoids merely repeating the first film’s formula, instead expanding the mythology with fresh, suspenseful dynamics. The frozen environment—captured with real snowfall and stark cinematography—adds a claustrophobic, unsettling dimension rarely seen in winter horror.
Fans of the original will appreciate the return of the main cast, now facing a more menacing threat: a killer who operates from beyond the grave. New additions to the ensemble enrich the narrative and heighten the mystery. Set to premiere at Fantastic Fest in September and release nationwide on October 17, 2025, The Black Phone 2 promises a haunting descent into fear, revenge, and the supernatural—and may very well become the launch of a terrifying new franchise.
