The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) is back and borrowing a page from Freddy Krueger’s playbook in Black Phone 2, a much darker sequel to 2022’s The Black Phone. Returning director Scott Derrickson (Sinister, V/H/S/85) infuses the supernatural horror premise with his signature Super 8 aesthetic and imagery that ensure a wilder, much more menacing entry unafraid to take bold swings.
Set in 1981, Black Phone 2 reintroduces the Shaw family. Dad (Jeremy Davies) had since taken steps to get sober, but Finney Shaw (Mason Thames) hasn’t processed the trauma from his encounter with the Grabber. When he’s not disassociating, Finney works overtime as the protective older brother of Gwen (Madeleine McGraw). Not only has Gwen entered dating age, but the feisty teen’s unique dream abilities wind up putting her directly in the crosshairs of Finney’s former captor, who targets them both from beyond the grave.
(from left) Finn (Mason Thames) and The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) in Black Phone 2, written and directed by Scott Derrickson.
Derrickson and co-writer C. Robert Cargill, working from a story idea by Joe Hill, don’t shy away from the obvious parallels between The Grabber’s new modus operandi and A Nightmare on Elm Street, paying tribute to key moments and iconography, even down to Gwen’s Nancy Thompson-like pajama set as she’s stalked by the Grabber. But Derrickson avoids retread with a distinct visual language for Gwen’s dream states.
Grainy, crackling Super 8 and Super 16 sequences distinguish from waking reality. More than separate realities, it creates visual interest and a suffocating atmosphere of menace. The Grabber may have been a sicko before, but here, rendered in nightmarish analog scenes, the undead boogeyman embodies evil more fully in surreal ways. The way that Derrickson slowly evolves the rules behind the analog sequences by the third act ensures this strong style choice has substance, too. It’s bolstered by a chilling score from Atticus Derrickson.
Hawke embraces the Grabber’s nastier streak, having a blast exploring a killer unencumbered by life’s physical limitations. Demián Bichir makes easy work of the film’s toughest supporting role in delivering crucial exposition with lively flair, and Miguel Mora endears as the sweet love interest slash younger brother to The Black Phone‘s Robin, also played by Mora. Thames is masterful as the caring big brother unwilling to face his traumas, but this movie belongs to McGraw. Derrickson and Cargill smartly position the mouthy teen as the film’s true protagonist and beating heart. Her moral compass guides the characters through some rather gnarly and grim subject matter and rallies the troops for one wild, action-heavy climax.
Black Phone 2 takes a while to find its footing, reintroducing key characters and reminding audiences what Finney endured in the last film. Once the stage has been set and the Shaw siblings relocate to the icy campgrounds to begin their supernatural investigation in earnest, the sequel kicks into high gear and never looks back.
(from left) Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) and The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) in Black Phone 2, directed by Scott Derrickson.
Derrickson boldly pushes the envelope to ensure the stakes are higher than ever, unfurling ghastly imagery when it comes to the Grabber’s past in taboo-shattering ways. Black Phone 2 dangles intriguing ideas on faith and the eternal good vs evil concepts, drawing from Dante’s Inferno and its frozen depiction of hell as inspiration for its horror and visually stunning set pieces.
It’s also a sequel that delivers on fun, whether through inventive set pieces that see a burnt crispy Grabber skating across ice to dole out pain or Gwen’s mouthy retorts. Mostly, though, it’s a disarming horror sequel that never forgets the family at the center of the madness, ensuring that its emotional beats more than land their intended impact.
Black Phone 2 doesn’t just take a bigger, bolder approach; it’s a complete subgenre shift. Derrickson takes the Grabber’s hellish descent seriously, playing up the visceral nature of the killer’s tactics and ramping up the horror stakes. It’s audacious for its brutal dispatching of young victims and its unabashed homages to classics like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Curtains. A strong vision and unique interpretation of horror classics, combined with a tremendous cast, ensure Black Phone 2 surpasses its predecessor in just about every way.
Black Phone 2 made its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest and releases in theaters on October 17, 2025.
