The Black Phone 2 Review — The Grabber Returns, But Does the Fear Still Work?

The Black Phone 2 Review: When they announced The Black Phone 2, most of us had the same reaction: “Wait, didn’t the Grabber die?” Yeah, he did. But Blumhouse being Blumhouse, they found a way to resurrect him, and this time, he’s not just lurking in basements. He’s having haunting dreams.

I caught this one early at Fantastic Fest, surrounded by other horror nerds and critics, and the buzz was real. Half the crowd left grinning, half looked like they’d been tricked by a ghost. Me? I walked out impressed, not blown away, but genuinely satisfied.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Detail	Information
Title	The Black Phone 2
Directed by	Scott Derrickson
Produced by	Jason Blum, Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill
Screenplay	Scott Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill
Based on	Characters created by Joe Hill
Genre	Horror, Thriller, Supernatural
Release Date	September 20, 2025 (Fantastic Fest Premiere) / October 17, 2025 (Theatrical)
Runtime	1h 54m
Language	English
Main Cast	Ethan Hawke as The Grabber Mason Thames as Finny Shaw Madeleine McGraw as Gwen Shaw Jeremy Davies as Terrence Shaw

Plot Overview (No Spoilers)

The story picks up a few years after the first film. Finny and Gwen are trying to move on from their trauma, but that’s easier said than done. When eerie dreams start to return, and people around town begin vanishing again, it becomes clear that The Grabber’s evil isn’t buried. It’s changed form.

This time, the film blends supernatural horror with psychological guilt. It’s not about jump scares every two minutes. It’s about what happens when you can’t truly escape the past, even when it’s dead.

Scott Derrickson Still Has His Touch

Director Scott Derrickson (Sinister, Doctor Strange) is back, and he hasn’t lost that eerie control over atmosphere. There’s something about his horror style, the slow zooms, the old-school lighting, the quiet before a jump scare, that still works.

The dream sequences, though, are where he truly flexes. They look and feel vintage, grainy, eerie, and almost poetic. It’s not CGI terror; it’s old-school psychological dread. It reminded me of Sinister but with a more surreal, emotional undercurrent.

The Dream World — More Than a Copy of Freddy Krueger

Yeah, people are comparing this to Nightmare on Elm Street. But Derrickson’s approach feels more like a spiritual nod than a ripoff. The dreams here aren’t literal nightmares; they’re windows into another realm, something between the living and the damned.

It’s The Grabber reimagined, not just a serial killer, but a haunting presence that thrives in guilt and trauma. It’s weird, dark, and somehow still tragic.

The Performances — Gwen Steals the Show

Mason Thames returns as Finny, and he’s solid, grounded, believable, and emotionally raw. But the real MVP here is Madeleine McGraw as Gwen. She’s got fire, heart, and a mouth that’d make sailors blush. Her dream sequences carry the film, and her breakdowns hit hard. This is her movie. Period.

The Grabber’s Return — It Shouldn’t Work, But It Does

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about bringing back The Grabber. Killing a villain and then reviving them can feel cheap. But the supernatural spin they give him works better than expected.

We learn just enough about his past to understand how and why he’s back, without ruining his mystique. And that’s the key: he’s still terrifying because we don’t fully understand him.

Building a Horror Icon

Blumhouse clearly wants The Grabber to be their next big horror mascot. He’s got a Halloween Horror Nights actor. His mask’s on soda cans. It’s clear they’re building a franchise. Does it work? Mostly. But when you start turning fear into merch, there’s always that fine line between icon and gimmick.

Writing & Pacing

The first 40 minutes drag. The setup takes its time, maybe too much. But once the mystery starts to unravel and the supernatural elements kick in, it’s game on.

The writing leans into trauma, guilt, and the idea of facing what you’ve buried. It’s surprisingly emotional for a film about a ghostly child murderer.

Cinematography & Style

Everything looks textured and lived-in. The film grain during the dream scenes adds a physical weight to the horror; it feels tangible. You can almost smell the vinyl static in the air. The silence in those moments says more than screams ever could.

The Gore & Suspense

This isn’t a gorefest, but when it gets bloody, it hits. There’s one specific spinning shot, shown in the trailer, that’s jaw-dropping in theaters. Still, I wish there were a higher body count. The Grabber’s terrifying, but he’s not as busy as you’d expect this time.

Humor in Horror

Weirdly, The Black Phone 2 is pretty funny. Not Marvel one-liner funny, more like “relief laugh after a scare” funny. Gwen gets most of those lines, and they land perfectly. It never ruins the tension; it just reminds you these characters are human.

The Mixed Reactions — Why Audiences Are Split

Here’s what I noticed: people who thought the first Black Phone was “fine” loved this sequel. But diehard fans of the first movie felt this one lost its magic. Why? Because it leans into supernatural franchising, it’s bolder, weirder, and less grounded.

It’s not trying to repeat the first film. It’s trying to build a universe. And depending on what you want from your horror sequels, that’s either exciting or annoying.

Also Read: Peacemaker Season 2 Finale Review: The Future of DCU Begins Here

My Final Take

For me, The Black Phone 2 works. It’s moody, unsettling, and unapologetically weird. It doesn’t cheapen the first film; it expands it. The dream-world concept, the emotion between the siblings, and the horror direction make it a worthy sequel.

If this is where Blumhouse wants to build a new horror franchise, I’m in, as long as they keep the soul intact.

Good vs. Bad — The Black Phone 2

Conclusion

The Black Phone 2 takes a wild risk by resurrecting The Grabber, and somehow, it works. The film’s not perfect, but it’s ambitious, creepy, and emotionally charged in ways I didn’t expect. It captures the unease of the first while building something larger, something mythic.

Would I watch a Black Phone 3? Yeah, absolutely. Just… give the Grabber a few more kills next time.

FAQs

Q1: Do I need to watch the first Black Phone before seeing this one?
Yes. You’ll appreciate the characters and emotional beats way more if you’ve seen the first film.

Q2: Is The Grabber’s return believable?
Within the movie’s supernatural framework, yes. It’s handled carefully enough not to feel like a cheap resurrection.

Q3: Is it scarier than the first movie?
Not necessarily scarier, but more atmospheric and unsettling. Think slow-burn horror with emotional stakes.

Q4: How’s the music and sound design?
Minimal, eerie, and perfect for this kind of story. The silence builds more dread than the score ever could.

Q5: Will there be a Black Phone 3?
Blumhouse hasn’t confirmed it, but the ending definitely leaves the door open, pun intended.