Black Phone 2 Review: The Phone Rings Again and the Chills Return

The Line Between Past and Present

Three years after The Black Phone became a surprise horror hit, writer and director Scott Derrickson returns with another unsettling chapter that blends trauma, family, and the supernatural. Black Phone 2 finds Finn (Mason Thames) four years removed from surviving his captivity and the death of his abductor, The Grabber (Ethan Hawke). But when strange visions start to haunt his younger sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), the nightmare they thought was over begins to call again.

This time, Gwen becomes the heart of the story. Her dreams are invaded by ghostly voices and flickering images of boys being hunted at a remote winter camp called Alpine Lake. As she starts to receive calls from the infamous black phone, she begins to realize her connection to this evil runs deeper than anyone imagined. When Finn reluctantly joins her at the camp, the siblings uncover a dark truth that binds their family’s past to The Grabber’s lingering presence.

Haunted Bloodlines and Stronger Bonds

One of Derrickson’s smartest choices is shifting more focus to Gwen. The first film was Finn’s story of survival, but this sequel becomes a portrait of both siblings and the scars they still carry. Madeleine McGraw gives her most commanding performance yet, turning Gwen into a bold and determined young woman who refuses to let fear define her. Her visions test her faith and push her toward the realization that her psychic gift might also be a curse.

Opposite her, Mason Thames grows Finn into something far more complex than the boy we met before. He’s quieter now, heavy with guilt and the trauma of being “the one who got away.” What’s fascinating is how the dynamic between the siblings completely flips from the first movie. Gwen takes charge this time, while Finn becomes more cautious and emotionally guarded. The result is two fully realized characters you can’t help but root for as they face horrors both literal and psychological.

Their chemistry remains the emotional center of the film. Every scene between them feels lived in and honest. You believe they’d risk everything for each other, even as their paths toward healing pull them in different directions.

McGraw also delivers some of the film’s most memorable moments through her quick wit and sharp tongue. Gwen doesn’t back down from anyone, not even the adults around her. Her exchanges with Maev Beaty’s Barb, a devoutly religious woman who refuses to believe in anything supernatural, stand out as some of the film’s best scenes. Their tension brings back Derrickson’s signature theme of faith colliding with fear. Barb’s denial of what she can’t explain clashes perfectly with Gwen’s conviction that belief can be both weapon and shield.

It’s here the film finds its emotional backbone. Derrickson uses their conflict to explore how faith can divide people just as easily as it can save them. Gwen’s faith isn’t tied to institutions or dogma; it’s something earned through pain, survival, and self-trust. She believes because she has seen. That belief makes her brave, and it defines the quiet power that drives her through the story.

Ethan Hawke’s Unsettling Return

Ethan Hawke’s Grabber looms over the film like a curse that refuses to die. Even as a spectral figure, his presence dominates. Hawke once again finds that frightening middle ground between menace and humanity. The way he uses his voice, the fractured mask design, and the cold unpredictability of his energy create an atmosphere that feels dangerous even when he isn’t on screen.

The sequel doesn’t try to reinvent The Grabber, but it expands his legacy. He’s no longer just a killer but a representation of trauma that Finn and Gwen can’t escape. It’s haunting in both the literal and emotional sense, showing how the ghosts of the past can outlive the people who caused them.

Style, Sound, and Nostalgia

Black Phone 2 looks and sounds incredible. Derrickson and cinematographer Brett Jutkiewicz lean into an old VHS tape aesthetic that instantly gives the film texture. The film grain, the muted colors, and the way scenes blur between dreams and waking moments all work to create a world that feels haunted by time itself.

The transitions between Gwen’s dream world and reality are seamless and clever. They never overplay the visual tricks but keep the audience guessing about what’s real and what isn’t. The Alpine Lake setting adds a layer of isolation that’s both beautiful and terrifying, especially during the snowstorm sequences.

The score by Mark Korven is excellent. It’s eerie without being overbearing and builds tension through silence as much as sound. There’s also a noticeable increase in production value from the first film. The effects are more refined, the makeup and blood work more polished, and the set pieces are much bigger without losing the intimacy that made the original work.

Surprisingly, there’s humor too. The film finds smart little ways to let the audience breathe, mostly through the dry exchanges between adults and kids. It’s not forced comic relief; it’s the kind of grounded humor that makes you care about these characters more.

The Good, The Bad, and The Predictable

Black Phone 2 works as a continuation, but not every moment lands. Some scares feel familiar, and a few story beats are easy to spot coming. The movie occasionally flirts with repetition and doesn’t always find new ground beyond expanding the mythology. Yet it’s hard to be too critical when the emotional side of the story feels this genuine.

The concept of The Grabber’s curse evolving beyond death is handled well, and the sibling dynamic gives the film a heart the first one didn’t always reach. By the end, you’re more invested in their personal growth than the next jump scare, and that’s a win for this franchise.

Final Verdict: A Chilling Evolution

Black Phone 2 might not redefine the series, but it strengthens it. The story takes the haunting of the first film and turns it inward, showing how trauma echoes long after survival. Madeleine McGraw and Mason Thames shine as a pair of siblings bound by shared pain and stubborn hope, while Ethan Hawke’s Grabber remains one of horror’s most nightmarish creations.

Scott Derrickson delivers a sequel that is eerie, emotional, and visually stylish. It’s proof that not every horror follow-up needs to be louder or bloodier to be effective. Sometimes it just needs to listen for the ring and answer.

Watch Unveiling the Secrets of ‘The Black Phone 2’ with Madeleine McGraw at NYCC

Watch Mason Thames Reveals Secrets from ‘The Black Phone 2’ and ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ at NYCC