Black Phone 2 Review: The Grabber Returns For A Scary, Standout Sequel That Gets Better The More I Think About It

The Grabber standing outside a phone booth Finney is inside in Black Phone 2.

Black Phone 2 is a rare breed from top to bottom. For one, it’s the only time director Scott Derrickson’s crafted a follow-up to one of his own films, and while the first was an expansion of a short story from horror maven Joe Hill, the second is only based on an idea that Hill had in mind. Ninety-nine times out of 100, that would start a recipe for disaster, but The Grabber’s return is haunting, hypnotic, and surpasses all my expectations.

Black Phone 2

(Image credit: Blumhouse Productions)

Release Date: October 17, 2025
Directed By: Scott Derrickson
Written By: Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill
Starring: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Demián Bichir, Jeremy Davies
Rating: R for strong violent content, gore, teen drug use, and language.
Runtime: 114 minutes