The Black Phone 2 director says the horror sequel is more intense because "the teenagers who grew up really loving" the first movie are now "the kids who paid to see Terrifier"

Ethan Hawke and Madeleine McGraw in The Black Phone 2.

The Black Phone 2 is bringing back both Mason Thames's Finney and Ethan Hawke's terrifying Grabber – even though the Grabber died in the first film.

This time, though, the stakes are higher than ever, and, as director Scott Derrickson explains, that's thanks to the audience growing with the series.