It’s been a while since a horror movie actually got to me. Sure, there’ve been plenty of good ones — stylish, smart, well-made — but none that truly made my skin crawl or my pulse race. That is, until The Black Phone.
So when news dropped that we were getting a sequel, I was both excited and a little nervous. Could lightning strike twice? Could that eerie tension and heart-pounding dread return? Well… time to find out. Let’s dive headfirst into the icy waters of Black Phone 2.
☎️ Previously on The Black Phone…
You remember — sweet Gwen, gifted (or cursed) with visions she can’t escape. Dreams haunted by the dead — including her own mother.
And then there’s Finn. Since being kidnapped by the terrifying Grabber, he’s been hearing a black phone ring… one that connects him to the voices of the dead, begging for help from beyond. He survived, yes — escaped, fought back, and ended the Grabber’s reign of terror. But surviving doesn’t mean healing.
Their father, broken by grief and drowning in alcohol since his wife’s death, only adds to the darkness hanging over the family.
❄️ The Story of Black Phone 2
Four years later, Finn still lives in the shadow of that basement. The trauma never really left him — it just learned to hide. Withdrawn and distant, he keeps to himself, trying to move on in a world that doesn’t understand what he’s been through.
Gwen, too, carries her own ghosts — literally. Her dreams are getting worse. Three dead boys, her mother, and now an eerie vision of a winter camp buried deep in the woods: Alpine Lake.
When the nightmares start blending into reality, the siblings decide to face them head-on. Together with Gwen’s loyal (and slightly smitten) friend Ernesto, they head straight for Alpine Lake — a place where the boundary between the living and the dead seems dangerously thin.
FINN AKA MASON THAMES
If you caught our review of Regretting You, you already know I’m a huge Mason Thames fan. The guy has charisma for days, a calm intensity, charm, and pure joy in acting. In The Black Phone, he absolutely nailed it.
So, naturally, I was hoping the Jason Blum (Blumhouse) team would honor the character from the first film—after all, Finn (aka Mason) is now four years older. And guess what? Mason still blows me away. He takes on a slightly different role this time, but he still draws us in, makes us feel the fear, and keeps us on edge.
What many recent rom-com style films failed to do, Mason achieves again—despite this being a full-on horror movie: real, raw emotion. And on top of that, he delivers some laughs, including one gag that is just chef’s kiss—better than most comedy films these days.
GWEN AKA MADELEINE MCGRAW
The true star of Black Phone 2, however, is Gwen. The story really revolves around her. Sure, it takes a moment to get used to her new hairstyle—taste is subjective—but she’s still the same unforgettable character.
Madeleine McGraw had already impressed me in the first film. Remember the interrogation scene in the principal’s office? Pure acting mastery—and she was only 13 at the time. Every replay still makes me smile. Genius.
Now that both Gwen and Madeleine have grown, there’s an added layer of maturity. She’s no longer just the sassy, sharp-tongued kid. She’s a young woman chasing her dreams, even when life—or sleepwalking—throws obstacles in her path.
Madeleine fully inhabits Gwen, pulling us into a whirlwind of horror, courage, and love. There’s a real sense of empowerment here: Gwen bows to no adult, and she certainly won’t back down against the cross, the counselors, or the horror at Alpine Lake’s Christian camp.
Even with all the darkness, Madeleine keeps us laughing, perfectly balancing humor and dread.
THE GRABBER AKA ETHAN HAWKE
The Grabber is back. Of course—evil doesn’t just retire. And this time, he’s extra ticked that Finney blew out his candles and kicked him out of the mortal realm. But what happens next? You’ll have to see the film for yourself.
SUPPORTING CAST
The camp’s good soul is Armando, played by Demián Bichir. As the supervisor, he’s seen countless kids come and go. You may know Demián from The Hateful Eight, Alien: Covenant, The Nun, or Godzilla vs. Kong.
Another standout is his niece Mustang, portrayed by Arianna Rivas—who’s also a model and starred alongside Jason Statham in A Working Man.
FINAL VERDICT: BLACK PHONE 2
While Blumhouse is often known for lighter fare, Black Phone 2 dives deep. The story isn’t just scary—it’s emotional, touching on societal issues like missing children, while exploring themes of love, courage, selflessness, and sacrifice.
The actors are the movie’s strongest point. Madeleine and Mason shine, but the whole cast does a fantastic job. Beyond that, the film is a visual and atmospheric treat. Gwen’s dreams are shown in grainy, haunting images reminiscent of Paranormal Activity or John Carpenter’s 80s classics. The horror expands creatively, thanks to the portals the Grabber opens between worlds And the landscapes are stunning—shot in amazing Canada.
Black Phone 2 is different from its predecessor: bloodier, more brutal, and leaning into classic horror elements while occasionally nodding to the subtle suspense of the first film. Yet it works—this sequel is thrilling, intense, and absolutely worth watching.
It ranks among Blumhouse’s best—no small feat for a studio that releases roughly three films a year. Other hits include M3GAN, The Purge, the Halloween franchise, The Exorcist: Believer, Happy Death Day, Get Out, Split, and more.
We give Black Phone 2 8/10, and Madeleine and Mason 10 hearts each.
Text: Marco Kokkot
Images: Blumhouse. All Rights Reserved.
