Directed by Scott Derrickson.
Black Phone 2 was released on October 17, 2025 in the United States.
Distributed by Universal Pictures.
Movie Review
Black Phone 2 is a dark and chilling follow-up that builds on the first movie’s story.
Directed by Scott Derrickson, it brings back Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw as the brave siblings, along with Ethan Hawke as the terrifying Grabber.
This time, the story takes place in a snowy, eerie setting that makes the scares even creepier.
The movie mixes horror with emotion, showing how the past still haunts the characters.
Some parts move a little slow, but the tension and mystery keep it gripping till the end.
In short, Black Phone 2 is a scary, emotional, and well-made sequel that horror fans will enjoy.
Ratings
• IMDb: 6.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
• Google Audience Score: 87% liked this TV show.
Black Phone 2 Actors
Mason Thames as Finney Blake
DOB: July 10, 2007.
Bio: American actor who gained acclaim for his breakout performance in The Black Phone (2021).
Known for combining emotional depth with quiet resilience, Thames has quickly established himself as one of Hollywood’s most promising young talents.
Role: Finney Blake is the Grabber’s only known survivor, now a few years older and still coping with the scars of his abduction.
In The Black Phone 2, Finney struggles with lingering trauma, survivor’s guilt, and a growing determination to protect his sister from renewed danger.
What to Expect: A performance that balances trauma-scarred silence with sudden courage; he’s the emotional anchor.
Interesting facts: Mason Thames was recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2025 for his impact on film at a young age.
He continues to balance major studio roles with emotionally driven character work.
Notable works: The Black Phone (2021), How to Train Your Dragon (live action, 2025), Incoming (2024).
Madeleine McGraw as Gwen Blake
DOB: December 22, 2008.
Bio: American actress known for her standout work in horror and family dramas alike.
She gained recognition for her fierce yet tender portrayal of Gwen in The Black Phone (2021), earning praise for her emotional intensity and maturity.
Role: Gwen Blake is Finney’s younger sister, whose recurring nightmares and psychic visions once again play a central role in The Black Phone 2.
As her intuitive powers deepen, Gwen becomes the heart of the film’s supernatural thread, torn between fear, faith, and her desperate need to protect her brother.
What to Expect: Brave, sometimes terrifying set-pieces anchored by a performance that makes the supernatural feel painfully intimate.
Interesting facts: Madeleine comes from a family of actors, including her sister Violet McGraw (M3GAN).
She’s been praised for her professionalism and emotional control in dark, demanding material.
Notable works: The Black Phone (2021), Secrets of Sulphur Springs (Disney+), Toy Story 4 (voice of Bonnie).
Ethan Hawke as The Grabber
DOB: November 6, 1970.
Bio: Four-time Academy Award-nominated actor, writer, and director whose career spans over three decades.
Known for his versatility and depth, he has delivered acclaimed performances across drama, thriller, and horror.
Role: The Grabber returns in The Black Phone 2 as a supernatural force, his presence lingers like a haunting memory that refuses to fade.
No longer just a man but an echo of evil, the sequel deepens his mythology and explores the psychological and paranormal scars he left behind.
What to Expect: A haunting return that mixes menace, unpredictability, and eerie calm.
Interesting facts: Hawke has said he’s interested in completing the story as a trilogy; on Black Phone 2 he worked with Scott Derrickson again to push the Grabber into dream/ghost-story territory.
Notable works: Before Sunrise trilogy, Training Day, Sinister (producer/actor), Black Phone (2021).
Demián Bichir as Armando
DOB: August 1, 1963.
Bio: Oscar-nominated Mexican actor celebrated for his deep emotional range and natural gravitas.
Known for bringing humanity and quiet strength to morally complex roles, Bichir’s performances often balance warmth with mystery.
Role: Armando is a mysterious, world-weary figure whose ties to the film’s dark past blur the line between savior and suspect.
His presence deepens the mythology surrounding “The Grabber,” offering emotional and moral counterpoints to the returning horror.
What to Expect: A grounded, sympathetic performance that complicates who is friend or foe.
Interesting facts: Bichir’s casting signaled the sequel’s shift toward a more mature tone and a larger, morally intricate story.
Notable works: A Better Life, The Hateful Eight, The Nun.
Jeremy Davies as Terrence
DOB: October 8, 1969.
Bio: American character actor known for his ability to portray fragile, eccentric, and deeply human figures.
With a career defined by intensity and emotional nuance, Davies brings authenticity to roles that explore pain, redemption, and internal conflict.
Role: Terrence is Finney and Gwen’s troubled father, a man still haunted by guilt, alcoholism, and the ghosts of what he lost.
In The Black Phone 2, Terrence’s attempt to rebuild his family life after the events of the first film becomes a fragile balancing act.
What to Expect: Vulnerable, occasionally raw family scenes that show how trauma circulates through a household.
Interesting facts: Davies’ distinctive physicality and voice give small but memorable roles strong emotional hooks.
Notable works: Saving Private Ryan, Lost, Justified.
Miguel Cazarez Mora as Ernesto
DOB: March 1, 2007.
Bio: Miguel Cazarez Mora is a young American actor and model who gained widespread recognition for his breakout performance as Robin in The Black Phone (2021).
Known for his natural charisma and grounded emotional presence, Miguel quickly became a fan favorite, balancing intensity and heart in his early roles.
Role: In The Black Phone 2, Miguel returns to the franchise in a new role ‘Ernesto’, a teenager whose family history is tied to the lingering trauma of the Grabber’s crimes.
Ernesto becomes part of the group uncovering the dark truth behind Alpine Lake, connecting the sequel’s mystery to the past.
What to Expect: An earnest, emotionally charged turn from a young performer who already knows the franchise.
Interesting facts: Miguel previously played Robin in the first film, marking one of the rare cases where a director re-casts the same young actor in a spiritually related role within the same universe.
Notable works: The Black Phone (2021).
Arianna Rivas as Mustang
DOB: May 5, 2001.
Bio: American actress and model steadily building her career through independent and genre projects.
Known for her confidence, expressive range, and screen energy, she’s quickly becoming a recognizable face in emerging horror and thriller circles.
Role: Mustang, Armando’s spirited niece and one of the teenagers caught in the mysterious events at Alpine Lake.
Mustang is sharp, brave, and unafraid to challenge authority, her determination becomes vital as the group of teens unravels the camp’s hidden past.
What to Expect: A spiky, modern teen performance that offsets the older adults’ baggage.
Interesting facts: Arianna Rivas reportedly trained for several of the film’s more physical sequences and joined the cast during late production stages in December 2024.
Notable works: The Harvest (2023), indie credits and shorts.
Anna Lore as Hope
DOB: March 15, 1993.
Bio: American actress known for her strong presence in genre television and psychological horror.
With performances that balance vulnerability, quiet strength, and mystery, she has become a familiar face in emotionally complex and darkly atmospheric stories.
Role: Hope, the late mother of Finney and Gwen.
Though deceased, her presence looms large over the narrative, through dreams, visions, and flashbacks, Hope becomes the emotional key to Gwen’s psychic abilities and the family’s buried past.
What to Expect: Haunting, flashback-driven beats that reframe family history and the source of Gwen’s power.
Interesting facts: Lore’s casting underscores the film’s layering of past and present, she helps make the family mystery feel lived-in.
Notable works: They/Them (2022), Gotham Knights (CW), All American.
Graham Abbey as Kenneth
DOB: March 24, 1971.
Bio: Canadian actor best known for his extensive work in theatre, television, and film.
Abbey has earned acclaim for his classical stage roles while maintaining a steady screen career in both Canadian and international productions.
Role: Kenneth, a camp employee at Alpine Lake.
Kenneth’s local knowledge and subtle involvement in the camp’s dark history gradually become vital to the unfolding mystery.
What to Expect: Strong, reliable supporting work that helps the film feel textured and lived-in.
Interesting facts: Abbey’s casting continues the production’s inclusion of top Canadian talent during filming in the Toronto and Hamilton areas.
Notable works: The Border, Defendor, Republic of Doyle.
Maev Beaty as Barbara
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Canadian actor celebrated for her extensive work on stage and screen.
Beaty has built a reputation as one of Canada’s most versatile performers, moving seamlessly between classical theatre, independent film, and prestige television.
Role: Barbara, a long-time camp employee whose quiet awareness of Alpine Lake’s unsettling history becomes crucial as the mystery deepens.
What to Expect: Nuanced, atmospheric moments that anchor the supernatural beats in real, practical human fear.
Interesting facts: A celebrated figure in Canadian theatre, Beaty has performed at major institutions like the Stratford Festival and Soulpepper Theatre.
Notable works: Mouthpiece, Murdoch Mysteries, Beau Is Afraid.
James Ransone as Max
DOB: June 2, 1979.
Bio: American actor best known for his intense and often troubled portrayals in both television and film.
With roots in indie cinema and acclaimed TV dramas, Ransone has built a reputation for bringing jittery energy, emotional volatility, and authentic realism to his characters.
Role: Max, the Grabber’s estranged brother.
In The Black Phone 2, Max’s presence looms through flashbacks and fragmented memories that delve deeper into the Grabber’s twisted upbringing and mental decay.
What to Expect: A compact, unsettling turn that helps explain some of the Grabber’s backstory.
Interesting facts: Ransone began his career in New York’s independent film scene before breaking through with The Wire.
Notable works: The Wire, Sinister (2012), Sinister 2 (2015), It Chapter Two.
Jacob Moran as Billy
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Jacob Moran is a young up-and-coming actor building his presence in feature films and streaming projects.
Known for his natural performances and ease in emotionally charged scenes, Moran brings youthful realism to ensemble casts.
Role: Billy, one of the teens at Alpine Lake.
As part of the camp group drawn into the film’s supernatural mystery, Billy’s reactions and friendship moments help ground the story in believable adolescent fear and camaraderie.
What to Expect: Naturalistic child acting that keeps scenes from feeling like horror-set caricature.
Interesting facts: Moran is part of a wave of promising young actors who balance horror and coming-of-age storytelling.
Notable works: The Curse of the Necklace.
More Actors
• Simon Webster as Felix.
• Chase B. Robertson as Spike.
• Dexter Bolduc as New Kid.
• Shepherd Munroe as Cal.
• Jazlyn Wong-Lee as Mean Girl.
• Julien Norman as Wild Bill.
FAQ – Black Phone 2 (2025) Movie
What is the story about this time?
The sequel follows new disappearances linked to the cursed phone, uncovering more about the Grabber’s victims and unfinished business.
Is it really a sequel?
Yes, it’s an official sequel to The Black Phone (2021) that expands the original’s mythology.
Is Black Phone 2 connected to the first movie?
Yes, it continues the story from the first film, exploring what happens after Finney escapes and how the supernatural phone still affects others.
Does Ethan Hawke return as The Grabber?
Yes, Ethan Hawke returns in flashbacks and dream sequences that expand the Grabber’s backstory.
Where was it filmed?
Most scenes were filmed in Denver, Colorado, and parts of Los Angeles.
How long is it and what is the rating?
Runtime is 114 minutes and it is rated R.
Is it scary / who should avoid it?
Yes, it contains intense violence, gore and disturbing scenes. It’s aimed at adult horror fans; not suitable for children or viewers sensitive to graphic horror.
Conclusion
Black Phone 2 (2025) delivers a haunting and emotional continuation of the original story.
It dives deeper into trauma, fear, and the strength to face evil once again.
With powerful performances from Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, and Ethan Hawke, the movie balances horror with heart.
While it may not be as shocking as the first film, it still keeps you on edge from start to finish.
Fans of supernatural thrillers and psychological horror will find this sequel both chilling and satisfying.