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The Black Phone 2: Finney Faces New Terror in Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

Originally posted on Total Apex Entertainment
By Musu Murray | Last updated Oct 8, 2025 12:01 PM ET

Get ready to have that creepy rotary phone ringing in your nightmares all over again because The Black Phone 2 is officially on its way, and it’s shaping up to be a sequel that actually understands the assignment. The original film was a surprise gut-punch of a horror flick, blending supernatural chills with the very real terror of a masked kidnapper. In a new featurette dropped by Universal, Mason Thames, who plays the resourceful and traumatized Finney, gives us a little taste of what’s to come. And let’s just say, it sounds like they’re cranking the horror dial to eleven.

The Grabber’s Ghostly Return

The official synopsis for The Black Phone 2 reveals that Finney, now 17, is still wrestling with the absolute horror show he endured. His firecracker of a sister, Gwen (played by the fantastic Madeleine McGraw), now 15, is the one getting the spooky phone calls in her dreams. These aren’t just bad dreams, either; she’s having visions of three boys being hunted at a winter camp called Alpine Lake. It’s like the supernatural trauma is a genetic family illness.

Gwen, being the proactive hero we love, convinces a reluctant Finney to head to this creepy camp during a snowstorm. Because why investigate a potential murder spot on a sunny day when you can do it in the middle of a blizzard, right? It’s there that things get really twisted, uncovering a “shattering intersection between The Grabber and her own family’s history.” This isn’t just about a random psycho anymore; it’s personal. It seems our favorite child-snatching villain has gotten a power-up in the afterlife and has some unfinished business with the Blake siblings.

Who’s Coming Back for More Terror?

Image from The Black Phone 2, Courtesy of Universal Pictures

You can’t have a sequel without the crew that made the first one a hit. Director Scott Derrickson and his writing partner C. Robert Cargill are back at the helm, which is a massive sigh of relief. These guys know how to build tension and deliver scares that stick with you. The cast is getting a fresh injection of talent with Demián Bichir (The Nun), Arianna Rivas, Maev Beaty (Beau is Afraid), and Graham Abbey. It’s a stacked lineup that promises some serious acting chops to go along with the screams.

And yes, the man himself, Ethan Hawke, is returning as The Grabber . How? Well, he’s dead, but in the world of horror, that’s more of a minor inconvenience than a career-ender. Joining him are the core cast members who made the first film so compelling: Mason Thames as Finney, Madeleine McGraw as Gwen, Miguel Mora, and Jeremy Davies.

Why ‘The Black Phone 2’ Could Be Even Better

Image from The Black Phone 2, Courtesy of Universal Pictures/Blumhouse Productions

Let’s be real, horror sequels have a… spotty track record. For every Aliens or Dawn of the Dead, there are a dozen forgettable cash grabs. But The Black Phone 2 seems to be following a new, glorious Hollywood trend of sequels that don’t just rehash the original but expand upon it in meaningful ways.

The story isn’t just “The Grabber is back and grabbing again.” It’s diving deeper into the lore, the family trauma, and the supernatural rules of its world. By making the connection to the Blake family more direct, the stakes feel intensely personal. We’re not just watching kids survive a monster; we’re watching these kids confront a demon that is intrinsically tied to their past.

Final Thoughts: Rotary is Ringing Off the Hook

Early buzz is incredibly strong. Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting hailed it as an “icy sequel that goes bigger, darker, and scarier,” and even the master of horror, Stephen King, has said it’s better than the first. When the guy who wrote The Shining gives a horror sequel his stamp of approval, you pay attention. The Black Phone 2 is set to hit theaters on October 17, just in time to ruin your Halloween. From everything we’re hearing, it’s not just a sequel; it’s an evolution. Prepare for more blood, more scares, and a whole new reason to be afraid of a ringing phone

This article first appeared on Total Apex Entertainment and was syndicated with permission.

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