Review: Black Phone 2 (Fantastic Fest 2025)

5 December, 2025 William Eguizabal 0 Comments 4 categories

Title: Black Phone 2
MPA Rating: R
Director: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw
Runtime: 1 hr 54 mins

What It Is: Following the events of the first film, Finn (Thames) believes he’s finally safe from The Grabber (Hawke). His younger sister Gwen (McGraw), however, begins receiving calls in her dreams through the black phone. She’s also experiencing terrifying visions of three young boys who were once guests at winter camp Alpine Lake, the same camp she and Finn are now working at. It seems The Grabber now has Gwen in his sights. Instead of kidnapping her directly, he may have found a way to haunt her within her own subconscious.

What We Think: I liked the first The Black Phone. I thought it was a decent horror flick, but I liked this one even more. I compared it to A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, and I still think it’s a solid comp. In fact, I heard others make that same comparison later, but I want to be on record saying I SAID IT FIRST! Coming out of the early screening at Fantastic Fest, that was immediately where my mind went. The writing isn’t the tightest, but Joe Hill, Derrickson, and C. Robert Cargill make strong use of an interesting follow-up concept.

Our Grade: B. One of horror’s more interesting releases this year ends up being a sequel. Make no mistake, this is a mass-appeal horror film, something designed for the Halloween crowd. But for those who can see the forest for the trees, there’s plenty to love here. Visually, it’s one of the more distinct genre films of the year. The cinematography paired with the frozen backdrop creates an almost too perfect atmosphere. It’s a gorgeous nightmare, one that should intrigue audiences with ease. Be sure to check this out!

Shout out to our boy Dillon aka Slasher Reviews for getting a pull quote on this.