The audience was on the edge of their seats for The Black Phone in 2021. The Black Phone 2, the sequel, is coming out on October 17, 2025. Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill wrote the screenplay based on one of Joe Hill’s short stories. Scott says he was motivated to do the sequel because of a cool and interesting idea Joe Hill came up with for it according to ScreenRant. We’ll get into that in this video blog.
In the first movie, 13 year old Finney Blake is held captive by The Grabber, a notorious kidnapper. He’s locked in a basement where an old, broken phone starts ringing. Old victims of The Grabber who have since died talk to Finney through this phone and help him escape. With the guidance of these ghosts, Finney defeats The Grabber. The story was scary and emotional but the ending was so clean there was no way for a sequel.
The Black Phone 2 was produced by Scott Derrickson who got a new idea from Joe Hill. Although The Grabber dies in the first movie, Joe says horror movie villains like Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers are never really defeated. The Grabber in his story can come back in a supernatural way. The phone in the first movie that talked to spirits is connected to this idea. The biggest mystery of the story was that phone and it will play a big part in the sequel too.
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Four years after the events of The Black Phone, the sequel starts. Finney and his sister Gwen are now in high school. The movie will be a high school horror story which will be different from the middle school setting of the first movie according to Scott Derrickson. The story takes place in Alpine Lake, a winter camp where Gwen has dreams about the old phone. The story is scarier because she thinks the three kids are in danger. The Grabber will be played by Ethan Hawke again.
Although broken the phone from the first movie is still a way to communicate with spirits. The core of the story was that paranormal aspect. The Grabber’s mask created by Tom Savini and Jason Baker was so scary and iconic that it was the inspiration for the sequel according to Joe Hill. The mask was like Michael Myers’ mask or Freddy Krueger’s gloves. This time the phone conversation will take place in a phone booth and The Grabber will be skating on the ice looking for his prey.
At first, Scott Derrickson didn’t plan on doing a sequel. The Black Phone’s success ($152.8 million on an $18 million budget) gave him and the studio an opportunity. Joe Hill’s new idea was so good Scott loved it. Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies and Miguel Mora will all be back. Demián Bichir and Arianna Rivas will be new faces.
Scott has explained the story of The Black Phone 2 by drawing from his own childhood. His own memories were the inspiration for the first film which captured the vibe of 1970s Denver. This time around the story will be set at winter camp and high school. The story will get even weirder because of the phone calls and visions Gwen has in her dreams. This movie will be scary and emotional.
Joe Hill and Scott Derrickson’s story and direction guarantee The Black Phone 2 will be a wild and terrifying ride. The first film showed how a small story can be brought to life on the big screen. The magic of that phone and The Grabber’s mask will be taken to new heights in this sequel. October 17, 2025 in theaters again to scare and surprise you.
Sai Pallu is an entertainment writer based in the USA, contributing to Brief News with engaging content on film, TV, and celebrity culture. With two years of experience at the Times of India, she honed her skills in delivering insightful stories. Her work blends sharp analysis with a passion for storytelling, captivating readers with fresh perspectives.