[REVIEW]: 'THE BLACK PHONE 2' - Ethan Hawke Returns to Solidify “The Grabber” as Horror’s Next Icon

Written by Klep Napier | WeAreCritiX.com

Sometimes, sequels aim simply to repeat the original. The Black Phone 2, directed again by Scott Derrickson and produced by Blumhouse and Universal Pictures, goes a step further: it expands the nightmare. Set squarely in the Halloween corridor, the film reunites audiences with one of modern horror’s most unsettling villains: The Grabber (Ethan Hawke). What follows is a slow-burn, tension-stacked follow-up that leans into trauma, terror, and emotional weight while embracing the eerie familiarity of the slasher classics that came before it.

A Sequel That Knows Exactly What It Is

From the opening moments, The Black Phone 2 makes one thing clear, it’s not here to reinvent horror. It’s here to refine what worked the first time. Derrickson drags us deeper into the mythology around The Grabber, his victims, and the supernatural phone that connects the living and the dead. The pacing is deliberate, even methodical, building atmosphere and dread before delivering the jump scares, emotional gut punches, and twisted reveals audiences came for.

It’s a sequel that feels as original as it does familiar. The film doesn’t hide its lineage, there’s DNA from A Nightmare on Elm Street in the way it blurs reality and the subconscious, but it carries enough personality to claim its own lane. If Freddy’s address is Elm Street, The Black Phone 2 lives two blocks over.

Ethan Hawke’s Grabber Joins the Horror Hall of Fame

Hawke once again gives a magnetic, deeply disturbing performance. What could’ve stagnated into a one-note boogeyman evolves into something with mythic weight, eerie charisma, and grotesque unpredictability. The Grabber now sits comfortably alongside genre icons like Freddy, Jason, and Pennywise, an instantly recognizable figure who feels both timeless and unnervingly present.

Continue reading or watch my full video review on our YouTube channel

Familiar Yet Fresh

The movie leans into classic tropes and sometimes a little too much. Certain dreamlike beats and “rules of consequence” echo Elm Street in ways that will be obvious to long-time horror fans. For some viewers, that proximity might feel a bit close.

And yet, the film still lands as its own thing. Whether it’s Derrickson’s confident direction or Hawke’s command of the role, the result is a piece that’s equal parts nostalgic and exciting. A tricky balance most sequels miss.

Young Stars Who Steal the Spotlight

Two young performers help ground The Black Phone 2 and give the film its emotional heartbeat: Mason Thames (as Finney) and Madeline McGraw (as Gwen). As the story’s central teen protagonists, they bring a depth and authenticity that elevates the entire experience beyond standard horror fare. Their chemistry on screen is palpable, full of raw fear, fragile hope, and the kind of resilient courage that makes every scare hit harder.

A lot of the film’s emotional lore, the grief, trauma, and lingering scars of the first movie is carried squarely on their shoulders. It’s through Finney and Gwen’s perspective that the story finds its heart, giving weight and continuity to the world introduced in the original. Together, they become the audience’s emotional anchor amid the film’s chaos, embodying the innocence at stake and the stakes that make The Grabber’s presence so terrifying. Their performances are more than just strong for young actors, they’re essential to why this sequel resonates long after the credits roll.

A Halloween Staple in the Making

For all its familiarity, The Black Phone 2 delivers the core promises of a horror sequel: atmosphere, suspense, scares, and mythology expansion. It’s a film that belongs on an annual October watchlist, ideally paired with the original for a grim little double-feature.

It isn’t perfect and it isn’t groundbreaking. It doesn’t have to be. It gives audiences what they expect and what they fear, while firming up the legacy of one of the most unsettling new villains in years.

My Thoughts?

The Black Phone 2 knows its audience and rewards them for showing up. It’s a creepy, tension-filled ride with an all-timer performance from Ethan Hawke that cements The Grabber’s place in the modern horror pantheon. Add it to the Halloween rotation.more like a press-ready review page.

🍿 A Final Note: The Black Phone Popcorn Bucket (Optional Add-On)

About that exclusive popcorn bucket, yes, it’s literally a phone. As a collectible/prop, it’s a fun conversation piece and looks great on a horror shelf or studio wall. As a popcorn container, it’s more novelty than practical (hollow interior, awkward to set down). Bottom line: if you enjoy unique film merch, it’s a playful pick-up after the show; if you’re just there for function, the standard tub will treat you better. Either way, it won’t make or break your night at the movies.