What if a dead serial killer called you from hell? That's the spine-tingling twist that brought The Black Phone 2 to life!
Scott Derrickson had no intention of directing a follow-up to The Black Phone—until author Joe Hill dialed in with a pitch that was simply too electrifying to ignore. When the original film premiered in theaters back in 2021, it became an absolute blockbuster, earning rave reviews from critics, raking in more than $161 million worldwide, and generating massive excitement among horror fans. In the movie world, that level of triumph often guarantees a sequel, but Derrickson and his co-writer, C. Robert Cargill, were determined not to rush into it without a truly compelling concept. It took a brilliant idea from Joe Hill, who penned the original short story that inspired the first movie, to get them to answer the call for Black Phone 2.
Cargill recounted the moment in an interview with Bloody Disgusting, explaining that Hill's suggestion was straightforward yet genius: 'A phone rings, Finney answers, and it's The Grabber calling from hell.' And with that, the project was greenlit.
Picking up four years after the events of the first film, the sequel explores Finney Shaw (played by Mason Thames) grappling with the lasting psychological scars of his abduction and his role in defeating the infamous killer known as The Grabber (Ethan Hawke). But death doesn't stop this menacing figure—he reaches out from the afterlife to exact revenge.
But here's where it gets controversial: Can a murderer really haunt you from beyond the grave?
Derrickson shared his process for crafting the story, starting with the location. He was incredibly proud of how the first movie captured the essence of his own teenage years in a working-class neighborhood of North Denver during 1978. For the sequel, he drew inspiration from a winter camp he attended as a young teen, transforming it into a chilling backdrop. Picture this: not your typical sunny summer camp, but a snowy winter retreat in the brutal cold of the Rocky Mountains, where temperatures can plunge to 60 or 70 degrees below zero with the wind chill factored in. This frosty, isolated setting adds a layer of eerie tension, especially at night, evoking memories of bone-chilling experiences that Derrickson felt hadn't been explored enough in horror films. We've seen plenty of summer camp slashers, but a winter camp thriller set in 1982? That's fresh territory.
And this is the part most people miss: It perfectly taps into the nostalgia of classics like Friday the 13th, leaving fans who crave that icy, isolated terror practically begging for more.
The official plot summary for The Black Phone 2 dives deeper: The Grabber pursues vengeance against Finn from the underworld, targeting Finn's younger sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw). Now 17, Finn battles PTSD-like struggles from his ordeal, while the feisty 15-year-old Gwen starts experiencing eerie calls in her dreams via the black phone and visions of three boys hunted at a winter camp called Alpine Lake. Driven to unravel the mystery and free both herself and her brother from this nightmare, Gwen convinces Finn to journey to the camp amid a raging winter blizzard. There, she makes a shocking discovery linking The Grabber to their family's past. United, they face off against a killer who's only grown stronger—and more personally entwined in their lives—after death.
The movie arrives in theaters on October 17, so don't miss our exclusive review by Ryan Cultrera right here for an insider's take—it's not quite as groundbreaking as the original, but still delivers plenty of thrills.
What do you think—does bringing back a villain from the dead cheapen the victory, or does it add an exciting new layer of horror? And should sequels stick to family curses for drama? Drop your opinions in the comments below; I'd love to hear if you're team 'rest in peace' or 'revenge from hell'!
