“It took me a long time… but you of all people know ‘dead' is just a word.” Universal's second trailer for Black Phone 2 doesn't waste a second in reminding us that Scott Derrickson and Ethan Hawke aren't finished playing in the shadows. Released ahead of its October 17, 2025 nationwide debut, this follow-up leans into the unease that made The Black Phone a surprise box office monster in 2022—$160 million worldwide for a film that cost Blumhouse pocket change.
The first film left young Finn (Mason Thames) scarred but alive after escaping the clutches of “The Grabber.” The sequel doesn't grant him peace. Now 17, Finn still wrestles with his captivity while his sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), at 15, begins receiving visions and dream-calls through that cursed black phone. The Grabber—still embodied by Hawke with the unnerving stillness of a seasoned predator—refuses to stay buried. This time his haunting extends to Alpine Lake, a winter camp framed in icy blues and storm-lit shadows.
A Trailer That Knows Its Roots
Visually, Derrickson's team borrows from the slasher dreamscape. Fans of A Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors will feel the nods—the blurred line between visions and reality, the children stalked in dreamlike spaces, the snowy voids that swallow sound. That cold, desaturated palette sets it apart from the yellowed grime of the first film. Here, snow muffles screams, and the trailer frames The Grabber like a ghost who's grown stronger in silence.
There's also marketing calculation here. The October slot guarantees Blumhouse a seasonal horror spotlight, sandwiched between festival fare and tentpole distractions. Releasing this trailer now, a year after the first teaser, signals Universal's intent to shape Black Phone into a long-haul franchise.
Hawke at His Darkest
What makes the trailer sting isn't just the jumps, but Hawke's deliberate return. He doesn't snarl or rant—he whispers, barely moving behind that mask. It's one of those career turns that sticks. For an actor who's flirted with prestige indies and genre flicks, The Grabber may be his most unnerving creation. The fact that he's back tells us the story has weight, or at least the studio thinks it does.
Story Hints That Cut Deeper
The new footage teases Gwen uncovering disturbing ties between her family's past and The Grabber's hold on the dead. That's where sequels can either overreach or strike gold—by pulling the curtain back just enough to deepen the mythology without gutting the mystery. If Derrickson and co-writer C. Robert Cargill keep their footing, they might avoid the franchise curse that's swallowed lesser Blumhouse continuations.
Black Phone 2 Trailer
What to Remember Before Watching Black Phone 2
- Confirmed Release Date: Universal will release Black Phone 2 in theaters on October 17, 2025, perfectly timed for Halloween season.
- Cast Returns: Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and Miguel Mora all reprise their roles.
- Director's Vision: Scott Derrickson returns with co-writer C. Robert Cargill, pushing a colder, dreamlike aesthetic that echoes classic slashers.
- Mythology Expansion: Gwen's visions connect The Grabber to her family history, hinting at a darker, more personal story.
- Franchise Intent: With over $160M earned by the first film, Universal clearly wants Black Phone to anchor a new horror series.
A horror sequel lives or dies on whether its villain still feels dangerous. Watching Hawke in this trailer, whispering through the mask with a smile you can't see—yeah, the danger's still there.
What do you think—does Black Phone 2 look like a genuine nightmare worth answering, or another franchise call you'd rather let ring?
References:
- Universal Pictures official trailer release (YouTube)
- Box office figures via Variety and Deadline archives for The Black Phone (2022)
