The Grabber Is Back… and He’s Deadlier Than Ever

Back in 2022, The Black Phone crept into cinemas and straight into our nightmares. With its eerie mix of supernatural thrills and emotional depth, the film became a surprise horror hit—introducing audiences to a chilling new villain: the Grabber, played with eerie menace by Ethan Hawke.

Now, evil calls once more. Black Phone 2 picks up the story, delivering a sequel that digs deeper into the trauma of survival—and unleashes a more terrifying force from beyond the grave. Returning to direct and co-write is horror visionary Scott Derrickson, who crafted the original with longtime creative partner C. Robert Cargill.

“It was extremely rewarding to see audiences embrace the film the way they did, specifically because so much of it came directly from my own childhood,” Derrickson says. “As an artist, seeing those personal feelings and memories connect with so many people—especially young people—added a sense of purpose to the darker memories of my childhood. It made me feel like it was all somehow meant to be.”

Horror That Hits Close to Home

Derrickson and Cargill aren’t just spinning ghost stories—they’re tapping into deeply personal experiences. The impact of The Black Phone didn’t end with the credits. Once the film landed on streaming, it exploded online—spawning TikToks, memes, and fan theories. It quickly became a rite of passage for many horror-loving teens.

“With Black Phone 2, we were able to keep building on characters rooted in our own childhoods and what it was like growing up in the ’70s and ‘80s,” Cargill says. “A lot of our real experiences are buried in these stories. That emotional grounding lets us balance the horror with heart. And it is part of why the first film kept growing after its release. When The Black Phone hit Peacock, it took off even more. Teenagers were watching it, making memes and TikToks, remixing scenes. For a lot of them, it was their first horror movie, and they fell in love with the genre. That is when Scott and I started getting messages every day from people asking, ‘When is the sequel? Is tere a prequel? Are you making Black Phone 2?’”

The Nightmare Isn’t Over

In Black Phone 2, it’s been four years since siblings Finn (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) escaped the Grabber’s clutches. But just when they think the past is behind them, Gwen begins receiving mysterious calls—this time, in her dreams.

Her visions lead them to a desolate winter camp, where three young boys are being stalked by something sinister. With the Grabber growing more powerful in death, the siblings must face their darkest fears—before the nightmare becomes reality.

A Deeper Look at Trauma

At its core, Black Phone 2 is more than a ghost story—it’s a powerful exploration of trauma and how it echoes through generations.

“One of the core themes of The Black Phone was the idea of children carrying the sins of their father, and that continues here,” Cargill says. “In this film, Finn is coping in the same ways his father once did. When we meet him again, he’s numbing himself from the past, falling into the same patterns. We wanted to explore how trauma echoes through families and whether that cycle can be broken.”

Producer Jason Blum, who helped bring the original to life, is confident fans will connect with the sequel just as strongly.

“The script for Black Phone 2 reminded me what an incredible foundation Joe Hill’s story gave us, and how brilliantly Scott and Cargill have built on it,” Blum says. “They’ve deepened the mythology while keeping the intimacy of the first film, balancing horror, emotion and character in a way that feels real. That’s what makes great horror—it has to matter, it has to connect—and they’ve delivered that again here.”

Philippine Release Date

The Grabber returns when Black Phone 2 hits Philippine cinemas this October 15.

Prepare yourself for an experience that’s darker, deeper, and even more unforgettable than the first.

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Answer the call. Evil still waits.