The Black Phone 2 (2025) Movie Review – Where to Watch Online
Four years after the haunting events of The Black Phone (2021), director Scott Derrickson reunites with writer C. Robert Cargill and author Joe Hill to bring audiences back into a world of eerie phone calls, dreamlike hauntings, and unresolved trauma.
In The Black Phone 2 (2025), the psychological horror expands its universe beyond the confines of the basement that defined the first film. Now, it’s the frozen wilderness of Alpine Lake, a winter camp hiding its own deadly secrets.
This sequel aims to deepen the mythology of “The Grabber,” the sinister entity portrayed so memorably by Ethan Hawke, while also exploring the lasting emotional scars left on the survivors of his terror.
Plot Summary: Trauma, Nightmares, and a New Haunting
Seventeen-year-old Finney Blake (Mason Thames) is still grappling with his life after surviving captivity and killing The Grabber. His sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw)—who was the heart of the first movie—takes a leading role this time. When she starts receiving disturbing dream calls on the “black phone” and sees visions of three boys being stalked at a snowbound camp called Alpine Lake, it becomes clear that evil never truly dies—it evolves.
Haunted by both memory and mystery, Gwen and Finney embark on a journey to uncover what’s happening at Alpine Lake. Accompanied by Gwen’s boyfriend Ernesto (Miguel Mora), they encounter chilling visions, spiritual echoes of their mother, and a supernatural killer who may be even more powerful in death than he ever was in life.
Direction and Style: Derrickson’s Nightmare Aesthetic
Scott Derrickson brings back his signature blend of gritty realism and supernatural dread.
While The Black Phone relied on claustrophobic horror, its sequel opens the world up—literally—into vast, snow-covered landscapes. Yet, despite the open space, the feeling of isolation is more suffocating than ever.
Derrickson’s use of Super 8-style dream sequences gives the film a haunting nostalgic tone, reminiscent of Nightmare on Elm Street and The Shining. The blurred edges between dream and reality keep the audience guessing where the nightmare ends—or if it ever does.
The cinematography by Par M. Ekberg deserves praise for crafting an environment that feels both beautiful and menacing. Shots of frost-covered trees and fog-drenched lakes are cinematic poetry, a haunting lullaby for the lost souls within the film.
Performances: Emotional Depth Meets Horror Chaos
Mason Thames returns as Finney, now older, angrier, and emotionally fractured. His performance captures the survivor’s guilt and aggression of a teenager who can’t escape the ghosts of his past.
Madeleine McGraw, however, steals the spotlight. Gwen’s psychic connection to the black phone becomes the movie’s emotional anchor, and McGraw delivers every scene with vulnerability and fierce determination.
Ethan Hawke reprises his role as The Grabber, though in a far more spectral form. His masked presence, distorted voice, and shadowy appearances give the sequel a terrifying metaphysical edge. Some viewers argue that the sequel doesn’t utilize him enough—but his spectral minimalism arguably enhances the mythic quality of the character.
Supporting performances from Demian Bichir (as the enigmatic camp supervisor) and Arianna Rivas (as Mustang) add depth to the secondary plotlines. While some critics found these arcs underdeveloped, they help expand the story’s psychological canvas.
Critical Response: Divided but Fascinated
Audience reactions have been wildly mixed—ranging from glowing praise to outright frustration.
Some fans applaud Derrickson’s willingness to evolve the franchise, comparing The Black Phone 2 to a chilling blend of Nightmare on Elm Street and Camp Crystal Lake horror classics. They highlight the film’s bold use of supernatural dreamscapes, strong performances, and its refusal to play it safe.
Others, however, criticize its uneven pacing and clunky dialogue, calling it overwrought and inconsistent. Several theatergoers described the film as “a creative but chaotic sequel” that “trades tension for confusion.”
Still, nearly all agree on two points: the practical effects are phenomenal, and the atmosphere is chillingly immersive.
In essence, The Black Phone 2 stands as a divisive yet ambitious horror sequel—one that dares to be weird, creative, and emotionally raw, even when it stumbles.
Themes: Trauma, Faith, and the Echoes of Evil
Beneath the horror lies a story about healing from trauma, the spiritual consequences of violence, and the eternal struggle between faith and despair.
Gwen’s psychic visions and her connection with her late mother bring an unexpected spiritual layer, exploring Catholic imagery and the blurred line between divine intervention and psychic power.
The film suggests that evil, once unleashed, doesn’t die—it migrates, taking new forms through memory, fear, and unfinished business.
Cinematography and Sound: A Chilling Symphony
The sound design is remarkable—each ring of the black phone is a shockwave that freezes the viewer in place. The use of silence, too, is masterful; moments of quiet snowstorm stillness are more unnerving than any scream.
The score by Mark Korven (known for The Witch and The Lighthouse) intensifies the dread with unsettling strings and haunting ambient tones. The visual and audio design together create an atmosphere of slow-burn terror that lingers long after the credits roll.
Where to Watch The Black Phone 2 (2025) Online
As of October 2025, The Black Phone 2 has not yet been released on any major streaming platform or digital rental service.
However, based on Universal Pictures’ typical release patterns, it’s expected to stream on Peacock (the NBCUniversal-owned platform) within a few months after its theatrical run.
Additionally, rental and purchase options will likely appear on:
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Amazon Prime Video
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Apple TV (iTunes)
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Vudu
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Google Play Movies & TV
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YouTube Movies
To monitor up-to-date streaming availability, visit: JustWatch – The Black Phone 2 (US)
For official updates, news, and trailers, check the movie’s website: Official Site – The Black Phone Movie
Final Verdict: A Nightmare Worth Answering
The Black Phone 2 might not please everyone—it’s bold, strange, and occasionally uneven. But for horror fans who crave atmosphere, emotional depth, and a cinematic experience that dares to experiment, this is a sequel that earns your attention.
It expands its universe with courage and style, proving that sometimes, horror is not about the jump scares—it’s about the echoes that never fade.
If you loved the original Black Phone or enjoy psychological horror with heart, this sequel is a call you can’t afford to ignore.
Keep an eye on JustWatch for its upcoming streaming release, and bookmark the official site for exclusive news and teasers.
When the black phone rings again—will you answer?
