The second trailer for Black Phone 2, released on September 4, 2025, has horror fans buzzing with anticipation for the sequel to the 2022 supernatural thriller. Directed by Scott Derrickson and set to hit theatres on October 17, 2025, this follow-up to the Blumhouse hit that grossed $161 million globally takes a bold leap into darker, more ambitious territory. With Ethan Hawke reprising his sinister role as The Grabber, Mason Thames as Finn, and Madeleine McGraw as Gwen, the trailer promises a terrifying blend of A Nightmare on Elm Street-style horror and the eerie mythology of the original. Here’s my take on why this trailer dials up the scares and sets the stage for a potential horror franchise.
A Haunting New Chapter
The trailer kicks off with a chilling image: a lone black phone ringing in a snowy phone booth, instantly evoking the unsettling vibe of the first film. Set four years after Finn’s escape from The Grabber, the story follows a now 17-year-old Finn (Mason Thames) grappling with the trauma of his captivity. The real hook, though, is Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), Finn’s 15-year-old sister, who’s receiving calls in her dreams from the black phone and seeing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp called Alpine Lake. The trailer’s tagline, “Hell is different than you think,” paired with The Grabber’s taunting line, “You of all people should know that dead is just a word,” signals a shift from the first film’s ghost-driven thriller to a full-on supernatural horror with dream-based terror. This pivot feels like a daring expansion of Joe Hill’s original story, leaning into Freddy Krueger-esque nightmare sequences that amplify the stakes.
Ethan Hawke’s Grabber Goes Full Horror Icon
Ethan Hawke’s return as The Grabber is the trailer’s centerpiece. His chilling delivery and menacing presence behind that iconic mask make it clear he’s aiming to cement the character as a horror legend. The trailer teases how The Grabber, despite being killed in the first film, now haunts from beyond the grave, targeting Gwen to torment Finn. A standout moment shows Finn answering a phone booth call, only for The Grabber to appear behind him, whispering, “Did you think our story was over?” The supernatural upgrade gives Hawke’s performance a new layer of menace, with visuals of him slashing through dreamscapes that feel ripped from Nightmare on Elm Street. Fans on Reddit have noted this shift, with some calling it a “Freddy Kruegerization” of The Grabber, and the trailer leans hard into that vibe, for better or worse.
Bigger Scares, Bolder Visuals
Scott Derrickson, co-writing with C. Robert Cargill, doesn’t hold back on the horror. The trailer is packed with disturbing imagery: Gwen’s grainy, Super 8-style dream visions of boys being hunted, blood-soaked snow, and The Grabber’s lair reappearing in eerie new contexts. Derrickson told The Hollywood Reporter that Black Phone 2 is “more violent, scarier, more graphic” than the first, and the trailer delivers on that promise with a barrage of visceral kills and psychological dread. The wintery Alpine Lake setting, captured in stark, icy cinematography, contrasts with the fiery chaos of the horror, making every frame feel oppressive. The use of Alice in Chains’ “Rooster” as the trailer’s signature track has sparked mixed reactions—some love its gritty vibe, while others feel it undercuts the tension compared to the original song’s ominous riffs. Regardless, the trailer’s pacing and sound design, especially in its final montage of jump scares, had me on edge.
A Stellar Cast and New Faces
The returning cast—Thames, McGraw, Jeremy Davies as their father, and Miguel Mora as the brother of a past victim—grounds the story in emotional continuity. McGraw, in particular, shines in the trailer, her fierce determination as Gwen stealing scenes. Newcomers like Oscar nominee Demián Bichir as the camp supervisor and Arianna Rivas as his niece add intrigue, hinting at a broader mystery tied to Alpine Lake. The trailer smartly keeps their roles vague, leaving room for speculation about who’s friend or foe. Ethan Hawke’s commanding performance, though, remains the anchor, with his ability to make The Grabber both human and otherworldly elevating the trailer’s impact.
Does It Live Up to the Original?
The first Black Phone was praised for its tight, self-contained story and novel twist of a protagonist with paranormal aid, earning global acclaim. The sequel’s trailer suggests a riskier approach, expanding the mythology and embracing a more fantastical horror style. Some fans on Reddit worry it might lose the original’s grounded charm, with one user noting it feels like “someone put A Nightmare on Elm Street into the AI shredder.” Others, myself included, are thrilled by the bold direction, especially since Derrickson avoids retreading the same formula. My only concern is whether the dream-based horror will feel too derivative of Nightmare on Elm Street, but the trailer’s unique blend of psychological and supernatural elements suggests it could carve its own path.
Final Thoughts
The Black Phone 2 trailer is a pulse-pounding tease of a sequel that’s scarier, bloodier, and more ambitious than its predecessor. With Ethan Hawke unleashing a horror icon in the making, a gripping new story centered on Gwen’s visions, and Derrickson’s knack for blending dread with style, this film looks poised to launch a “sinister new franchise.” Whether it matches the original’s critical and box office success remains to be seen, but the trailer has me counting down to its Fantastic Fest premiere in September 2025 and its wide release on October 17. If you’re a horror fan, this one’s already ringing all the right bells.
What are your thoughts on the Black Phone 2 trailer? Drop them in the comments, and let’s get ready for another call from the beyond!
