Black Phone 2 (what to expect)

Scorecard, ICYMI Pod

Oct 17, 2025

For all of our horror fans out there, what’s the best movie you’ve seen so far this spooky season? Hit reply or jump in the comments and let us know. If you’re looking for something spooky and fun to watch next, read on to hear our thoughts on Black Phone 2.

Here’s what we have for you this week:

Concession Stand Scorecard: Black Phone 2
ICYMI Pod: One of our favorite horror films of the year

We go to the movies every week to let you know if the latest films are worth the price of admission and what you can expect. Always spoiler free.

This week’s movie - Black Phone 2

Letterboxd Description:

Dead is just a word.
Four years after escaping The Grabber, Finney Blake is struggling with his life after captivity. When his sister Gwen begins receiving calls in her dreams from the black phone and seeing disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp, the siblings become determined to solve the mystery and confront a killer who has grown more powerful in death and more significant to them than either could imagine.

Best Watched With

Freddy Krueger Fans and the bravest person you know.

End Credit Thoughts

Black Phone 2 continues the story of Finney Black and his sister, Gwen, but this installment delivers the horror that was expected from Black Phone. The first movie was a thrill that had some disturbing images, jump scares, and stellar performances from Mason Thames and Ethan Hawke. But for a horror movie, it felt reserved. Maybe that was the plan all along for writer and director Scott Derrickson to set up the full throttle, supernatural, and time-warping terror of Black Phone 2.

The stakes are raised when The Grabber communicates from the other side, like the young victims did in the first film. It’s no longer just the captives that the serial killer can threaten. The story shifts the main focus from Finney to his younger sister, Gwen, as her gifts of sight through dreams grow in power. By entering the dreamscape, the terror intensifies as time and space fold onto themselves, suturing the past and future to the present. The fight for life is no longer only happening in reality, but also in REM.

With stories that deal with dreams, prophetic visions, and supernatural gifts, narratives can easily slip away, losing and confusing the audience. This is not the case here. The editing and visuals do a remarkable job of showing, without blatantly telling us, what reality the scene is in and where we are in the timeline. The sound design and camera work are synergetic, and the ice-cold hell that is Camp Alpine Lake is the perfect setting to experience the fright alongside the characters. Josh Jump Scares count that are strong enough to give him a concussion: 7.

Mason Thames (Finney Blake) gives an excellent, emotionally driven performance that embodies the trauma and grit to continue moving forward, one could imagine having after watching your schoolmates disappear and eventually killing their murderer, your kidnapper, to survive. Ethan Hawke (The Grabber) brings the same skin-crawling presence as The Grabber, but it’s less surprising after the unveiling in Black Phone. The standouts are Madeleine McGraw (Gwen). For a role that is both emotionally and physically demanding, McGraw has a heavy load to carry. She takes it on in stride, delivering punchy lines and some of the best insults on screen.

Black Phone 2 comes at the halfway point of Spooky Season and is a great, fun way to celebrate. Amid our terror, our auditorium was surprisingly laughing out loud at multiple points in the film. There are solid comedic moments to break the tension, and this flick made us want to bring back 80s jargon in vogue like “mint” and “choice.” When the end credits rolled, the people applauded.

Black Phone is a must-watch before seeing this one, so stream it on Peacock beforehand.

Horror fans rejoice: Black Phone 2 is worth the price of admission.

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@ericharrison
@kellyharrison
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We couldn’t go through Spooky Season without sharing our podcast episode on one of our favorite horror films of the year. SINNERS. Streaming on HBO Max by the way.

SINNERS: A Spoilers Conversation #54

🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

Eric and Josh SPOIL the movie ‘Sinners’ in this episode so if you don’t want it to be spoiled, do not listen yet. Come back later.

They discuss their thoughts and impressions on the film ‘Sinners,’ starring Michael B. Jordan and directed by Ryan Coogler. Eric and Josh explore various aspects of the movie, including its character development, plot intricacies, and standout performances.

They delve into how the film incorporates elements of horror, music, and historical context to create a richly layered narrative. The conversation touches on the importance of viewing the film in theaters to fully appreciate its impact. They also share personal anecdotes about their viewing experiences and discuss the broader cultural implications presented in the movie.

00:00 Introduction and Joe Rogan Anecdotes
00:41 Home Renovation Woes
02:10 Discussing the Movie ‘Sinners’
04:06 First Impressions and Hype
06:33 Theater Experience and Michael B. Jordan’s Performance
14:16 Character Development and Soundtrack
18:56 Complexity of the Irish Vampire Character
28:11 Themes of Pain and Cultural Appropriation
35:33 Final Thoughts and Recommendations