Stephen King Claims New Horror Sequel Outshines the Original Hit
Stephen King is already praising the upcoming horror sequel Black Phone 2, saying it surpasses the original movie.
The film, directed by Scott Derrickson and written by Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill, is set to be released in the U.S. on October 17, after its premiere at Fantastic Fest on September 20.
Black Phone 2 continues the story of Finney, the only known survivor of the Grabber, a notorious serial killer, and his sister Gwen.
Ethan Hawke returns as the Grabber, joined by Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and Miguel Mora, who all reprise their roles. New cast members include Demián Bichir as Armando, the supervisor of Alpine Lake camp, and Arianna Rivas as his niece Mustang.
The sequel stems from Joe Hill’s 2004 short story in 20th Century Ghosts. Hill pitched the idea for a follow-up to Derrickson after the first film’s success, inspired by the “iconic imagery” of the Grabber’s masks. Derrickson has said the financial success of The Black Phone helped convince the studio to move forward with a sequel.
Filming for Black Phone 2, initially titled Mysterium, took place in Toronto from November 2024 to January 2025, with Pär M. Ekberg serving as cinematographer. Derrickson and Cargill also produced the film alongside Jason Blum.
Stephen King recently shared his thoughts on the sequel. “It’s not as good as the first one. IT’S BETTER,” he said, expressing his excitement about the film.
The original Black Phone premiered at Fantastic Fest in 2021 and was released in U.S. theaters in June 2022. It became an unexpected box office success, earning $161.4 million worldwide.
Critics generally praised the performances, although opinions on the story were mixed. Its success led to the short film Dreamkill, directed by Derrickson and written by him and Cargill, which was included in the anthology V/H/S/85 in 2023.
Early reviews for Black Phone 2 are positive, with Metacritic giving it a score of 73 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews. Fans are eagerly anticipating the continuation of the chilling story.
What do you think happens when you die? Black Phone 2 only in theaters October 17. pic.twitter.com/b7OGcL6nf8
— Black Phone 2 (@UniversalHorror) September 4, 2025
With Stephen King’s endorsement and the return of the original cast, Black Phone 2 is shaping up to be a must-watch for horror fans. The sequel promises to expand the story while delivering even more suspense and scares. Are you excited to see it? Share your thoughts in the comments.
