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The Black Phone (2022) and The Black Phone 2: Release, Cast, and Jump Scare Guide

9/25/2025•3 min read

> Quick links: The Black Phone (2022) · The Black Phone 2

Introduction

The Black Phone landed in 2022 with a simple, effective idea: a masked kidnapper, a suffocating basement, a dead phone that rings, and the voices of earlier victims guiding Finney. The film alternates silence and sudden spikes. A sequel is on the way. This guide helps you enjoy the world while handling jump scares

The Black Phone (2022) Director and Cast

  • Director: Scott Derrickson, from a short story by Joe Hill
  • Release year: 2022
  • Setting: late 1970s American suburbia
  • Lead cast: Ethan Hawke (The Grabber), Mason Thames (Finney), Madeleine McGraw (Gwen)

The first film’s jump scare profile

  • Minor beats: the phone rings, fleeting silhouettes, soft reveals
  • Major spikes: close‑up appearance with a hard sound accent, abrupt frame change

The film leans on sound design: a phone ringing in quiet, voices from elsewhere, off‑screen cues. Sound often turns a static shot into a screamer. Visually, dread comes from narrow corridors, slightly open doors, and locked‑off frames where something barely moves in the background.

What we know about The Black Phone 2

The sequel is in active development with much of the original team. Reports suggest a return to the same world and creative leads. Details like the release date can shift. We will update this guide as official info, key art, and the trailer arrive.

Cast

  • Reports widely mention Scott Derrickson as director
  • Ethan Hawke – Albert / The Grabber
  • Mason Thames – Finney
  • Madeleine McGraw – Gwen
  • Demián Bichir – new role in the sequel
  • Miguel Mora – returning from the first film
  • Jeremy Davies – Terrence
  • Arianna Rivas – new character

Expect a similar fear grammar: familiar staging choices, a soundtrack built for spikes, and a late‑act ramp up. The sequel has room for variation: new locations, new rules around the phone, and possibly more focus on Gwen.

What to expect from Black Phone 2 jump scares

  • Strategic silence as setup, then a sound accent to create surprise
  • Fake starts where nothing happens on cue, followed by a real spike later
  • Proximity shots that push the viewer back in their seat
  • Inserts on the phone that prep the ear before the image flips

If you liked the tension of the first film but found the spikes tiring, the sequel should be fully manageable with our tools: the timeline, the warning SRT, and Major/Minor labels.

Thematic links between the two films

The first film is about entrapment and resilience. The sequel can expand the rules of the phone and revisit trauma from a different angle. Fans hope for emotional continuity and careful pacing, with a few surprises in the screamer playbook.

Tips if you are new to the series

Resources

Conclusion

The Black Phone earned its place by balancing atmosphere with clear startles. The Black Phone 2 should continue that grammar while keeping the emotion. With our time codes and timeline, you can tune the experience and enjoy the it without stress.