Black Phone 2 Star Mason Thames Talks About How Weird It Is Not to Be Stuck In a Basement This Time

The sequel, Black Phone 2, reimagines Ethan Hawke’s villain, The Grabber, as a modern take on Freddy Krueger, resulting in a remarkably original continuation of the series. The film follows Mason Thames’ Finney and Madeleine McGraw’s Gwen, now joined by Miguel Mora’s Ernesto, as they investigate a dangerous mystery connected to a winter camp and its surprising links to both their pasts and The Grabber.

TopMob attended New York Comic-Con (NYCC) 2025 and spoke with the cast of Black Phone 2. They discussed how their characters will evolve in the sequel and how the story took a surprising turn.

Universal’s Black Phone 2 is now playing in theaters.

Black Phone 2 Star Mason Thames on Getting Out of That Basement

“We’re In a Blizzard In a Just Random Winter Camp.”

TopMob: “It must have been weird: you weren’t stuck in a basement for the entire movie. That must have changed the whole experience. So how weird was that? But then also, you didn’t get that many scenes with The Grabber.”

It was incredible! When I first read the script, all it said was that the story took place during a blizzard at a winter camp. I remember thinking, ‘How are they going to pull that off?’ And they really went all out. We filmed at a real camp in Toronto, and everything you see – all the snow – was real. We genuinely felt the cold, and that really helped us get into character. It was a challenging but fun experience.

TopMob: “The direction of The Grabber in this film was so unexpected, turning him into Freddy Krueger. I’m curious. Before the second one was announced and all this stuff, what was your idea for a sequel, like? What did you imagine might happen? And then, were you surprised by the direction?”

I was really surprised by how they continued the story from the first movie. The first film felt so complete and satisfying, I wasn’t sure where they could go next. What I loved is that the first movie focused on a boy growing up and dealing with a difficult experience, while the second one explores how that same person copes with the lasting effects of that trauma as he becomes a young man. I thought that was a really interesting direction. And bringing the villain back – I didn’t know how they’d make that work, but the way they did it was fantastic.

Madeleine McGraw on Getting to Go Up Against The Grabber Himself

“I Definitely Felt a Lot of Pressure Going Into It.”

TopMob: “I feel like in this film, your character, it’s a big upgrade. You get a huge focus, but also you get to go up against Ethan Hawke’s The Grabber, which is terrifying. Can you talk about getting placed in that part of this narrative and getting to go up against the titular villain?”

Madeleine McGraw admits she felt a lot of pressure before filming, which was really frightening. She spoke with the director, Scott Derrickson, frequently about challenging scenes. Thankfully, they had plenty of rehearsal time on set. She specifically remembers working through the detailed stunt choreography for the kitchen scene with Ethan Hawke.

Looking back, those rehearsals were really necessary and helpful. But honestly, the best part was getting to work so closely with Ethan. I learned a ton from him, both as an actor and as a person. He’s incredibly kind to everyone on set, which is really inspiring to see.

TopMob: “Who’s winning in a fight in the dream world, The Grabber or Freddy Krueger?”

Honestly, I think The Grabber is much scarier. I’d say he’s ten times as frightening, so I’m going with him. And I’m not saying that just because I want to!

Miguel Mora Talks About Black Phone 2’s Unexpected Direction

“A Lot of People Were Wondering, How Are We Gonna Even Make a Sequel?”

TopMob: “That twist of turning The Grabber into Freddy Krueger is somewhat unexpected. I’m curious, in your own head, when you start just on your own thinking about, wow, what is this sequel to this first movie even look like, what did you think it might be?”

I was really trying to understand how they could make a sequel to ‘The Black Phone’. The ending felt so conclusive, it was hard to see where a follow-up story could go. A lot of people were asking the same thing – how would they even do it? So when it was announced I was returning, it just added to the confusion. Everyone was wondering how my character, Miguel, could even be back, but that’s exactly what made it interesting. There were so many questions!

Honestly, when I read the script, all my concerns disappeared. I was completely captivated by the story and impressed with how well it was written.

Let’s talk about the influence of Freddy Krueger. Director Scott Derrickson discussed this at Fantastic Fest, explaining that this story is very personal to him. He grew up watching films like ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ and ‘Curtains’ – classic horror franchises that are well-known today. It’s great to see that personal connection reflected in ‘The Black Phone,’ and you can definitely feel it throughout the film.

The Grabber shares some similarities with Freddy Krueger from ‘Nightmare on Elm Street,’ but he’s a much more disturbing villain. I believe his motivations are far more sinister and the story itself is incredibly layered and complex.

TopMob: “Who’s winning in a fight, The Grabber or Freddy Krueger—assuming they’re both in the dream world?”

It’s a pretty easy choice for me – I’m picking The Grabber. He’s a truly terrifying villain. I know there are a lot of dedicated Freddy Krueger fans, and I get that, but I’m definitely on Team ‘Black Phone,’ so The Grabber is my pick.

The entire video interviews with the cast of Black Phone 2 at NYCC can be viewed below:

2025-10-21 04:37