'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAII/8QAGxAAAgIDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIAEgMRIaH/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAER/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDMuDMFDKVFWWp5s+yhcgdiI0Y//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ethan Hawke recently appeared on Seth Meyers' show and discussed his latest film, The Black Phone 2, which is shaping up to be one of the best horror films of the year. Before his movie, Weapons, Sinners, Final Destination, and more had made a mark on horror fans.
The actor plays the Grabber in the movie, a role he reprised from the original film, The Black Phone, released in 2021 and directed by Scott Derrickson, who is known for Doctor Strange (2016), The Gorge (2025), The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005), and more. Hawke told Meyers about his character,
"The Grabber is a part that called to my soul, you know."
He made the conversation more sarcastic by adding that,
"I mean, I like murdering children. Something I am interested in."
To take the laughter to the next level, Meyers responded,
"And you haven't because you respect the law. But this is a movie."
Since Hawke worked with the Black Phone 2 director on another film called Sinister in 2012, he learned a lot from that experience. Ethan Hawke said,
"I find it absolutely terrifying. Scott Derrickson directed a movie I did called "Sinister" years ago. He's kind of taught me what the geometry and math of a good scary movie is."
Critics have generally appreciated the film, as reflected in the Tomatometer score on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, which is currently at 72%. Fans enjoyed it even more, with the Popcornmeter score reaching 84%. They described it as "scarier" than the first film, an "extremely solid sequel," and more.
What is Black Phone 2 about?
Scott Derrickson's 'Black Phone 2 sways away from the first film, which focused more on a kidnapper with some mysterious elements involving the titular Black Phone. In the latest installment, the Grabber returns as a malicious spirit determined to get revenge on the kids, Finney (Mason Thames) and his sister Gwen (Madeleine).
Interestingly, the film also reveals a strange connection between Ethan Hawke's character, the Grabber, and Gwen and Finney's mother, who was initially said to have died by suicide.
It turns out that the Grabber murdered her because she somehow learned about his malicious deeds in the past. However, the Grabber in Black Phone 2 is more of a vengeful spirit because, in the first film, he was tricked into killing his own brother. This is also why his focus shifts more to Finney's sister than to Finney, whom he kidnapped in the first film.
As of now, there is no official word on the franchise's future, but it suggests a few options for what could be presented to audiences later.
Trending
First, the Grabber is now a spirit, and spirits can return in supernatural ways. If not that, the creators might focus on expanding the Grabber's story with a prequel film or possibly a prequel series like IT: Welcome to Derry, which explores Pennywise the Clown's origins from the films.
Keep reading Soap Central for more stories like this.
Love movies? Try our Box Office Game and Movie Grid Game to test your film knowledge and have some fun!
Reply
