Tag: Mason Thames

Mason Thames Warns: “Bring Plenty of Tissues” for the Emotional Ride of “Regretting You,” in Cinemas October 22

“It’s an emotional roller coaster, so bring plenty of tissues,” teases Mason Thames about the much-anticipated adaptation of Regretting You, landing in Philippine cinemas on October 22.

Directed by Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars, Stuck in Love), this coming-of-age family drama explores the fragile threads that connect mothers and daughters, especially when those threads are tested by tragedy, secrets, and the complexities of growing up.

When Tragedy Strikes, Truth Unravels

Based on the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover, Regretting You follows Morgan (played by Allison Williams) and her teenage daughter Clara (Mckenna Grace) as their world is shattered by a life-altering accident. What follows is a gripping journey of rediscovery—of love, of family, and of self.

“I have always been and always will be attracted to movies about families, specifically kids who are finding out that their parents are fallible. That’s an important moment in anybody’s life.”

A Tale of Two Generations

Allison Williams describes the story as one that speaks to audiences of all ages.

“There’s so much contained within this movie,” says Williams, who plays Morgan Grant. “When I’m talking to another mother, I say it’s about a mom who is watching her daughter go through a moment that completely changed her own life. She is hoping that her daughter won’t do the same thing, but at the same time she does not regret having her daughter. When I talk to younger people, it’s about a couple that’s clearly meant to be together. That could actually be referring to either of the romances in the movie. It is also about a relationship that begins at the moment when two kids are about to embark on a new adventure in the world. That’s part of what made it so meaty and such fun to work on.”

Playing Clara, Mckenna Grace was immediately drawn to the character’s emotional depth.

“It’s really sad, but still such fun. When I read the book, I really connected to Clara. The dialogue felt so natural that I sometimes threw in things from the book that weren’t in the script, but that were so right for Clara. Josh created such a fun and safe environment to create in that it was easy. He’s so much funnier himself than I ever expected.”

Watch the Official Trailer Here:

Romance, Regret, and Second Chances

Enter Dave Franco as Jonah, Morgan’s unexpected love interest. Known for edgier roles, Franco embraced the opportunity to play “a genuinely nice guy.”

“I have played degenerates in recent films, so when he [Josh] called and asked if I was open to playing a nice guy, I was ready,” says Franco. “It is fun to play morally ambiguous characters, but it’s also nice to play someone that audiences can root for.

And yes, there’s more love in the air.

Mason Thames plays Miller, Clara’s romantic counterpart, and he isn’t shy about the film’s impact:

“This movie can be very sad, but it’s also very sweet, often funny and a bit of a journey. I hope the audience leaves crying. It’s an emotional roller coaster, so bring plenty of tissues.”

From Page to Screen, With Heart

Colleen Hoover herself couldn’t be more thrilled.

“Audiences will have a fun and emotional experience. It is something you can watch with friends and family and feel good about, then go back and watch it a second time with a different group of friends. It’s just a real feel good movie.”

Regretting You isn’t just about heartbreak—it’s about how people move through it, survive it, and sometimes even grow stronger because of it.

“No matter what, life keeps going and things keep happening. says Boone. “You are going to laugh again. I say that from experience.”

Don’t Miss the Movie Event of the Season

With a star-studded cast that includes Sam Morelos, Scott Eastwood, Willa Fitzgerald, and Clancy Brown, and a story that tugs at the heart, Regretting You is poised to become the next fan-favorite film for lovers of emotional storytelling.

Mark your calendars:

Regretting You opens in cinemas across the Philippines on October 22, courtesy of Paramount Pictures. Check showtimes and buy your tickets here.

October 17, 2025
Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw Face The Grabber Again in “Black Phone 2″— Now Showing in Cinemas

The Nightmare Isn’t Over: Black Phone 2 Hits Philippine Cinemas

The shadows are back, and so are the voices. Black Phone 2, the much-anticipated sequel to the 2021 horror hit, is now showing in Philippine cinemas. With Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw reprising their roles as Finn and Gwen, the film delves into the psychological scars left behind by a serial killer who refuses to stay dead.

Four Years Later: Finn Can’t Escape the Past

In Black Phone 2, Finn has grown older, but the trauma of surviving The Grabber lingers. Mason Thames portrays a darker, more complex version of Finn—one who’s weighed down by memories he can’t shake and a fear he struggles to silence.

“Finn went through something horrific, and while he came out of it strong, the weight of what happened has not left him,” writer-producer C. Robert Cargill says. “He is haunted by the Grabber. He sees him everywhere, and he is using drugs to try to numb the fear. He wants nothing to do with the spirits, with the phone, with any of it. He is trying to shut it all out and live in denial. So, as Gwen starts uncovering this new mystery, Finn is doing everything he can to stay out of it. But of course, life does not let you run forever. Eventually, he will have to face what he has been avoiding.”

Finn wants nothing to do with the black phone or the spirits that once helped him escape. He is living in denial, doing all he can to block out the past. But as Gwen begins to uncover new supernatural clues, Finn realizes that running from the truth won’t save him forever.

Gwen’s Visions Reveal a Terrifying New Mystery

Gwen, played once again by Madeleine McGraw, is no longer the bold and fiery girl we met in the first film. After surviving The Grabber, she is now withdrawn, overwhelmed by visions of a sinister snow-covered camp and three boys being hunted by a familiar evil.

“In the first film, we hinted that the kids inherited different parts of their mother’s abilities of speaking with the dead and having prophetic dreams,” writer-producer C. Robert Cargill says. “Gwen got the dream side of it. She can glimpse the future and communicate with the dead through her dreams. Finn, meanwhile, has the ability to hear the dead through the phone, but in this film, he is trying to shut it all out. He is numbing himself and refusing to engage with his ability, but Gwen is embracing hers. She is exploring it, evolving and growing stronger. By the end, she is not just receiving messages, she’s communicating back, asking questions, controlling her dreams, even interacting with spirits inside them.”

Unlike Finn, Gwen is embracing her powers, learning to ask questions in her dreams, decipher messages, and interact with the spirits reaching out to her. Her arc in the film charts the growth of a once-spirited girl learning to carry the burden of her gift—and use it to stop the cycle of violence.

The Grabber’s Revenge From Beyond the Grave

Death was not the end for The Grabber. In Black Phone 2, the killer’s influence has only grown stronger. Gwen’s visions hint at his return, stalking new victims from beyond, as the line between the living and the dead begins to blur.

The siblings must confront the growing threat, with Gwen trying to piece together the puzzle, while Finn resists stepping back into the darkness. But as the danger closes in, they realize the only way out is through.

Returning Stars Deliver Deeper Performances

For Mason Thames, portraying Finn this time around meant digging into a character who has been carrying unspoken rage and trauma for years.

“In this film, we see that Finn has changed,” Thames says. “He has been holding all this anger inside, and he is not the same kid we met in the first movie. Back then, he was already complex, but now he is even more layered. Instead of facing his trauma, he smokes weed to cope. The moment he feels any of that PTSD creeping in, he shuts it out. This film becomes a question of whether he is ready to confront the Grabber again or keep running from him.”

Meanwhile, McGraw approached Gwen’s transformation with intention, taking on a more emotionally layered version of the character.

“One of the most exciting parts of this film was exploring Gwen’s dreams and how much she has changed,” McGraw says. “In the first movie, she was fiery and fearless. Now she feels like an outcast. She is beaten down, getting bullied at school and carrying a lot of pain. It was harder to get into her head this time. In the first film, our personalities were alike. Now, we are kind of opposites. She has become quiet and introverted, and I am more extroverted. But that made it even more interesting to explore who she is becoming.”

Watch the Official Trailer

Catch a glimpse of the nightmare that awaits. Watch the Black Phone 2 official trailer here:

Now Showing in Philippine Cinemas

Black Phone 2 is now showing in theaters across the Philippines. Prepare for a darker, more intense return to the world of The Grabber—where trauma speaks louder than screams, and the past refuses to stay buried. Check showtimes and buy your tickets here.

Follow Universal Pictures Philippines for updates: Facebook: Universal Pictures PH, Instagram: @UniversalPicturesPH, TikTok: @UniversalPicsPH

October 16, 2025
True Evil Never Dies: The Grabber Returns in “Black Phone 2,” Starring Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames

The Grabber Is Back… and He’s Deadlier Than Ever

Back in 2022, The Black Phone crept into cinemas and straight into our nightmares. With its eerie mix of supernatural thrills and emotional depth, the film became a surprise horror hit—introducing audiences to a chilling new villain: the Grabber, played with eerie menace by Ethan Hawke.

Now, evil calls once more. Black Phone 2 picks up the story, delivering a sequel that digs deeper into the trauma of survival—and unleashes a more terrifying force from beyond the grave. Returning to direct and co-write is horror visionary Scott Derrickson, who crafted the original with longtime creative partner C. Robert Cargill.

“It was extremely rewarding to see audiences embrace the film the way they did, specifically because so much of it came directly from my own childhood,” Derrickson says. “As an artist, seeing those personal feelings and memories connect with so many people—especially young people—added a sense of purpose to the darker memories of my childhood. It made me feel like it was all somehow meant to be.”

Horror That Hits Close to Home

Derrickson and Cargill aren’t just spinning ghost stories—they’re tapping into deeply personal experiences. The impact of The Black Phone didn’t end with the credits. Once the film landed on streaming, it exploded online—spawning TikToks, memes, and fan theories. It quickly became a rite of passage for many horror-loving teens.

“With Black Phone 2, we were able to keep building on characters rooted in our own childhoods and what it was like growing up in the ’70s and ‘80s,” Cargill says. “A lot of our real experiences are buried in these stories. That emotional grounding lets us balance the horror with heart. And it is part of why the first film kept growing after its release. When The Black Phone hit Peacock, it took off even more. Teenagers were watching it, making memes and TikToks, remixing scenes. For a lot of them, it was their first horror movie, and they fell in love with the genre. That is when Scott and I started getting messages every day from people asking, ‘When is the sequel? Is tere a prequel? Are you making Black Phone 2?’”

The Nightmare Isn’t Over

In Black Phone 2, it’s been four years since siblings Finn (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) escaped the Grabber’s clutches. But just when they think the past is behind them, Gwen begins receiving mysterious calls—this time, in her dreams.

Her visions lead them to a desolate winter camp, where three young boys are being stalked by something sinister. With the Grabber growing more powerful in death, the siblings must face their darkest fears—before the nightmare becomes reality.

A Deeper Look at Trauma

At its core, Black Phone 2 is more than a ghost story—it’s a powerful exploration of trauma and how it echoes through generations.

“One of the core themes of The Black Phone was the idea of children carrying the sins of their father, and that continues here,” Cargill says. “In this film, Finn is coping in the same ways his father once did. When we meet him again, he’s numbing himself from the past, falling into the same patterns. We wanted to explore how trauma echoes through families and whether that cycle can be broken.”

Producer Jason Blum, who helped bring the original to life, is confident fans will connect with the sequel just as strongly.

“The script for Black Phone 2 reminded me what an incredible foundation Joe Hill’s story gave us, and how brilliantly Scott and Cargill have built on it,” Blum says. “They’ve deepened the mythology while keeping the intimacy of the first film, balancing horror, emotion and character in a way that feels real. That’s what makes great horror—it has to matter, it has to connect—and they’ve delivered that again here.”

Philippine Release Date

The Grabber returns when Black Phone 2 hits Philippine cinemas this October 15.

Prepare yourself for an experience that’s darker, deeper, and even more unforgettable than the first.

For updates, sneak peeks, and exclusive content, follow: Facebook: Universal Pictures PH, Instagram: @UniversalPicturesPH and TikTok: @UniversalPicsPH

Answer the call. Evil still waits.

October 2, 2025