Warning! This item discusses plot points for “Black Phone 2” and “Final Destination Bloodlines”.
Although the classification of “Scream Queen” has been hotly debated among artists often associated with the label, that doesn’t change the reality that horror fans love when actors choose to continue appearing in genre titles. Whether out of loyalty, creative curiosity, or simply a knack for picking big projects, actors who regularly appear in horror establish a kind of trust with audiences.
In our current era, people like Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Kyle Gallner, Jenna Ortega, Dan Stevens, Sophie Thatcher, Maika Monroe, Melissa Barrera, David Dastmalchian, Jasmin Savoy-Brown, Jessica Rothe, Mason Gooding, Olivia Holt, Mia Goth, Amber Midthunder, Daniel Kaluuya, Rohan Campbell, and the McGraw Sisters are just a snapshot of the current generation of prolific horror artists that audiences will happily support – artists who can attract viewers through name recognition alone.
Fortunately, the doors of the metaphorical Horror Inn are always open to new blood, and one actor who has certainly arrived is Anna Lore, who found herself at the center of two box office horror films this year. After spending the summer facing death (and tragically losing to a garbage truck) in the gruesome “Final Destination Bloodlines” and then battling The Grabber in “Black Phone 2,” Lore quickly carved out a place for himself as one of the genre’s most promising rising stars. But while her recent successes may seem sudden, Lore is no stranger to film, and she’s been acting professionally for over a decade. Yet if there’s any consistency in her filmography, it’s that she returns to the horror genre again and again, building a foundation of eerie, emotionally charged performances that feel right at home in that space.
Why Anna Lore responded to the Black Phone
“It’s a dream come true to be in any movie that has a wide theatrical release; it’s completely amazing to be in two in one year,” Anna Lore tells me, reflecting on her back-to-back No. 1 box office hits. “I still don’t believe it.” Despite not being a lifelong horror enthusiast, Lore continues to return to the genre because the material is still going strong. In fact, she was first drawn to “Black Phone 2” as a fan of the work of Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill. “I think they create things that are very appealing to actors: interesting, complex characters, great scenes,” she says, adding:
“Scott is one of the most experienced directors I’ve worked with, and I really appreciated his expertise. He’s very clear about what he wants, but he lets his actors contribute. He doesn’t micromanage. It was a very creative and collaborative experience.”
Derrickson noted that Lore was on his mind when writing his character, although he avoids tailoring scripts to specific actors. Her role as Hope Adler/Blake in “Black Phone 2” (read our rave review here) forms the crucial emotional center of the story, as her children Finney (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) grapple with their grief over losing their mother and the butterfly effect of her passing, while recognizing that her legacy lives on within them. She not only shares a believable resemblance to McGraw, but also convincingly plays Hope as a teenager and mother of two. “I felt like I had the chance to connect with people and influence them with the role of Hope, and I loved playing her because of that,” Lore said. The film’s most heartbreaking moment simply couldn’t happen without her warm, compassionate and committed performance.
Anna Lore had fun facing death in Final Destination Bloodlines
Comparing “Black Phone 2” and “Final Destination Bloodlines,” the contrast couldn’t be starker. “‘Final Destination’ was one of the best times I’ve ever had on set, and I miss those actors and directors almost every day,” Lore said. “But this heartbreaking work is rewarding.” The “Final Destination” franchise is notoriously silly, with half the reasons to watch being the wild and creative ways death strikes. As Julia Campbell, Lore subverted expectations of the typical “spunky blonde cousin” role. “As an actor, I look for variety,” Lore tells me. “I love the chance to do something completely different or new, and I love a challenge.”
Often a trope reserved for mean girls, Lore’s perspective was funny and warmly empathetic – a trusted older cousin to Charlie Reyes (Teo Briones). This emotional connection made his brutal death in a garbage truck compactor even more heartbreaking. For the first time in years, a “Final Destination” movie featured characters the audience actually cared about, including Julia.
2025 was a huge year for Lore, but her past roles are just as impressive. DC fans may recognize her as Stephanie Brown in “Gotham Knights” and Penny Farthing in “Doom Patrol.” But her horror roots date back to the 2014 web series “Frankenstein, MD,” where she played Victoria Frankenstein. She also starred in “My Valentine” for Blumhouse and Hulu’s “Into the Dark” and led the cast of Blumhouse’s “They/Them” in 2022. As for what’s next? Lore is the game for everything. “I find that you just come across a role and it clicks, so who knows what’s next,” she says. Fingers crossed that someone builds a horror franchise around it.
“Final Destination Bloodlines” is streaming on HBO Max, while “Black Phone 2” is streaming in theaters.
