Black Phone 2 Director on How His Own Youth Inspired Horror Sequel

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Ahead of the release of Black Phone 2, director Scott Derrickson shared that the sequel was inspired by events from his own childhood. Derrickson, known for directing the 2016 film Doctor Strange, discussed how personal experiences shaped the new movie, which stars Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames.

Scott Derrickson on how his memories of the ’80s inspired Black Phone 2

I recently read an interview with the director of Black Phone 2, and it was fascinating! He told Filmfare that a lot of the movie’s ideas actually came from things he remembered from his own high school days. It’s cool to know how personal his inspiration was for the film.

Derrickson explained his approach to filmmaking by saying he prefers to build upon the original aspects of his own work rather than taking inspiration from others.

The director, 59, explained how personal memories influenced *Black Phone 2*. He specifically used Super 8 footage to recreate the feeling of being a teenager, drawing on experiences from winter camps he attended in Colorado high schools in the early 1980s.

The film takes place in 1982, four years after the first movie. It centers on Finney Blake, played by Mason Thames, who is trying to rebuild his life after being kidnapped by a frightening serial killer known as the Grabber, portrayed by Ethan Hawke. But things get even scarier when his little sister begins experiencing terrifying visions and nightmares, including a mysterious black phone ringing.

In addition to Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames returning, *The Black Phone 2* stars Madeleine McGraw, Demián Bichir, Jeremy Davies, and Miguel Mora in important roles. Early reviews of the sequel have been excellent, and it’s scheduled for release in theaters on October 17, 2025.

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2025-10-16 13:26