Ethan Hawke Fans Need to Watch His Modern Horror Classic on Hulu Before ‘Black Phone 2’

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Ethan Hawke, the Academy Award-nominated actor, has increasingly appeared in horror films since 2009. He first ventured into the genre with the lesser-known sci-fi vampire movie *Daybreakers*, and then starred in the intense thriller *The Purge* a few years later. Though both films are good, Hawke’s horror performances have truly stood out when directed by Scott Derrickson, most recently in *Black Phone 2*.

Before fans see *Black Phone 2* in theaters on October 17, 2025, it’s worth checking out the first horror film Ethan Hawke and Scott Derrickson made together. Luckily, their genuinely frightening movie, *Sinister*, from 2012, is currently streaming on Hulu. Watching *Sinister* this Halloween is a great way to prepare for their new collaboration and will give horror fans a better understanding of Hawke and Derrickson’s creative partnership.

What Is ‘Sinister’ About?


Lionsgate/Summit Entertainment

Scott Derrickson directed *Sinister*, co-writing the screenplay with C. Robert Cargill. The film skillfully combines elements of historical drama, supernatural horror, crime stories, and mystery. It centers on Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke), a true-crime author struggling to recapture his early success. He and his family – wife Tracy (Juliet Rylance), and children Ashley (Clare Foley) and Trevor (Michael Hall D’Addario) – move to a creepy old house in Pennsylvania, where Oswalt discovers a box of disturbing Super 8 home movies in the attic.

Oswalt becomes deeply engrossed in the mysterious videotapes, both by examining them and by letting them consume his thoughts, and this obsession starts to distance him from his family. As the tapes reveal increasingly disturbing content, he discovers they are amateur snuff films connected to a dark history surrounding the house. Seeing this as the potential subject for a book that could revive his career, Oswalt struggles with whether the research is worth the risk to his family, who are unaware of the tapes’ true nature.

Oswalt’s selfish choice quickly leads to disastrous consequences. The movie is made more captivating by Hawke’s strong acting and Derrickson’s clever weaving of the snuff videos into a series of current murders nationwide. Oswalt also realizes that after each death shown on the tapes, a family member of the victim vanishes. Without giving away too much, Oswalt discovers the killings are connected to the occult and an age-old evil that might be after his own kids.

The Super 8 format lets director Derrickson showcase his skills by creating truly shocking scenes. These include a drowning at a 1966 pool party, a fatal car crash in 1979, and a gruesome lawn mower accident in 1986. The scenes are filled with accurate period details and look realistically grainy and low-resolution, like authentic home movies.

How Scott Derrickson and Ethan Hawke’s Creative Rapport Has Evolved


Universal Pictures

Even though it was only his second horror movie, Ethan Hawke delivers a powerfully compelling performance in *Sinister*. He portrays Oswalt as a flawed but relatable character – a true-crime writer driven by both curiosity and a need to rebuild his career, even if it means risking his family. Oswalt’s choices aren’t simply good or evil; he makes a complex deal that adds depth and nuance to the character, making him far more interesting than a typical hero.

Following the success of *Sinister*, Ethan Hawke starred as James Sandin in *The Purge*, a good man forced to use violence when his family is threatened. Director Scott Derrickson, impressed by Hawke’s ability to play complex characters in both *Sinister* and *The Purge* – blurring the lines between hero and villain – chose him to play the lead villain in *The Black Phone*, a film also co-written by C. Robert Cargill, who worked on *Sinister*. This decision proved incredibly effective, and with *Black Phone 2*, Hawke and Derrickson have deepened their creative partnership, delivering an even more terrifying experience.

Inspired by a story from Joe Hill (Stephen King’s son), *The Black Phone* combines the suspense of kidnapping thrillers with a touch of the supernatural. The film centers on Finney (Mason Thames), a good-hearted boy growing up in a difficult family in the 1970s. When he’s kidnapped by a frightening masked figure known as The Grabber, Finney is locked in a deserted basement and must rely on his intelligence to survive. Surprisingly, he finds help through an old black rotary phone, which allows him to communicate with the ghosts of previous victims.

Ethan Hawke Soars to Supernatural Heights in ‘Black Phone 2’


Universal Pictures

Ethan Hawke and director Scott Derrickson are building a strong working relationship, and they’re really taking risks with their latest film. In *Black Phone 2*, Hawke delivers a performance unlike anything fans have seen from him before, as the villain, The Grabber, becomes a truly terrifying, supernatural threat. Without giving away spoilers, the film shows The Grabber haunting victims’ dreams, bringing to mind classic horror icons like Freddy Krueger, played by Robert Englund.

Ethan Hawke carefully considered how to portray this type of character, as it was a new challenge for him. He told *USA Today* that he was thinking a lot about his approach, wondering…

I started thinking about sin by asking myself how it would *move* and what it would *sound* like. It felt a bit like pretending to be a gargoyle – trying to embody something dark and imposing.

Hawke also spoke about Robert Englund’s inspiration as Freddy Krueger, adding:

I’ve been really captivated by Robert Englund lately – it’s tough not to be when you’re a film fan! What strikes me most is his physical acting; the way he conveys so much about a character just through his movements and posture is truly inspiring.

It’s impressive how Ethan Hawke, working with director Scott Derrickson, has evolved in their horror collaborations. He’s moved from playing a troubled hero in *Sinister* to a chilling villain in *The Black Phone*, and now a supernatural threat in *Black Phone 2*. Hawke consistently delivers fresh and unique performances, avoiding repetition. Before seeing *Black Phone 2*, horror fans should revisit *Sinister* to appreciate the growth of both the actor and director over the last thirteen years.

Ethan Hawke isn’t usually interested in making sequels, but he’s hinted that there could be more to the story of *The Black Phone* and that he might reprise his role as The Grabber. Whether that will actually happen remains to be seen. However, he also recommends that fans of *The Black Phone* who haven’t yet seen *Sinister* watch it immediately.

Sinister is available to stream on Hulu

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2025-10-18 21:40