Last Podcast On The Left Black Phone 2: An Interview with Scott Derrickson
Oct 6, 2025
Scott Derrickson, the acclaimed director behind supernatural horrors like Black Phone and Sinister, dives deep into his latest project, Black Phone 2. He shares fascinating insights about the design of The Grabber's mask and its pivotal role in creating fear. Scott discusses how childhood memories and real-life abduction cases shaped the film's tone. He also touches on the balance of working with established franchises versus original stories. Plus, he reveals his ambitions to adapt Paradise Lost and the significance of casting talented actors.
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Mask Obsession In Pre-Production
- Derrickson describes obsessing over the Grabber mask during pre-production, knowing the film would fail without a compelling design.
- He experimented with a split mask and varied lower halves to reflect emotion and landed on a design that became iconic.
Make What Scares You First
- Derrickson finds his scares by working until something frightens him personally and trusting that will translate to audiences.
- He repeatedly refines material until it still unsettles him after hundreds of viewings.
Specific Memory Builds Universal Feeling
- Derrickson grounds his films in specific childhood memories and neighborhood details to create authenticity.
- He believes concrete, personal details (like spiky chain-link fences) make the film's reality feel universal to audiences.
