Four Favorites with Scott Derrickson: Suspiria, Poltergeist, The Black Phone and America’s appetite for revenge

This week, spooky season continues so we picked up The Black Phone and called in a sinister filmmaker known for raising hell. Writer and director Scott Derrickson talks to Gemma and Slim about growing up at the drive-in, and how his four favorite films (Poltergeist; Suspiria; Carrie and I Saw the Devil) have influenced his filmmaking career.

Plus: that Sinister jump-scare, being too scared to go on ghost hunts, learning about horror films from episodes of Community and The Simpsons, how Poltergeist is Spielberg’s raciest story, why the first act of Suspiria is the best cinema ever made, why the last act of Carrie is the best cinema ever made, the Letterboxd community’s thirst for Ethan Hawke as a serial killer, America’s problem with revenge (and Korea’s answer to it).

The Letterboxd list of films mentioned in this episode. Forbes’ article “What Is The Scariest Movie Ever?”. Reviews of Poltergeist by Willow Maclay; Suspiria by Proftonks; The Black Phone by jude!, ZaraGwen, abbie and alex; Carrie by Noah and Lil Jake; I Saw the Devil by Supreme Lemon and james

Credits: This episode was recorded in Los Angeles and Pennsylvania, and edited by Slim. Facts by Jack. Booker: Brian Formo. Transcript by Sophie Shin. Art by Samm. Theme: ‘Vampiros Dancoteque’ by Moniker. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.