[EXCLUSIVE] Scott Derrickson Talks The Black Phone 2, High School Horror, and Why He Embraced the ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ Comparisons -- Ahead of Its 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD in December

What began as a standalone nightmare has officially become one of horror’s most compelling franchises. Director Scott Derrickson is back with The Black Phone 2, a chilling continuation of his 2022 hit that terrified audiences and proved that simple, character-driven horror still sells. Following a powerful theatrical run, the sequel is now available on digital and arrives on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD this December, but before that—Derrickson sat down with WeAreCritiX’s Klep Napier to break down the craft, the fear, and how a simple email from author Joe Hill sparked a sequel no one saw coming.

🎧 Listen to our full audio interview with Scott Derrickson below

“The studio wanted me to go make a sequel right away,” Derrickson explained. “But I told them I wasn’t going to do that. I thought if I wait and let these kids grow up, I get to make a high school horror film.” That creative patience paid off. Returning to the world of siblings Vinnie (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeline McGraw), Derrickson explores how trauma, survival, and supernatural forces evolve as his young survivors enter adolescence. What emerges is a story less about escape and more about endurance, the lingering scars left by terror and the courage it takes to confront them years later.

Derrickson revealed that The Black Phone 2 was born from a single, haunting suggestion by Hill: “Wouldn’t it be cool if The Grabber called Vinnie on a payphone from hell?” From there, Derrickson reimagined the mythology, expanding the world and layering new psychological tension into the series. The filmmaker leaned into nostalgic ‘80s horror aesthetics, even acknowledging unintentional parallels to A Nightmare on Elm Street and other classics of the era. “I realized halfway through writing, I was channeling those movies subconsciously,” he said. “But instead of avoiding it, I embraced it.”

The first Black Phone was a sleeper hit, grossing over $160 million worldwide on an $18 million budget and becoming one of Blumhouse’s most successful original releases in years. That momentum has only fueled fan anticipation for the sequel, which ups the scale without losing its emotional heartbeat. “Terror works best when it’s personal,” Derrickson noted, emphasizing his decision to make Gwen the emotional center this time. “I wanted to see who she becomes after what she’s endured. It’s her story as much as it’s Vinnie’s.”

The director also praised his young stars for their maturity and growth since the first film. “Mason is poised and adult-like—he doesn’t need much direction. But Maddie… she’s got this huge emotional range. She feels deeply, even when she’s doing stunts or covered in blood. She’s fearless,” he said, reflecting on Madeline McGraw’s transformation from breakout child actor to full-blown horror lead.

The Black Phone 2 is now haunting viewers on digital and officially hits 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on December 23, 2025.