Scott Derrickson, the acclaimed director behind the horror film series, has expressed caution regarding the possibility of a third installment in the franchise, titled Black Phone 3. In a recent interview with Variety, Derrickson emphasized that he sees “no justification” for continuing the series unless the sequel can surpass the quality of its predecessors.
While Derrickson has returned this month with Black Phone 2, which follows the chilling narrative of Ethan Hawke’s character, The Grabber, he is not eager to rush into creating a trilogy. He stated, “There’s really no justification for making a sequel unless you are genuinely attempting to make a movie that’s better than the first movie you’re making a sequel to.” This sets a high bar for any potential continuation of the series.
High Standards for Sequels
The director elaborated on his philosophy regarding sequels, noting that should a third film be made, it would need to improve upon the second, which itself would need to be better than the first. Derrickson highlighted that “very few films do that,” pointing to the Evil Dead and Night of the Living Dead trilogies as rare examples where all installments have achieved critical acclaim and progressively improved upon one another.
Derrickson’s approach to the second film introduced a supernatural twist, reminiscent of classic horror tropes. He mentioned that in Black Phone 2, The Grabber evolves into a threat from beyond the grave, but he is not interested in altering the character’s established lore simply for the sake of novelty. He stated, “What would be important to me in considering any ideas is that it’s just not a retread.”
Shifting Tone and Setting
In crafting Black Phone 2, Derrickson made a “very conscious” decision to alter the tone, timing, and location, marking a significant evolution in the characters of Finney (played by Mason Thames) and Gwen (played by Madeleine McGraw). He noted that the transition to high school brings a new level of intensity, as “a high school horror movie demands more violence and more scariness than a middle school supernatural thriller.”
Set in 1982, the film draws inspiration from the era’s popular summer camp slasher films, emerging in the wake of Friday the 13th. Derrickson expressed enthusiasm about setting the story in winter camps situated in the Rocky Mountains, a unique backdrop that he felt had not been explored extensively in the genre. “I watched dozens of those in the ’80s, and what I liked was the idea of doing that, but setting it in the winter camps that I went to in the Rocky Mountains,” he said.
As the franchise evolves, Derrickson’s commitment to quality storytelling remains paramount. Fans of the series will be eager to see whether he can deliver on his promise of a sequel that not only meets but exceeds the expectations set by the first two films. While the future of Black Phone 3 remains uncertain, Derrickson’s standards for the project highlight the challenges inherent in crafting successful sequels in the film industry.
