The Black Phone is quickly proving itself to be a new horror classic. Centered around a boy who's kidnapped by a man only known as The Grabber, his only source of help is the titular black phone, which allows him to talk to a surprising ally.
Many of the people who worked on The Black Phone have collaborated on other horror films before. So, before seeing it on the big screen, fans will want to check out several other movies that feature the cast and crew from The Black Phone and see how they got their start in horror.
Hellraiser: Inferno
Before he wrote and directed The Black Phone, Scott Derrickson cut his teeth back in 2000 on the fifth installment of the Hellraiser franchise, Hellraiser: Inferno. The film acts as a time capsule of Derrickson's career, showing audiences just how far he has come as a filmmaker over the last twenty years.
Interestingly, the film was not even intended to be a Hellraiser film in the first place. According to Pinhead actor, Doug Bradley, the script was rewritten to integrate the film into the Hellraiser franchise (Bloody Disgusting). Though the film was released directly to DVD, it gave Scott the experience he needed to make his next horror film even better.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Inspired by true events, The Exorcism of Emily Rose chronicles a homicide trial after a parish is charged with killing a woman during an exorcism, while the parish claims the woman was possessed by a demon. For fans of horror films and courtroom dramas, this is a perfect match.
Five years after his directorial debut, Derrickson returned to write and direct his own original horror film, with a fresh take on the exorcism genre. By telling the story through the lens of a legal trial, the audience is left in a constant state of mystery, as it's never quite made clear if the parish is guilty or if Emily Rose really was possessed. Though considering how the film ends, audiences may be left more sad than scared.
Sinister
Killer kids and creepy home movies are the highlights of the two Sinister films. Derrickson proves kids truly can be terrifying, especially when they are under the control of a demonic force known as Mr. Boogie, who is much more intimidating than his name implies.
The Sinister films served as the first collaboration between Derrickson and Blumhouse Productions. Both films are two of Derrickson's best-rated films on IMDb. This was also Derrickson's first collaboration with Ethan Hawke and James Ransone, who are both set to star in The Black Phone.
Deliver Us From Evil
After his success with Sinister, Derrickson would go on to write and direct Deliver Us From Evil, a film about a police officer who teams up with an unconventional priest to take on a possessed criminal.
Of all Derrickson's horror films, Deliver Us From Evil is the most action-packed. From shootouts with demonic criminals to exorcisms gone wrong, the film shows how Derrickson can approach horror from many different angles. This unique take on the buddy cop type of story shows how there's more than one way to scare an audience.
Horns
The Black Phone is not the first horror film to be based on a short story by Joe Hill. In 2013, Daniel Radcliffe starred in the feature adaptation of Horns, based on Hill's story of a man who grows mysterious horns that compel people to act on their primal instincts.
Though the film is billed as a dark comedy, it's easy to see the elements of horror laced throughout the film. As the son of Stephen King, Joe is following in his father's footsteps by delivering frightful stories that are ripe for film adaptations. Whether they are comedic or dramatic, there is no mistaking Hill's roots in the horror genre.
In The Tall Grass
In 2019, another one of Joe Hill's short stories would get a big-screen adaptation. In The Tall Grass debuted on Netflix as the story of siblings who get lost in a field of tall grass, which happens to hold very dark secrets.
In The Tall Grass proved that Hill's instinct for creating compelling horror stories was not a fluke. It takes talent to make a unique horror film set in the woods. The film blends supernatural horror with real-life thrills that will terrify viewers. With the success of In The Tall Grass, it's no surprise Scott Derrickson would turn to Hill for inspiration to create a new horror classic.
Family Blood
One of Derrickson's frequent collaborators is James Ransone, who appeared in both Sinister films and is also featured in The Black Phone. After Sinister, Ransone went on to star in Family Blood as a creeper with a dangerous influence over a recovering addict and her family.
Ransone is an actor who was made for horror films. Family Blood shows just how much range he has as an actor when given the proper role. Whether he's an ally or an enemy, he always disappears into the role. In Family Blood, he gets to show off his villainous chops in a way that is both charming and horrifying.
Daybreakers
Ethan Hawke is no stranger to horror films. In 2009, Hawke starred in Daybreakers as an undead scientist in a world where most of the population has turned into vampires.
Just when audiences were starting to get sick of vampires, Hawke proved that undead bloodsuckers can still be cool. Not only is Hawke's character intimidating, but he also gives a nuanced performance as a vampire who's conflicted about feeding off humans. Hawke shows that his villainous characters are not just one-note caricatures.
The Purge
Ethan Hawke would return to horror again in 2013 when he starred in a little indie film known as The Purge. Though The Purge is one of the most iconic horror franchises of the last decade, back in 2013, the first film had a lot to prove.
Nearly ten years later, with four sequels, a spin-off series, and a fifth sequel in development, it's good to know Ethan Hawke played a part in the film's success from the start. Unlike his character in The Black Phone, Hawke gets to shine as the hero of this film. Whether he's the villain or the hero, Hawke is definitely a great fit for horror.