Scott Derrickson thinks The Black Telephone 2 will attraction to the Terrifier technology.
The 59-year-old director has returned with a “rated R” sequel to his acclaimed 2021 supernatural horror – which starred Ethan Hawke because the sinister Grabber – and he made a aware determination to lean into a distinct type of concern and setting for the extremely anticipated follow-up.
He instructed SFX journal: “The explanation I wished to do a highschool film was that it has extra fascinating emotional stakes. It requires a distinct tone than a center schoool coming-of-age supernatural film.
“You simply invariably are going to must be extra violent and extra aggressive and possibly extra surprising, to escalate elements of the film past what the primary film did, as a result of a very good portion of the viewers, the youngsters who grew up actually loving The Black Telephone, they’re older now.
“They’re the youngsters who paid to see Terrifier. So there is definitely extra depth and extra gore. We had been rated R, and one of many issues we had been rated R for was gore. There isn’t any gore within the first film in any respect.”
Derrickson additionally selected to attend to present characters Finney and Gwen – performed by Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw – an opportunity to develop up, which allowed the actors to return at a distinct level in their very own lives.
He added: “I actually liked each the characters from the primary, I liked the actors, these children actually put their hearts into it.
“It was actually fascinating reconnecting with them, simply seeing who they’d change into as folks.
“The change that you just undergo between Center College and Excessive College could also be one of many largest, most dramatic modifications you undergo in your lifetime, and I used to be actually focused on who these characters have change into, having gone via one thing so extraordinary.”
Regardless of referencing the ultra-gory Terrifier franchise, the filmmaker insisted there’s a cause behind the tonal shift.
He defined: “I did not wish to intensify the violence and horror to be extra edgy.
“I used to be focused on being extra mature, going deeper into the feelings of those characters and making an attempt to make a film that labored as a pair.”
