This week on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast, I’m joined by Scott Derrickson – the director of such horror and action blockbusters as The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Sinister, Doctor Strange, The Black Phone, The Gorge, and the recently released (and terrifying) Black Phone 2. He co-wrote many of these, too. I think it’s safe to say this is one of his most candid and revealing interviews ever; it’ll change how you understand so much of his work.
Aside from the personal, you should expect a lot of amazing craft insights here, about Scott’s creative process, themes that show up in his work, and his third acts. You’re also going to learn a ton about how he’s maintained his independence in Hollywood since he directed The Day the Earth Stood Still in 2008 – which informs how he ended up directing the psychologically personal film Sinister and ultimately walked away from directing Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
I’ve described some of my conversations as master classes in storytelling – but none of them compares to this one with Scott Derrickson.
A bonus episode with Scott is also available below, so be sure to listen to that, too. In it, he and I discuss a seminal piece of art from his life — Dario Argento’s horrifying, hallucinatory, gorgeous Italian horror film Suspiria from 1977. Specifically, the first 20 minutes, which Scott considers the best in any horror and foundational to his filmmaking identity.
Bonus Episode: Scott Derrickson Talks 'Suspiria'
Earlier this week, Scott Derrickson — the co-writer and director of films such as The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Sinister, Doctor Strange, The Black Phone, and Black Phone 2 (out in theaters now!) — joined me for some 5AM StoryTalk. You can listen to that
If this podcast episode added anything to your life but you’re not up for a paid subscription, you can still support my work here by buying me a “coffee”. It’s hugely appreciated - thank you!
If you enjoyed this podcast episode, these other three podcast eps/articles might also prove of interest to you:
125 Horror Scripts to Download and Study
Cinematic horror comes in so many shapes and sizes. It can involve anything from reanimated corpses and stop-motion monsters to unstoppable serial killers and demonic possessions - and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Sometimes it’s painfully grounded in the real world, sometimes it’s operatic and soaked in garishly red buckets of blood, and sometimes it makes you piss yourself with laughter. On occasion, it’s even fun for the whole family. Rules don’t do well in this environment, you might say.
Q&A: The Cairnes Brothers Know What Makes A Great Horror Film
This week on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast, I'm joined by Colin and Cameron Cairnes — otherwise known as the Cairnes Brothers — the Australian writer-directors of the fantastic horror films 100 Bloody Acres, Scare Campaign, and, most recently, Late Night with the Devil
The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 1
How could a straight-to-series greenlight go so wrong for the first TV series I ever created?!
