As a die-hard horror fan and avid follower of the genre, I can confidently say that Scott Derrickson has proven himself to be a true master of terror time and again. His ability to craft chilling tales that leave audiences trembling is nothing short of remarkable.
Even over a decade since his initial appearance on the big screen, Bagul remains a terrifying figure for horror enthusiasts, and he has empirical evidence to back it up. Recently, the Science of Scare Project by BroadbandChoices declared that Sinister, released in 2012, is the scariest movie ever made, based on heart rate data from viewers who watched the film as part of their research.
It’s truly gratifying for director and co-writer Scott Derrickson, as his career was at risk of dwindling before the Ethan Hawke-led project came to fruition with financial support from Blumhouse. Prior to this, Derrickson had only directed three films – “Hellraiser: Inferno”, “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”, and a remake of the 1951 sci-fi film “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (currently streaming on Peacock).
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In Scott Derrickson’s film, “The Exorcism of Emily Rose,” we witness a fierce spiritual struggle surrounded by chilling ambiance. The director, Scott Derrickson, rejected a request to develop a backstory for his movie “The Black Phone.” Moreover, Scott Derrickson is now planning to direct the long-awaited sequel to “Labyrinth,” where he will bring the character of the Goblin King to life.
How Scott Derrickson’s The Day the Earth Stood Still remake led him to Sinister
Despite boasting a stellar cast such as Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith, John Cleese, and Jon Hamm, and earning over $200 million globally, The Day the Earth Stood Still fell flat with critics. They criticized the remake’s confusing narrative and excessive visual effects. The original Cold War-era tale, about an alien warning humanity to rectify its issues, didn’t align well with the action-packed blockbuster style of Roland Emmerich. However, the updated version of Klaatu’s robot companion, Gort, was quite impressive, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to save the overall outcome for director Derrickson.
He confessed during a 2022 interview with SlashFilm that the film was a harrowing ordeal and didn’t quite hit the mark. However, there were parts where it managed to hold its own. Unfortunately, it fell short of expectations due to several factors, primarily the writers’ strike. Consequently, he found it challenging to secure directorial roles for nearly two years following that movie.
For two years, the director declined several chances, among them the second “Ghost Rider” with Nicolas Cage reprising his role as Johnny Blaze. He added, “If I had taken on that project, I likely wouldn’t have worked again.” He was turning down the limited offers he received… When Jason approached him and said, “I’ll give you $3 million and full creative control,” he responded, “Okay, fantastic. If this is my last film, I want to make a movie that I would enjoy watching myself.
The policy of being selective with projects proved to be extremely beneficial when the film “Sinister” earned over $80 million at the box office, positioning Derrickson as an up-and-coming genre storyteller who became a highly sought-after talent by companies such as Marvel Studios (for “Doctor Strange”), Universal Pictures (“The Black Phone”), and Apple (for 2025’s “The Gorge”).
In the aftermath of watching “Day the Earth Stood Still,” I felt like another’s blade had claimed my life. I found myself not just a spectator, but an extra in someone else’s story. But as the credits rolled, I made up my mind: “I’m going to create the film that resonates within me.” And that’s exactly what we achieved. Our movie was raw, untamed… unapologetically so. The ending might have been grim, but for my co-writer C. Robert Cargill and I, it was a deeply authentic cinematic journey. For me, it was one of the most unadulterated filmmaking experiences a person could have, as I wasn’t preoccupied with the movie’s success at all.
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2024-11-26 00:46