Scott Derrickson latest movie The Black Phone is coming to cinemas, returning Scott Derrickson to his horror roots. The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Hellraiser: Inferno, Sinister and Deliver Us from Evil to his name already. It seems like a good idea to dive into these films and see which moments have scared us most through the years. Before The Black Phone is joining the ranks.
This is not a ranking order, only Six occasions it has happened.
Emily’s College Dorm Room Incident – The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Emily has started her college experience, finding herself alone in her dorm. She wakes up during the night to a strange smell, exploring the hallway. Returning to her room, Emily finds herself pinned down by an unseen force. The experience is a nightmare for anyone, but seeing how the courtroom turns into a medical condition. Only brings extra pain to everything we see.
The Zoo – Deliver Us from Evil
Detective Sarchie (Eric Bana) investigates an incident at the zoo, with his partner Butler (Joel McHale). They are searching an empty zoo at night, with no lights. Where they first find a woman involved frantically digging. Before a stranger in a lion’s enclosure is wanted for questioning. Sarchie looks to get in the enclosure. Only to find himself being approached by the two lions. Needing to remain calm to make it out of the deadly situation.
Videos – Sinister
When author Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) moves his family into a new home. He is looking to solve a local murder and disappearance for his latest book. Ellison finds a box of super 8 videos in the attic and as he watches through them. He sees a string of murders, each one just as horrific as the next one. Which is scary enough, but once Ellison finds the Bughuul figure in one. He starts searching for it in each one, until the sudden jump scary of the head turning to see him through the screen. What makes this moment so great, is the fact that we see it. Ellison doesn’t, giving us a major jump while the character isn’t affected by this moment.
The Visitor in the Mirror – Deliver Us from Evil
Sarchie is now fully investigating the case, with priest Mendoza (Edgar Ramirez). He has a strange encounter and returns home for family time. Where he looks to check on his daughter who had been screaming to sleep. Sarchie checks around the room, before looking up in the mirror. Only to see the figure they are hunting lurking over his daughter’s bed. This is a quick jump scare, but comes out of nowhere, leaving Sarchie shaken.
Visitors – Sinister
Ellison continuing deeper into his project gets a horrific shock from the last video. Searching around his home for a noise he hears. As he searches, we see the ghosts of the missing children lurking behind him. In a way that he would never have seen, but clearly right behind him, moving next to him. All this leading up to a terrifying vision of his daughter staring at one to keep quiet.
Christina’s Night Visit – Deliver Us from Evil
Christina is Sarchie’s young daughter who has been having trouble sleeping due to a scratching being heard. One night she will see her favorite owl toy roll towards the bed, the jack in the box setting off. Leading her to go screaming out of her room, finding the shadowy figure waiting at the end of the hall. Not her father, or mother, the protectors she normally finds.
What are your favorite Scott Derrickson horror moments?