Horror fans may be surprised to learn that The Black Phone and V/H/S are set in the same universe. The V/H/S films already cover a massive world populated by monsters, slasher villains, and apocalyptic gods. On the other hand, the world established in The Black Phone is only beginning with The Black Phone 2 coming this year. As it turns out, however, one V/H/S sequel already expanded the Black Phone story by tying their two universes together.
The V/H/S franchise is already known for slipping in the occasional reference to another horror property. This instance goes far beyond any reference, however, as The Black Phone and Black Phone 2 director Scott Derrickson helmed this V/H/S segment himself. At the very least, then, this segment is cemented in the same supernatural world and vintage aesthetic that The Black Phone has become known for.
Ties Between The Black Phone and V/H/S
The ties between the two franchises can be traced back to V/H/S/85. The film is the sixth installment overall in the V/H/S series released in 2023. As for the segment that ties into The Black Phone, it’s titled Dreamkill, directed by Derrickson and co-written by Derrickson and his Black Phone franchise collaborator C. Robert Cargill. The Black Phone takes place in 1978 and its upcoming sequel is set in 1982. This places Dreamkill just a few years later than both of the films in 1985.
Interestingly, there aren’t any returning characters from the films in Dreamkill. Rather, it expands the world, by focusing on the cousin of Gwen played by Madeleine McGraw in each of the films. Her cousin, Gunther, is portrayed in V/H/S/85 by Derrickson’s own son, Dashiell Derrickson. It’s revealed in the segment that Gunther shares the same psychic ability as his aunt and cousin Gwen – with a few vague references to the events in The Black Phone to confirm the connection.
Gunther uses his psychic ability in an effort to record his dreams and help the police stop a killer. His dreams feature detailed recreations of the murders – before they even happen. Disturbingly, it’s revealed that Gunther’s father is actually the killer, further fleshing out the twisted family tree that Gwen and Gunther happen to be part of.
Future for The Black Phone and V/H/S Franchises
The success of V/H/S/85 led to a sequel the following year titled V/H/S/Beyond. Now fans are being treated to yet another sequel this year titled V/H/S/Halloween. Similarly, The Black Phone was enough of a success that fans will be treated to Black Phone 2 this coming October. While it’s unknown if there will be any further links between the two franchises, it’s quite exciting to consider that these depict the same universe – even if it’s just the segment directed by Derrickson. After all, Gwen and her friends have enough problems to also be dealing with aliens, demons, and all of the other horrors that have so far been introduced through V/H/S and its sequels.
Fans will be able to stream V/H/S/Halloween via Shudder on October 3, 2025. Black Phone 2 will be hitting theaters the same month on October 17, 2025. Stay tuned to Brain Mutant for more updates and deep-dives regarding the respective Black Phone and V/H/S franchises as we have them. For now, Black Phone and V/H/S fans can also revisit both franchises and ponder the connections between V/H/S/85 and the events depicted in The Black Phone and what it might mean for the Black Phone franchise’s potential future. Especially now that Black Phone 2 is continuing to raise the stakes with Ethan Hawke’s character the Grabber who is continuing to turn into a major supernatural threat – more like Freddy Krueger than Michael Myers.
