Why Christians are Afraid of Horror Movies
When you’re watching a horror film, the last thing you’d relate it to is Christianity. And unfortunately, Christians aren’t known for their films, usually consisting of preachy and poorly written story arcs. Even so, Christians have entered many genres in the film space, from sci-fi to romance and comedy. Christian horror films, however, are almost never heard of. It would be out of the question! But what if I told you we can change that perception?
I believe we’re in a time of immense opportunity. I see the horror genre as an opening for Christians to enter and make fantastic stories. This age in which we live is a golden opportunity for Christians to make a positive impact in the film industry, and in my opinion, horror is ripe for the picking. Horror is a genre loved by many, from the iconic Scream to the newest release of the visceral, squirm-inducing Saw series, such films have not only captivated audiences worldwide, but have played a pivotal role in shaping our culture. Imagine what would happen if more Christians entered this genre and instead of making cringy films nobody would watch, made genuinely good films. The world would implode (hopefully not literally)!
One of the glaring issues in the mind of many Christians is the copious amount of gore used in the genre. It’s tempting to end the discussion here, but horror didn’t start out as graphic as it is today. The horror movies of the 30s and 40s relied more on atmospheric and suggestive elements rather than explicit gore, however, there has been a shift in the horror genre toward more explicit depictions of violence and gore. This trend became more pronounced in the 60s and 70s with the emergence of slasher films, characterized by graphic depictions of violence and bloodshed. Why is this? I believe that as people have watched more gory depictions of violence, we have become desensitized to extreme bloodshed. I remember when I first saw the Walking Dead series, I was shocked by the amount of gore due to the nature of the series. However, as I continued further into the episodes, I recognized my reaction to such gore was less pronounced. This is not to say that gore is useless; I believe gore can be used to emphasize points the film is trying to make, used sparingly and not to the point of disgust (however, tolerance can differ from each person). Excessive gore (and things like language) cheapens the experience, and can be rather grotesque. I believe Christians can watch, and even produce horror films, within the confines of what is pure, good, and lovely. If the message of the film or show is not praiseworthy, it isn’t worth entertaining. Nevertheless, many people do entertain films that are rather disgusting. One of the reasons we can understand how this came to be is to inspect the underpinnings of the genre, which–like many things–are deeply rooted in history
During the beginning of the horror explosion in the 30s, movies like, ‘Frankenstein’ and, ‘Dracula’ became well-known classics. These films introduced iconic monsters and established horror tropes that would become staples of the genre. In the 1970s during the sexual revolution there was another surge in the horror genre, with slasher films taking the lead. Movies like, ‘Halloween’ and, ‘Friday the 13th’ often reflected the state of the culture, being heavily inspired by whatever the current social struggles were. The horror genre is genuinely capable of exploring cultural issues, fears, and complex topics.
For example, in the first episode of the Walking Dead series, Rick Grimes encounters a zombified girl and he must make the decision on whether or not to shoot her to protect himself. This is a predicament, but a worthwhile one to discuss. What lengths can a human take to protect his own life? This question is one of those brought up throughout the series. However, films can be dangerous because of the little messages that can be sneakily put into the storyline. This could make you unknowingly compromise on your standards. A little thing you wouldn’t notice can slip past your conscious thought into your subconscious, and as that thought repeats in your mind, you start to agree with it, until it becomes part of your identity. Take a look at the west, and you can see how my generation, ‘Gen Z’, has been negatively affected by garbage entertainment because of compromising on standards. That’s why film can be so dangerous. We must always be vigilant when it comes to entertainment. When was the last time you caught a message slipped into the dialogue or visuals of the movie you were watching? Chances are you didn’t, which is why this method of manipulation can be especially dangerous. Keep in mind, the people who are doing this are anti-Christ in nature. Nobody who is truly Christian would seek to negatively influence those who watch their films. I’m pointing a finger at you, Hollywood.
The subtle inclusion of messages can be either beneficial, or harmful. However, by what standard do we decide whether a message is beneficial or not? If we don’t look at everything with a Biblical worldview, which is the only basis for objective standards, a proliferation of garbage will enter our minds unhindered. Have you seen what is out in the world lately? There is garbage everywhere. If we’re not careful, we may find ourselves agreeing with it and acting on it. To give an extreme example: serial killers aren’t peaceful one day, and have murderous intent the next. Over time they slowly begin to accept lies that have entered their minds until they believe them and in addition to this, become murderers.
Messages have powerful statements attached to them, and there is almost no way to separate one from the other. Be careful you examine the contents of what you watch. When people watch horror, they’re ultimately looking to feel something, usually to experience the adrenaline from a scare. But I believe the horror genre has the potential to serve a greater and more meaningful purpose. Horror can be a very useful tool to expose darkness and impart hope. One movie that does this very well (although not horror), is called, “Sound of Freedom”. The plot follows the journey of Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent, who embarks on a mission to rescue exploited children from trafficking. This film highlights the harsh realities of human trafficking without making the film overtly dark. When I first saw the film in theaters, I was heartbroken by the reality of trafficking, but I also left the theater with hope, a fire to fight against the schemes of the wicked people who are taking advantage of God’s creation. This movie explores a genuinely disturbing topic with incredible tact, providing hope while exposing the darkness and the ugly truth. I believe the horror genre has the same potential for exposing darkness, that is if we are vigilant on what messages we entertain. Underlying each storyline is a message and a promise. Ultimately, every message boils down to who to worship (yourself, God, or something else), and a promise, (that you will, or will not benefit from doing this).
If you’ve stuck with me this far, that tells me you’re either a Christian, or you’re highly intrigued in what I’m about to say. In either case, I’m going to say something that may shock you: nobody can watch horror… without a Christian worldview. The whole idea of horror is irrelevant from the materialist and evolutionist perspective (although they do not know it), because there is no purpose or reason to anything in a world that has no greater ulterior motive, that just came about by random chance. There’s no purpose in a purposeless world. Without God, there is no objective standard for good and evil, therefore, there would be no horror with which to contrast against. That is a predicament for non-Christian viewers of horror because they are subconsciously borrowing from a Christian worldview to discern right from wrong. This may sound strange and even outrageous, but hear me out. If there is no objective standard for morality, nobody can watch horror–or any genre–and say there is such a thing as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ films.
By the way, if you’re enjoying this as much as I am, consider subscribing because I really need a job. Speaking of jobs, I believe Christians should take a more active role in the horror community to influence what we see on screen. We’re in a time full of change. With Hollywood crumbling, it’s critical that Christians step up and take the golden opportunity to enter the film industry to create films on a whole new level of intuitiveness and quality. It is possible that with the advent of amazing Biblically-oriented entertainment (such as Sound of Freedom, or Lord of the Rings) we could incentivise change in the culture. What you watch plays a pivotal role in your worldview because what you agree with, becomes a belief you adopt into your identity. However, this is not where it ends. By choosing to think critically about what we intake, we can detect and shine a light on the lies in our culture today, and one of the best ways to do that is by not watching the garbage on screen.
I believe it is okay for Christians to watch horror, as long as the content in question does not contradict God’s nature. The next time you are watching a horror film ask yourself this question: who or what does the message of this film glorify?
Depending on the answer to that question, you will know whether or not you should be watching it. This brings me to one of the most frequently brought up questions in relation to horror: can Christians produce horror? The short answer: absolutely. It is possible for Christians to make horror films, as long as it does not glorify evil or twist the truth (which is an objective set of standards set by God). Evil can absolutely be presented on screen if it is being used to expose lies, that way we’re not seeing some horrifying and forbidden evil, just for the sake of it. I think that’s where some horror films go wrong, and why Christians are hesitant to enter the horror genre. It’s not easy to write films where evil actually serves a deep-seated purpose. It’s easy to write stories where evil is just there to entertain, but that is a considerable mistake! When on-screen evil is purposeless, it’s almost proposed as fun and enticing for the viewers to engage with. There is an infatuation with occult practices and dark entities. Obviously, there is an allure to that which is forbidden, one of the reasons ouija boards are popular.
This brings me to one of the biggest problems I have with how horror can go drastically wrong. Listen up writers, because this is for you. When you write evil into your plots, ensure a definitive line between good and evil. That isn’t to say there is no room for complex characters, however, be sure to not blur the lines! This is an issue, not only with secular writers, but with Christians also! In an attempt to reach more people, we’ve sugar coated the truth, the barbarity of evil. This is a grave mistake. Why is that? Contrasting evil against the purity of Christ is a fantastic opportunity to expose evil. This means incorporating principles that mirror this in our writing. That doesn’t mean you have to meet a quota of Scripture verses, but it does mean you must think critically. Horror has the potential to be one of the most impactful genres in the industry, or one of the most destructive vices we face, and we have only scratched the surface. When approached thoughtfully, horror can serve a significant purpose beyond mere entertainment.
Part of what I am arguing against is a lack of godly standards in the film industry, with the horror genre as my main example. I find horror very intriguing. It’s also controversial among Christians and non-Christians alike. Horror explores many dark topics which can get touchy very fast due to carelessness, or picking a bad topic to begin with. One last note: beware of compromise. I mentioned this earlier and I’m emphasizing it again because it is extremely important. Compromise is the slow drip drip against the stone that carves a hole out of it. Compromise has been creeping into the film industry, as is apparent in Hollywood. What once was an industry flowing with some of the most awe-inspiring movies has become riddled with corruption due to accepting lower standards little by little. You too will be corrupted if you let little compromises slip past your radar. However, there is hope. It all starts with the adoption of a Christian worldview, to expose evil for what it is, and never compromise on the standards God has set in his Word. That’s how Christian horror can turn from an impossible nightmare to a hope-filled reality.
