Should Christians Watch Horror?

Debate Ignites: Should Christians Embrace Horror Films?

Recently, Allie Beth Stuckey sparked a debate among the horror community and even christians themselves about whether or not Christians should watch horror. Not only that, but be fans of horror. Saying that it is contradicting and going against what Christians believe. Furthermore, insisting that to watch horror, read, and to have anything to do with the content that is related to the genre is wrong. Her reasoning was due to the fact that horror installs fear; to those who consume it. But isn’t horror part of Christianity and vice versa? Doesn’t it enlighten us about the spiritual morals of good and evil? Therefore, not necessarily “installing fear” but educating us on the realities and consequences of evil.

Christianity In Horror

Christianity has existed in horror even before gothic literature classics like Frankenstein and Dracula were ever written. Even before The Exorcist franchise which displayed christian symbolism. Arguably you could say that the bible itself was the first. For how it displays its own disturbing imagery like plagues, murders, and even visions of the dead coming back to life and so on. Christianity has a moral framework which reveals the reality of evil. Making it a central role in horror by offering a moral universe, symbolic tools, and narrative structures that heighten the tension between good and evil. Furthermore, making it one of the most influential religious traditions in the genre. So much so, that religious horror is a subgenre among the Horror genre. Thus, meaning that christianity shapes horror.

Religious Horror the Subgenre

Religious horror centers on spiritual conflict, divine punishment, demonic possession, and even corrupted religious spaces. Those religious spaces being churches, monasteries, convents, and sanctuaries. In which among these common settings' evil manifests. This genre is used to explore the reality of evil, the spiritual struggles, human vulnerability, and the need for redemption. Examples of religious horror in media would be:

• Rosemary’s Baby (book and movie)

• The Omen (book and movie)

• Hereditary (movie)

• Midsommar (movie)

• Bram Stoker's Dracula (book and movie)

• The Exorcist (book and movie)

• The Magnus Archives (podcast)

• Horror and the Christian Faith (podcast)

• and so much more!

Without Christianity in horror films, podcasts, books, or any media we wouldn’t have that level of intensity that brings out the imagery needed in horror. Horror has always been a part of Christianity and Christianity has always been a part of horror. Ultimately, guiding our moral compass.

In Conclusion

Horror is more than just a factor of fear; but also one of life lessons, teachings of mortality, and the battle of evil versus good. Those who are believers (christians), need horror in order to understand the reality of their beliefs. For simply, one cannot exist without the other. There needs to be an understanding that evil is real. As well as the consequences of evil. Horror in its correct form treats evil as evil. Therefore, it is not just intended to engage fear into people; but provoke thoughts and ask questions about what is wrong and what is right.