How does one reconcile religious convictions with a love for the horror genre?
How do you watch a fictional exorcism if youve seen an authentic deliverance occur before your eyes?
In fact,I downright hated horror movies for a long time.
Image by Jefferson Chacon
After all, horror is all about being afraid, and who wants that?
Thats how I felt about being a Christian and watching horror movies.
They were clearly of the Devil, right?
Image via Warner Bros.
And I was to be a child of the light.
Over time, my view on horror began to change.
In reality, horror says something much deeper, if we only listen.
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
I realized that the demons on the screen had no real power over me, nor should they.
In the Christian faith, we believe that Jesus Christ has power over all dark and spiritual forces.
Some faithful believers avoid movies likeThe Exorcistbecause they feel “too real.
To that end, I was one of those people.
The Conjuring Shifted My Entire Perspective on Horror Movies
But what sparked this change?
Immaculate movies for ungodly scares.
Image via Universal Pictures
The films rich characters, dynamic representation of believers, and sound perspective on hauntings were infatuating.
These forces are eternal, and they exist today.
The fairy tale is true.
And for us, as people,our very destiny hinges upon which one we elect to follow.”
Yet, the horror genre is chock-full of stories like these.
Horror Offers Audiences a Uniquely Spiritual Worldview
Of course, this isnt to say thatThe Conjuringisnt scary.
I was certainly freaked out when I first watched the movie.
And yet,the message ofThe Conjuringis what brought me back.
This is the case with plenty of other demon-possession flicks as well.
Just as in our world, bad and frightening things still happen.
Evil can never be entirely eradicated on this side of eternity.
But as the Warrens continue to fight the good fight, I was inspired to do the same.
He’s absolutely right.WatchingThe Conjuringand its sequelshelped me to see the genre differently.
In some ways, it elevated horror for me in a way I hadnt thought possible before.
The potential in that alone is thrilling.
BothMary Shelley’sFrankensteinandBram Stoker’sDraculaare distinctly Christian in much of their material.
The power of Christ compels you!
Thats the famous line fromThe Exorcist.
Its true though, of demon possession movies.
Thenefarious spirits always slink backat the name of Jesus Christ.
I was free to enjoy horror the same way I do Westerns, romances, and sci-fi extravaganzas.
But I no longer hate horror.
