Can horror be saved?

‘Whatsoever things are true… whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report… think on these things,’ (Philippians 4:8).

The director of 2005’s The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and evangelical Christian, Scott Derrickson says this is the verse most commonly quoted to him by Christians who disapprove of his work on horror films. In response to Philippians 4:8 Derrickson says, “Wait a minute, what was the first thing you said? ‘Whatsoever things are true.’ Things that are true are not necessarily lovely...”.

Derrickson, is used to defending his work, having also written the screenplays for horror films Hellraiser: Inferno and Urban Legends: Final Cut.

“The horror genre is a perfect genre for Christians to be involved with,” he told Christianity Today in 2005.

“This genre deals more overtly with the supernatural than any other genre. It distinguishes and articulates the essence of good and evil better than any other genre and my feeling is that a lot of Christians are wary of this genre simply because it’s unpleasant,” Derrickson says.

Before the year is out cinemas will screen sequels to 28 Days Later, Resident Evil, Saw, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Grudge – all films that use the shocking, the visceral and the demonic to intentionally alarm the audience.

The torrent of blood appears to be overwhelming more subtle ‘fear films’ in the vein of Alfred Hitchcock or M Night Shyamalan (The Lady in the Water, The Sixth Sense).

Current cinematic favourites like Hostel or the Saw series centre on almost pornographic fascinations with torture. Blood-letting becomes the purpose of the film rather than an essential way to reveal character or plot.

Of course, much of any film genre can be tossed aside because it is exploitative or has nothing valuable to say. However, given horror’s reputation for appealing to the lowest common denominator in its use of violence, it is little wonder many Christians habitually avoid the genre.

The question should be asked, though, is the genre irredeemable? Try this experiment. As a Christian, could you watch the following film?

The screen is filled with close-ups of a victim being viciously and repeatedly thrashed by a group of men. This sequence lasts for minutes. Then he is beaten and bloodied with make-shift clubs. When he struggles to his feet, his tormentors set to work with a leather flail studded with metal, revelling as they tear into his skin.

Horrific? Certainly. However, this isn’t the work of acknowledged horror directors like Wes Craven or Tobe Hooper. Rather, it is Mel Gibson’s historically based depiction of what Roman soldiers did to Jesus in The Passion of the Christ.

The Bible is a book that does not edit out the offensive to maintain a PG rating. It is at times extremely shocking in its description of murder, sexual violence and the demonic. The keys are context and purpose.

If the Bible records violence, it is because it is factual; any shock involved is intended to instruct. When we find objectionable elements in the Bible’s story we must remember Scripture’s overarching theme of redemption – the context is God revealing the consequences of rebellion and calling us back to himself.

The horror genre, like any other, is a vehicle for a message. As such, it is capable of taking its audience to some destinations that other formats may not easily reach. Horror films often deal with things beyond our control like the reality of the spiritual realm and human depravity. The right story line can open the audience up to the necessity of an outside saviour.

Admittedly, horror is not for everyone. But in Christ we have been given freedom and the wisdom to consider our personal limitations, and what constitutes sinning against our conscience. Given the genre is clearly engaging with an extensive audience, is horror a vehicle that could be driven to a worthwhile destination?

Derrickson told Christianity Today he made The Exorcism of Emily Rose to challenge the mainstream audience to ask themselves what they believe.

“I wanted them to come away from the film provoked to think about and discuss spiritual matters and issues that I think are profoundly important,” Derrickson says.

There may be hope for horror yet.

Joseph Smith

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