I see no redeeming value in Horror Films. Don’t see how anyone does.

What does this have to do with our professional world? Plenty. Hollywood, the media, video/filmmaking, entertainment, PR, communications, culture trends, hot news topics — these are the currency of our calling in many ways. This is a “Christian” topic too. For a Christian, our conversion calls us out of whatever culture we find ourselves in and into a new one — one that often finds itself in tension with the old. So here’s a culture clash. These types of films are often nearly guaranteed serious money makers, because mass amounts of people – many our young people — go to see them habitually. To me, that is … scary.

Today’s topic has been on my mind for awhile. I remember walking through an airport after a client gig last year having this very conversation (horror films) with several V-St team members. It was a spirited talk. So here it is, live and not-too-edited, cause I think it is worth some thought, even if I only have the time to provoke a bit.

“and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works” Hebrews 10:24

On the way home the other night I was listening to the news and heard a radio talk show host say he was essentially disgusted with a new horror flick called, The Last House on The Left. It was a secular news radio station. This guy was not a Christian. He was pretty clear about this film. He saw no real value in it and from his description of it, I understood why.

I’ve not seen the movie, nor trailers. But I did see that USA Today said to “steer as clear as you possibly can” from this movie. Hmmm..that tells us something.

I just don’t get the whole horror thing. I’ve seen the posters for SAW I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII. Why would we go or ever have our kids see this stuff or tell them it’s cool or ok or good? Yeah, we like virtual thrills and our minds can pump us with adrenaline and tell us it’s not real so we “enjoy it”. But what are we enjoying? Ask yourself…How do the following words fit in with our family time or prayer time:dismemberment, torture, terror, scantily clothed babes, drug use, rape, porn, murder, perversions, demons, revenge, etc? Doesn’t much of society at large expend millions of hours and funds to combat these very things? I’m no prude. I grew up “unsaved” with a steady diet of Dirty Harry, The French Connection, Apocalypse Now, James Bond, Papillion, Dog Day Afternoon, Taxi Driver, The Godfather, etc in my formative years. I really dig movies, but nowadays I am pretty selective what I let in my eyes and heart. And actually am getting more selective. I don’t go to horror flicks. Nor do my socially connected kids. I even seriously asked them if they wanted to. Hey, they are old enough to make that decision. They each thought a moment and said – “no, why would I want to?”

For fun I typed into Google: “Is there any redeeming value in horror movies” and this article came up. (I know nothing about the site or the people – I just found the blurbs interesting). I didn’t give it much thought but I wondered if we were supposed to be impressed by the language used (so called sensibilities and fears and “theological arbiters”, “normativity” and “hidden proselytic agendas”) as if these concepts somehow make the horror movie proponent have a case. I get it, we can go round and round about it, and wax philosophic and invoke our scholars of choice to bolster our positions. There are even Christian horror film directors who somehow feel creating these type of movies can be a ministry tool. But to cut to the chase, apart from the politically correct arguments we could engage in, you’ll have a devil of a time convincing me of the artistic, entertainment, cultural, family, etc value of over-the-top demonic grotesque swiveling heads, graphic mutilations, detailed torture/rape, kidnapping, serial killings, massacres, stalking, vengeance, etc.

I am aware I am casting a bit of a broad net here. As Christians, we should not shy away from art forms that allow us to express more complex emotions (I know that some puzzle that I express my faith through the medium of “rock” music). But for most film-makers today I think the main value of horror movies is the cash value. And these films make a ton of it. Nothing wrong with cash per se. I even have a friend and very smart business associate that is considering making a horror flick for this very reason.

I am not out to censor or hinder free speech or expression, nor to lecture people who want to make a buck, but consider that it may be at the profound expense of the withering of our souls. In that spirit, I am not passive on this subject. For me, personally, as one who aspires to make a positive difference in life, I believe we should pause and think about this. It is dulling our already assaulted senses. It is what a LOT of our kids escape to and enjoy! I want to utilize the arts, media and communications for edification. Do horror movies really do that? What do you think?