Christians in Cinema

One of the first films I saw in a theater was a horror film. “Friday the 13th” (part 85, or something like that.) Prior to that, my movie-going had been limited to “Ghandi” and “The Competition.” I was a baby movie-phile.

This was a birthday gift from a friend (what a gift!), and it was horrifying! Not having seen any previous “Friday the 13th” epics, I had no idea that careful attention to the musical score would tell me when a horrific murder was about to be committed. It took several blood baths to understand. Halfway through the film, I was shrunken down in my seat, with my hands covering my face, only peeking out occasionally when the music stopped.

If God can redeem me, he can redeem horror.

Then came the end. If you’ve seen any of the “Friday the 13th” films, you know they don’t end well. This was no exception. Approximately 3 or 4 minutes before the credits began to roll, I apparently lost it. Covering my face with my hands I began to moan “no, no, no!!!” and shake my head back and forth. At first, the people around thought it vaguely amusing. Then they began to fear for my sanity. An usher came down the aisle to check on me. My friend assured them I would be all right.

At some point I became lucid again while the credits were finishing. Almost everyone had left the theater, so we made our way out. People were looking at me funny, so I asked my friend what was going on. She waited until we got out to our cars to tell me that I had a momentary lapse in sanity. (or is it insanity?) Needless to say, horror is not my favorite genre. I’m way too visual and imaginative to enjoy that.

But there’s an interesting thread going on over at the Christian Filmmaker forum (if you’re not a member and you’re a filmmaker, you should join it!) started by Tom Swift of Awaken Pictures. His question: Can the horror genre be redeemed? It’s a thought-provoking question.

Horror films are rather popular with some Christian filmmakers because it is a good way to ensure that yur film will enjoy international success. That’s the best-selling genre overseas, and you often don’t have to have big name talent for it to be picked up for distribution.

But Tom’s question speaks to the spiritual: is there a place for the horror genre within Christian filmmaking? Or is it trying to Christian-ize something that is inherently wrong and evil?

Obviously, I’m not a fan of horror, but I believe there is a place for it. I’ve spent quite a bit of time as a mirrionary in third-world countries, and I have seen for myself the spiritual warfare that exists because people have opened their hearts to spiritual darkness, and that’s where I believe horror originates. From original sin.

That said, is there value in horror? Well, God is our Redeemer. If he can redeem me, he can redeem horror. Many of the people I encountered overseas who were dabbling in things of spiritual darkness felt trapped; didn’t know there was any way out. They didn’t know about Jesus.

If our films can shed light in the darkness that is horror, I say “Go for it!” Show the world that Christ triumphs over darkness, that Satan does not have ultimate control, and that the worst of sinners can be saved. Make it organic to the story, and don’t make it corny or cheesy, and I’ll be there to support you!

I might have my hands covering my face the whole time, but I’ll watch it, because I love it when the light overcomes darkness, and I love the God who redeems us.