I never liked horror movies. I don’t understand why anyone would willingly subject himself to fear, dread, and evil. Even so, many of the top movies in theaters are horror films. Why? Because horror taps into something deep within us—our anxieties about evil, suffering, and the unknown.
As Christians, we recognize these fears as reflections of deeper spiritual realities. At its best, horror exposes our culture’s struggle with the problem of evil, though its answers are often misguided, incomplete, or just plain wrong. So, why does horror appeal to so many?
Horror movies thrive on fear—fear of death, suffering, loss of control, and the unknown. Beneath these fears lies a deeper concern: evil itself. Classic horror films like Dracula (1931) and The Exorcist (1973) acknowledge evil’s supernatural nature. The Exorcist, flawed as it is, recognizes what many modern horror films deny—evil is not just psychological or societal, but spiritual.
Because horror reflects reality, it often serves as a mirror of the anxieties of contemporary culture, functioning as cultural parables revealing society’s greatest fears and exposing the confusion that results when people drift from a life grounded in the God who is “not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Cor. 14:33).
Horror evolves with cultural fears. The 1950s’ giant monster films (Godzilla, Them!) reflected anxieties about nuclear war. The ’70s and ’80s’ slasher films (Halloween, Friday the 13th) embodied fears of moral decay and helplessness. Modern psychological horror films (The Babadook, Hereditary) explore grief, trauma, and family breakdown—three current cultural anxieties.
I was in college when The Blair Witch Project (1999) took the nation by storm. Unlike traditional horror, Blair Witch thrived on ambiguity, mirroring late ’90s anxieties about media manipulation, technology, and the erosion of objective truth. Its terror—being lost, abandoned, and facing an unseen, malevolent force—echoed the spiritual lostness of a culture that rejects absolute truth and objective morality.
Surprisingly, the Bible and horror movies find common ground when it comes to evil since the entire biblical story is about evil and God’s solution to it. But while horror movies often depict evil as chaotic or unstoppable, the Bible presents evil within the framework of God’s sovereignty and Christ’s ultimate victory (Mark 5:1–20; Ex. 7–12; Rev. 9), acknowledging evil’s horror but providing a victorious counter-narrative.
Unlike biblical narratives, horror films rarely offer hope beyond survival. Films like The Mist (2007) and The Witch (2015) depict worlds where evil wins and despair is final. Many horror films either distort biblical truth (Psycho—evil as a psychological disorder, The Purge—evil as a social construct, It Follows—evil as an unstoppable cosmic force) or offer only temporary victories (The Conjuring series). Without a biblical framework, horror amplifies fear without offering redemption.
Even so, some horror films trade on biblical themes. A Quiet Place (2018) highlights love and self-sacrifice triumphing over fear. The Sixth Sense (1999) incorporates elements of horror, though it’s not strictly a horror film. It’s ultimately a story of healing and redemption through the revelation of truth. These films have redemptive qualities because they echo biblical principles—love casting out fear (1 John 4:18), light exposing darkness to bring understanding and renewal (Eph. 5:13), and good ultimately defeating evil (Rev. 21:4). The mirroring of biblical truth isn’t necessarily reason enough to watch a horror movie, though.
This prompts the question, should Christians watch horror movies? Well, in my opinion, that depends. Philippians 4:8 says Christians should dwell on what is honorable, right, and lovely. These aren’t exactly the words that come to mind when I think of horror movies. On the other hand, Scripture doesn’t shy away from evil, either, but faces it head-on. The question “Should Christians watch horror movies?” is the wrong question. Instead, ask things like: Does this story expose evil in a way that deepens our understanding of good? Does it glorify darkness or contrast it with light? Does it reinforce biblical truth or distort it?
There’s a difference between horror that provokes thought and horror that merely terrorizes. Nefarious (2023) engages with the reality of spiritual warfare and demons, prompting reflection on faith, truth, and the supernatural. In contrast, Saw (2004) glorifies gratuitous suffering, using graphic violence as spectacle rather than a means to explore deeper truths. The first challenges the viewer to consider the nature of evil and the power of faith, while the second desensitizes and degrades. For Christians, discernment is key. Ask whether a story confronts evil in a meaningful way or merely exploits fear for entertainment.
I still won’t watch most horror films. That said, I can recognize the redemptive qualities in some of them. Horror reminds us that we live in a fallen world where evil is real, suffering is inevitable, and fear is part of the human condition. It’s important for Christians to remember that we are not left in darkness. Unlike the bleak endings of many horror films, we know how the story ends: Evil is defeated, Christ slays the monsters, and fear is cast out forever (Rev. 22:5).