Are Horror Movies Okay for Christians to Watch?

I have seen all three of the "Predator" movies and plan to see the new one. I didn't know what the first one was about but just went because it had Arnold Schwarzenegger in it. I found it to be very scary but I eventually got over it.

 

You'll hear all kinds of opinions. I don't watch them because I don't like to be scared. My wife loves them. So we watch them. :laugh:

 

:wavey: I think it depends on you, who you're with, etc. I love horror movies, and I will never stop watching them unless Jesus comes and tells me face to face not to watch anymore. :laugh: I have been watching horror movies since I was a very young child, we're talking my dad had me hooked on the Nightmare on Elm Street movies when I was like three. It was something we did together, watching horror movies. Granted he wasn't, and isn't saved, but that was something special that we did. Now, I just hope at least one of my kids will like watching horror movies with me 'cause hubby gets scared and runs away! :laugh: We both believe that there are demons out there, and because of that, he does not like horror movies because he fears that some elements of them could actually be true. He is usually a good sport about watching them at least once with me, though.

Now, if you're someone who can't separate fantasy from reality, you probably shouldn't watch horror movies; then again, you probably shouldn't watch sci-fi either. And you shouldn't watch romance because maybe you'll think a guy will really treat you like that (yeah right), and then you'll be mad when he doesn't. So, maybe you best just throw out your TV altogether and read a good book instead.

Then again, books have the same issue of reality vs. fantasy... :tonofbricks:

 

This is a question I have wondered often, myself. I've often thought Christians should be able to write the best horror, and many horror movies use a form of Christianity as a backdrop (the Exorcist and the Omen are two famous examples). On the Net, you can find some articles by and about horror movie-makers and writers that happen to be Christians to get their perspectives.

I think part of it comes down to world view. I used to read a lot of fantasy literature and much of it contained pagan elements or a presentation of magic that would bother me. Then when the Lord of the Rings movies came out, so many Christians were all for them, even though they present a positive use of necromancy and feature a wizard using "white" magic. Most said they approved of LoTR because they have a "Christian world view." I think the same reasoning can be used for horror, or thrillers. Movies like "Signs" have a strong discussion of Christianity and a very positive ending while giving you the thrills and chills. But when an author glories in violence or immorality or portrays a world in which God doesn't exist and anything goes, I stay away. We discusses "I Am Legend" a bit in another thread. It is horror, or close to it, and yet has a few Christian themes and discussions.

Personally, I try to avoid extreme gore, like slasher films. But if a movie has a strong sense of right and wrong, and does not portray God as helpless or non-existent, I feel much better about it. What I'm drawn to is the suspense and the fight for survival, and often times only horror or thrillers give that. Nevertheless, I was bought at a price, I am not my own. Some movies I just don't feel good about, and I refuse to see, or regret seeing. I try to seek the will of the Holy Spirit in these occasions.

I believe everything we watch or read has an impact on us, on our minds and our spirits, so we should be careful what we allow in. Garbage-in, garbage-out, as the saying goes. I wouldn't recommend sitting down for a random cable tv horror schlock fest, but I do think that well-made, responsible thrillers can easily step into the horror category and still be worth seeing. "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" was very close to being a real Christian horror movie, and the only part I recall that annoyed me was the hard Catholic angle at the end.

Ted Dekker is becoming known even in secular markets for his horror novels. Generally, he is light on gore (but there is some), but still has shock value and in a Christian setting (though not overtly Christian, most times).

I'd love to see others reasoned thoughts on this issue.

 

My wife and i have a rule of not watching any "R" rated movies, something we started when we first got married. Of course, we have made a few exceptions for this on occassion (The Green Mile comes to mind); but have stayed pretty consistent on it. As for horror movies generally being rated R, that keeps me from watching them.
As a kid i loved them personally, my wife doesn't care for them...and it really hasn't bothered me much to not watch them.

 

I like the Predator movies, too, and I'm trying to decide if I want to seed the most recent one.

The alien/monster vs man theme is a lot easier for me to accept. I have no qualms with a man fighting violently against a monster. Slasher movies bother me more; I don't like to see people murdered for entertainment, and with an excess of gore. Spiritual horror movies, I feel, have a lot of potential, but they seem to invariably have some strong Catholic or New Age element I don't agree with.

Some historical movies can seem like horror. I cried like a baby through Schindler's List.

 

I don't care to watch them because I don't like to be scared either. I have sat through a few, and thought they were predictable and stupid.

 

==I watch plenty of horror movies and shows. I don't watch the slasher movies or satanic movies, but I do love a good ghost story. Personally I see nothing wrong with it as long as (a) one does not take it seriously and (b) one does not get theologically confused. Romans 14 is a good chapter for this issue.

Just this afternoon I watched "The Forgotten" on dvd. It was great. I also enjoy the Discovery Channel series called "A Haunting". Generally those episodes are really scary though a few of them are sort of stupid. I also love the "Poltergiest" movies, but I can't watch part two at night.

 

Martin, one of the best ghost stories I have seen in several years was "The Others."

 

Wonderful movie, :thumbs:

 

Two :thumbs: :thumbs:

 

I like some horror movies, I will not watch Nightmare on Elm st, or Friday the 13th type movies, I will not watch a horror movie that depicts humans committing horrors on humans (slasher movies). I do however like the Alien movies, Predator type movies, I also like the Ring, the Omen, the Others. I'll try anything space, ghost, alien, or monster, unless it's overly bloody(human blood). I do not watch human mutilation (where it is actually shown to you, not left to the imagination, as if I want to imagine it).

 

I really try to think about if I would invite Jesus to see whatever type of movie or tv series I may watch. That pretty much decides the issue for me. Not trying to be a spoil sport... and I don't want to judge anyone either. This is just pretty much my litmus test. I'll be the first to admit that not all that I watch would be something I'd invite my Savior to see. Usually when it gets that bad, I'll go read the BB or go watch the discover channel....... etc. There are many things on discover that I know my Lord thinks is funny. Like many of the so called scholars who say things like... "we know that the virgin birth could not have happened." :laugh:

 

I don't watch them... we watch them together.

Ya may want to change that to I don't watch them alone.:wavey:

 

Sure, if it isn't a point of struggle for you.

I don't watch them for two reasons a) I'm a wimp and don't like to be frightened, b) the occultic/Satanic stuff is a particular area of trouble for me and can discourage me. But I don't prohibit others from watching them.

Some have deeply spiritual meanings.

 

Finally, brethren . . . whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

 

I don't watch much T.V. (Well, O.K., The Simpson's and the Dallas Cowboys.) So I have over 500 DVDs of what I do like to watch. Aside from my John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, western movie collection, the biggest is my horror collection. I have all the B&W originals; Wolfman (both Chaneys), the Mummy (Karloff), Dracula (Lagosi), Frankenstein (Karloff again), as well as some of the old Hammer films with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. More modern movies round out the collection. My favorites today are the zombie movies. Braaaiiiinnnnssssz.

Do they bother me as a Christian? No. They are just stories, just like my John Wayne, 007, Mr. Bean, etc. To me they are just another type of made up story.
When I want true stories, I read the Bible.

 

Thanks sfiC! I was confused for a moment!

She doesn't like Sci-fi/Fantasy (Star Wars, Trek, Lost) and I do... she tolerates those things with me, so I can tolerate the other stuff.