My conservative Protestant upbringing limited me to a narrow range of 1970s shows like The Muppet Show and CHiPs. But one day, standing at my friend Robbie's house, I was introduced to a whole new viewing experience. The jagged announcer's voice on "The Saturday Shocker on WKBD Detroit!" left a lasting impression. Though I can't recall many plot points, it sparked many questions. Why did those kids feel the walls for a light switch? Why didn't they run from the slow-moving ghosts? And when a man peeled a gooey mask from a dead woman's face, was she really dead?

Uncover the Deeper Meaning of Horror in a Christian Context

Horror's Broader Role in Movies

I once thought horror played a smaller role in movies. I know people who love fright flicks, but most in my circles are wary. Maybe it's because we tend to reduce horror to just slasher films. But Josh Larsen's book shows a different side. His eleven central chapters cover a wide range of horror categories and connect each to a human fear, from "Monster Movies: Fear of Our Own Capacity for Sin" to "Sex and Death: Fear of Sexuality" and more. His discussions of zombie, creature, and ghost stories, as well as "prophetic horror," made me realize I've seen a lot of scary movies over the years.

For example, in his discussion of The Babadook, he not only explores a character's performance but also the production design. The older shabby home with shades of gray, blue, and black creates a certain atmosphere. Such close readings of horror elements make the genre more watchable even for the timid.

Larsen also helps us understand the production elements in movies like The Sixth Sense, Nope, and Jaws. His assumption that "method is as much a part of the artform as meaning" leads to a close critical eye for lighting, composition, transitions, writing, and performance. This attention makes the genre more accessible and enjoyable.

Horror's Invitation to Wisdom

Larsen's writing seeks resonance at the limits of human knowing. He examines how fright films resonate with our broken experience in artistically true ways and hints at God's redemptive promise. As Andrew Chignell and Matthew Halteman describe, horror films take us from "bedazzlement, terror, and transfixedness" to a place where our concepts and language are transcended.

For instance, in horror movies, there is humility. And in our humility, the good news of the gospel offers true comfort. It comes from outside ourselves, despite our struggles.

Larsen's choice of subtitle, "A Christian Appreciation of Horror," is wise. He connects horror to scriptures like in Unfriended where the ghost's response contrasts with Paul's love in Romans 3:24. His discussions of movies like Poltergeist and Us show their social and ideological implications.

Engaging with Fear in Churchly Communities

In predominantly white institutions, people of faith often struggle to talk about systemic problems due to feelings of guilt, shame, and sadness. Larsen's film criticism offers essential emotional wisdom for engaging our terrors and hopes.

It's easier to sidestep fear, but Larsen shows us that facing it can lead to growth and understanding. His smart, funny, and pointed analysis helps us deal with our emotions and engage with the world more deeply.