Catholicism and classic horror movies

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If there are any fans here of classic horror movies (e.g., the Universal films of the 30s and 40s, the Hammer films of the 50s and 60s), have you ever noticed that when religion enters into the movie plot, it is always orthodox Catholicism, sometimes with sacramentals involved – crucifix, holy water, etc.? There was an assumption that the “Church” that sometimes is in the background was the Catholic Church, and it stood unequivocally on the side of good. How different from modern horror/slasher type movies!
 
Yeah, I mentioned something about this awhile ago on another thread but got shot in the foot because I didn’t mention any particular movie.
How about Salem’s Lot, circa the 1970’s.
Drac’s “in the house” and Ben, Mark and the teacher all want Sacrementals but being protestants, they don’t have any.
Notice how when there’s a crisis all the protestants run for a Crucifix, Holy Water, etc.
 
No, this is true. The old films always showed the power of the sacraments and sacramentals. I remember one old Hammer film in which a priest uses the Holy Eucharist against a vampire. (Don’t ask me which one, please…I’ve seen too many of them at Saturday matinees.)
 
The Eucharist was used against vampires in the original “Dracula” novel by Bram Stoker.

The newer films always try and make the vampires (or whatever the monster is) into misunderstood, tragic heroes now instead of evil incarnate. When the villain isn’t seen as truly being a force for evil, there’s not much need for a force for good.
 
Only one thing bothers me about these old movies use of sacramentals and even the Eucharist is that it sometimes seemed that they were used more as “the hair of the dog that bit me” than as signs by which to defeat evil, if you follow me. Like using white magic against black magic. And no, I can’t point to any one particular film–it’s just an impression some left with me.
 
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Socrates:
The Eucharist was used against vampires in the original “Dracula” novel by Bram Stoker.

The newer films always try and make the vampires (or whatever the monster is) into misunderstood, tragic heroes now instead of evil incarnate. When the villain isn’t seen as truly being a force for evil, there’s not much need for a force for good.
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What newer films are you speaking of?
 
Well, remember that vampire film with James Woods? I just saw it the other night…He is a vampire slayer working for the Vatican but the Cardinal turns out to be the bad guy willing to sell his soul to the devil for ‘immortality’…the use of all the Sacramentals did not work…in fact there is a line in the movie when Woods’ character says, “Crucifixes don’t work. That’s all in the movies”. Then the plot of the movie revolves around the Master Vampire going for a type of cross from the Middle Ages that apparently was instrumental in turning him INTO a vampire in the first place.

The only redeeming guesture towards a Sacramental in the movie was at the end when the priest with Woods’ character pulls a Rosary from his pocket and says something to the effect of “God was always with us”.

All in all, a very different take on vampires and how to combat them from that expressed in the films from the 30’s, 40’s or 50’s and 60’s.
 
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mbryanbook:
If there are any fans here of classic horror movies (e.g., the Universal films of the 30s and 40s, the Hammer films of the 50s and 60s), have you ever noticed that when religion enters into the movie plot, it is always orthodox Catholicism, sometimes with sacramentals involved – crucifix, holy water, etc.? There was an assumption that the “Church” that sometimes is in the background was the Catholic Church, and it stood unequivocally on the side of good. How different from modern horror/slasher type movies!
Click to expand...
I’ve seen a fair number of old horror movies and i had never realized that until you pointed it out. Very cool observation 👍 You’re much more perceptive than I am
 
Soemone even wrote a bloody whole book about it!

Decentfilms.com did a article about it, mentionign when Cushing kills a bad guy with a cross in one of the films.
 
Coppola’s Dracula makes a lot of use of sacramentals. At one point Mina gets a burn on her forehead from a consecrated eucharistic wafer…Try to tell her that wasn’t really the Body of Christ.
Interview with a Vampire is different though. Louis states " I quite like crucifixes".
And in Salem’s Lot the vampire is not put off by the crucifix held in the priest’s hand at all.
However, I do believe that in The Lost Boys holy water is used by the"vampire slayers" Corey Haim and Corey Feldman.
I guess some contemporary vampires are immune to God??? And others are not.
 
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slyboots:
Coppola’s Dracula makes a lot of use of sacramentals. At one point Mina gets a burn on her forehead from a consecrated eucharistic wafer…Try to tell her that wasn’t really the Body of Christ.
Click to expand...
That’s right out of Stocker’s book. I was really surprised when theyincluded it in the film!

Gray Mouser
 
Not a “classic” horror movie, but I always get a kick out of a scene from the unfortunate Roman Polanski’s The Fearless Vampire Killers, wherein a Jewish man has been bitten and turned into a vampire, who then goes to attack a young woman. As she brandishes the classic crucifix, he just keeps coming and chuckles:
"Oy! Have you got the wrong vampire…"

😛
tee
 
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