Violent Horror Films

[PeteZaHut]

I am reading a book about exorcism by Fr. Gabriele Amorth. It goes through the different ways that one can be at risk of demonic influence. One category is “proximity to evil places or persons.” This includes things like belonging to a satanic sect. Then, it says, “To this category, we can add the influence of mass media, such as pornographic shows and violent horror movies.”

Pornography makes sense to me, but what’s wrong with horror films?

 

[The_Scott]

I am reading a book about exorcism by Fr. Gabriele Amorth. It goes through the different ways that one can be at risk of demonic influence. One category is “proximity to evil places or persons.” This includes things like belonging to a satanic sect. Then, it says, “To this category, we can add the influence of mass media, such as pornographic shows and violent horror movies.”

Pornography makes sense to me, but what’s wrong with horror films?

Some horror movies are made purely for violence’s sake. This is what is called “torture porn,” because it focuses on blood and guts with no moral purpose. Take, for example, the Halloween series.

 

[thistle]

I am reading a book about exorcism by Fr. Gabriele Amorth. It goes through the different ways that one can be at risk of demonic influence. One category is “proximity to evil places or persons.” This includes things like belonging to a satanic sect. Then, it says, “To this category, we can add the influence of mass media, such as pornographic shows and violent horror movies.”

Pornography makes sense to me, but what’s wrong with horror films?

We are forbidden to watch pornographic movies but we may watch anything else including horror movies.
The other poster is trying to categorize such movies as porn but that is nonsense. The Church does not forbid us to watch violent horror movies.

 

[Matrix_Refugee]

We are forbidden to watch pornographic movies but we may watch anything else including horror movies.
The other poster is trying to categorize such movies as porn but that is nonsense. The Church does not forbid us to watch violent horror movies.

It also depends on the horror movie: some are very subtle and rely more on atmosphere than on gore (ie. “The Ring” and most Japanese horror movies or movies inspired by them). I watched the first SAW movie and was delighted by the solid if twisty moral core at the center of it. I wouldn’t touch, say, the “Hostel” movies, since those are just too much.

 

[puzzleannie]

I
Pornography makes sense to me, but what’s wrong with horror films?

you left out an adjective, violent, as in snuff films, or film where the violence is the only purpose and is done solely to excite evil passions.

 

[Contarini]

It also depends on the horror movie: some are very subtle and rely more on atmosphere than on gore (ie. “The Ring” and most Japanese horror movies or movies inspired by them). I watched the first SAW movie and was delighted by the solid if twisty moral core at the center of it. I wouldn’t touch, say, the “Hostel” movies, since those are just too much.

Actually, “The Ring” (the American version) is the only movie I’ve seen after which I really felt as if I had been participating in Satan worship.

Not that I would justify gory horror movies either. (I certainly think that given what I have heard about them it would be a sin for me to watch the “Hostel” movies.)

Certainly some horror movies are morally justifiable. I don’t think there are easy moral lines to be drawn.

Another movie that I felt glorified violence in an evil way was 300. I suppose the anti-religious tone and the demonization (literally) of the Persians (who as big world-conquering empires go were a relatively decent lot) didn’t sit well with me and this intensified my reaction.

Edwin

 

[LPS]

I think we should all spend more time considering what images we want to expose ourselves to. TV shows like Dexter and Breaking Bad feature “heros” who rationalize immoral and violent behavior.

Psalm 101
3 I will set before my eyes
no vile thing.
The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me.

4 Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil.
When we watch “entertainment” about evil, are we supporting it? Creating a market for it? If it doesn’t “affect” you or me, does it affect someone else who is watching?

Just some things to ponder

 

[SurlyMermaid]

I find the older I get and the “religious” I get, the less I can tolerate violence in films.

I am a great fan of the horror genre. I simply have to keep it to more… subtle and older horror these days!

 

[Della]

I love the old horror films such as “Nosferatu” or the original “Mummy” and "Frankenstein"with Boris Karloff and “Dracula” with Bela Lugosi–now those were scary in the best sense of the word. Also, “Psycho” and “The Birds” and the original “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. These modern films are all blood, gore, sex, and cheap thrills. There’s no redeeming value in them. “Van Helsing” was an homage to the older films that is better than the critics said when it came out.

 

[SurlyMermaid]

Della,

Agreed.

I did hate Van Helsing when it came out though. Time for a re-visit!!!

 

[anp1215]

I love the old horror films such as “Nosferatu” or the original “Mummy” and "Frankenstein"with Boris Karloff and “Dracula” with Bela Lugosi–now those were scary in the best sense of the word. Also, “Psycho” and “The Birds” and the original “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. These modern films are all blood, gore, sex, and cheap thrills. There’s no redeeming value in them. “Van Helsing” was an homage to the older films that is better than the critics said when it came out.

A good, scary horror movie that doesn’t just cop out to using tons of blood, guts, and sex is tough to find these days. It’s like the filmmakers are too lazy to actually create a scary plot, so they just throw a ton of blood and sex in there. “Oh hey, that’s pretty scary.” No, it’s not. It’s just gross. Over the top gore does not scare me, it just makes me sick to my stomach. Also, I think they have too much money. Money can’t buy creativity, but it can buy lots of fake blood. The last modern movie that I actually enjoyed and that scared me was Paranormal Activity, because it didn’t have a ton of gore (couldn’t afford it) but relied on creepy (cheap) effects. That sheet blowing over the couple while they slept and the door slamming are way scarier to me than someone getting their eyes gouged out or something.

 

[Faith1960]

you left out an adjective, violent, as in snuff films, or film where the violence is the only purpose and is done solely to excite evil passions.

Ewww. This should include books, too, Like Heart Shaped Box which contains a sexual scene occurring while a character was watching a snuff film. I stopped reading the filthy book.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Remember also to read Fr. Groeschel’s introduction to Fr. Amorth’s book. He says read it with prudence. I read Fr. Amorth’s book and found it very informative, but it seems at times he is quick to assume the worst. And the term “violent horror films” is not specific. Does it just mean slasher fests? Zombie movies? Resident Evil? The Sixth Sense?

The Passion of the Christ was very violent, not “horror” as a film genre, and certainly not against the Church. It depends on the presentation. The Catholic film group has a term called “morally offensive.” So I think if a film is in that category, probably steer clear. But use your own judgment as well as inform your conscience. If watching very violent films leads you to have inappropriate tendencies, then steer clear. Catholic film critics have obviously seen films that are “morally offensive” that are in the mainstream, but I don’t think it was sinful for them to do so.

Perhaps follow the Biblical principle of “if your eye causes you to sin” then see to it that your eye can’t. But if you can watch a horror film with prudence, then I think you’re ok.

Watching porn is particularly dangerous, especially for men, because the visual images of such things release particular chemicals in the body like dopamine or norepinephrine, and makes the viewer prone to addiction and sin.