Why are horror movies frowned upon?

[joshkt79]

Everytime I read a thread about horror movies, it seems like the majority of members here are against them. I, for one, love horror movies and have always loved them. Matter of fact, my grandfather was the one who introduced me to the genre and you couldn’t get much holier than him. I do admit, there are some out there that are kinda iffy(mostly underground, independent films) but for the most part, if it isn’t showing nudity every 10 seconds then I don’t see a problem with it.

 

[George_Stegmeir]

I currently am 76 years old. I was educated at a Jesuit run Parochial School in the 1940’s, the heyday of the Hollywood horror film when the Legion of Decency film rating for Catholics was in effect. They actually condemned many films, that today would not raise an eyebrow. At that time, at least in the Diocese of St. Augestine, Florida.our Bishop forbid Catholics under the pain of sin to see such movies. However, I know of no horror movie of that period that was condemned. Of course, many parents considered such movies as being trash and attending them to be a waste of money.
Unless something happened at Vatican II that I am unaware of, I don’t think there is anything wrong with viewing most movies of that genre.
I think your source is, at least a little over zealous and judgemental as to other peoples morality. This is a trait more common to American Protestant Puritans than it is to charitable Roman Catholics. .

 

[Corki]

In general, movies that glorify death or human suffering are frowned upon. But there’s nothing about the genre of horror movies that would make it unsuitable for Catholics in total.

 

[prodigalson2011]

I, myself, am a little torn on the issue.

To begin with, I love classic horror films: Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, etc. I like movies that deal in the supernatural and scary, but I draw the line at slashers and things like that.

I think, though I may be mistaken, that alot of this sentiment is directed towards those movies whose main draw is extreme amounts of gore and graphic violence (“Saw”, for instance). And I think the reason is that constant exposure to such things does tend to desensitize people to it, or make entertainment out of human suffering. I don’t know if you recall, but a few years back, a man was shot in the head in the middle of the street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, and numerous bystanders took out their phones, not to call the police, but to stream footage of it to their blogs and YouTube.

In my view, the best horror films show the least. Anyone can make an hour and a half of grotesque displays of murder and violence, but it takes a master to scare the pants off of you without a drop of blood.

 

[LegoGE1947]

In general, movies that glorify death or human suffering are frowned upon. But there’s nothing about the genre of horror movies that would make it unsuitable for Catholics in total.

Would anyone here consider “The Passion of the Christ” to be a horror movie of sorts? Since there are scenes especially after Judas sells Christ for 30 pcs of silver we see glimpses of evil spirits, the horror of Christ being beaten bloody, the scene where Judas hangs himself and there is a dead horse with flies swarming around it. Also where children are taunting Judas and the children turn in to monsters with only the whites of their eyes showing.

 

[LemonAndLime]

Slasher movies get a lot of bad publicity. A lot of high-profile murderers are quoted by the press as having been known by teachers/friends/family to have an obsession with graphic horror fillms. But are people who are already “evil” drawn to those films, or do they make people like that?

Personally, I love horror films but hate slashers. I find that if a horror film is age-rated “18” here in the UK, it is gonna contain a lot of what seems like pointless violence. Horror films which are restricted to a “15” age rating tend to have better plots which is what I go for.

 

[LegoGE1947]

Slasher movies get a lot of bad publicity. A lot of high-profile murderers are quoted by the press as having been known by teachers/friends/family to have an obsession with graphic horror fillms. But are people who are already “evil” drawn to those films, or do they make people like that?

Personally, I love horror films but hate slashers. I find that if a horror film is age-rated “18” here in the UK, it is gonna contain a lot of what seems like pointless violence. Horror films which are restricted to a “15” age rating tend to have better plots which is what I go for.

I don’t drink water because I’m thirsty. I drink water because I want to see if my neck leaks!

I am:crutchesdisabled veteran) and became in 2002!

 

[Qoeleth]

Peter Cushing, Vincent Price, Christopher Lee- Hammer Horror- surely the highest art form of the 20th Century- the Sophocles and Euripedes of our own times.

Horror films (especially supernatural, gothic horror) inspire in us a sense of the spiritual, a fear and awe of the transcendental, a sense of our earthly mortality, etc, etc.

You will notice in practically every horror film depicting the Church or priests- it is always Catholics!!! Because we have the mysteries, the Gothic atmospherics, the Latin, the secret Vatican archives, the exorcisms, etc. etc.

Do you know horror punk band the Misfits (their songs are all about classic horror movies)- they are devout Catholics (of course)!

 

[LegoGE1947]

Peter Cushing, Vincent Price, Christopher Lee- Hammer Horror- surely the highest art form of the 20th Century- the Sophocles and Euripedes of our own times.

Horror films (especially supernatural, gothic horror) inspire in us a sense of the spiritual, a fear and awe of the transcendental, a sense of our earthly mortality, etc, etc.

You will notice in practically every horror film depicting the Church or priests- it is always Catholics!!! Because we have the mysteries, the Gothic atmospherics, the Latin, the secret Vatican archives, the exorcisms, etc. etc.

Do you know horror punk band the Misfits (their songs are all about classic horror movies)- they are devout Catholics (of course)!

Never really thought about that!