“I love the truth I find in dark films.”
In a 2003 speech titled “A Filmmaker’s Progress,” Sinister and Doctor Strange filmmaker Scott Derrickson, a Christian, made this statement in reference to spiritual and moral themes in his work. It’s an interesting idea to consider, not only because tales of terror get more popular this time of year, but also because Derrickson does most of his work in horror, a genre that doesn’t often get positive associations with faith.
Horror is typically considered exploitative, good for nothing more than the basest forms of gratuitousness that cinema can offer. But in fact horror is a smarter, more diverse genre than it’s given credit for. It is one of the best cinematic vehicles for social commentary. The best horror films remind us that evil exists and that none of us are exempt from it. They ask us to question our feelings of complacency and security and engage with uncertainty. They are, as Derrickson puts it, about truth in the dark.
Filmmakers’ use of visceral thrills as an accessible conduit for complicated, taboo issues goes all the way back to horror’s early roots in gothic literature. Think of Frankenstein’s consideration of responsibility in the face of progress or Jane Eyre’s practical, empowered heroine.
For a modern cinematic example, Jennifer Kent’s film The Babadook is about a woman struggling with single motherhood, wrapped in psychological terror akin to The Shining. This is both an honest emotional expression of its main character’s psyche and an entertaining way for wider audiences to dig into its feminist central themes.
The same is also true for messaging around civil rights and racial injustice. As writer Tananarive Due says in the documentary Horror Noire, “black history is black horror.” Black-produced horror films such as Ganja & Hess, Tales from the Hood, and Get Out speak to issues of addiction, police brutality, and institutional racism, providing their own version of truth in the dark.
Horror also addresses the spiritual. Darren Aronofsky’s fascinating, controversial religious allegory mother! managed to cram commentary on the entire Bible and modern religion into a two-hour movie. Horror’s preoccupation with mortality—addressed in films such as David Robert Mitchell’s It Follows and Ari Aster’s Midsommar —provide entry to discussions about the soul, the afterlife, and how we engage with our temporary physical forms.
Proverbs 18:15 tells us “an intelligent mind acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” We gain spiritual wisdom by engaging with difficult subject matter that challenges our beliefs from a hopeful, kingdom-minded perspective. Horror allows us to become more critical, discerning viewers and to question our cultural certainties. It asks: Does our truth hold up to the dark?
Abby Olcese is a freelance film critic and writer based in Missouri. You can find her on Twitter @abbyolcese.
Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!
