It was startling to learn that there were Christian horror movies. Although these movies may not fit into the family-friendly genre, you can determine whether your kids are ready after you’ve seen them.
The Bible forewarns us time and again that there is enormous and total evil and that our enemy is seeking to kill and harm us in every way he can. The Bible frequently uses unsettling imagery and statements to convey the existence of evil because these warnings are radical and harsh.
Naturally, this does not imply that Christians should like scary movies. However, a lot of people in our culture do consume this content, particularly in October before Halloween. The greatest story, the Gospel, is reflected in great stories, and horror stories are no exception. As followers of Jesus, we can use these videos as chances to lovingly engage in biblical truth without having to watch them.
1. Halloween (1976)
John Carpenter’s 1976 film Halloween is about Michael Myers, a man who breaks out of a mental hospital after being imprisoned for the childhood murder of his sister. The movie centers on the havoc he unleashes on the sleepy village and the attempts of his psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis, to stop him. Dr. Loomis frequently cautions others that Michael is more than just a man—rather, he is the epitome of pure evil, motivated by something sinister and unstoppable. His insistence that evil exists becomes a major motif in the film.
A biblical lesson about the existence of evil in the world can be learned from Halloween. The Bible portrays evil as a genuine entity that acts upon, within, and through humans, much like Dr. Loomis does with Michael. “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time,” according to Genesis 6:5 in the Bible, which explains the nature of human depravity. Scripture teaches us through this verse and others that wickedness is ingrained in human nature and causes death and ruin in the absence of God’s involvement.
The film is a sobering reminder of the existence of evil in a fallen world and the necessity of moral clarity and alertness in dealing with it. It demonstrates how evil may take many different shapes and frequently goes unrecognized until it manifests itself in harmful ways.
2. Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Wes Craven’s 1984 film Nightmare on Elm Street centers on Freddy Krueger, a vengeful demon that haunts teenagers in their dreams. This movie centers on Nancy Thompson and other teenagers as they attempt to learn more about Freddy’s troubled past and avoid being attacked by him. The mind is the source of Freddy’s power; although his attacks take place in dreams, they are lethal in the actual world. The film emphasizes how a mental struggle can impact life itself by obfuscating the distinction between the dream and actual worlds.
A potent biblical lesson regarding the role of the mind in spiritual battle is presented in the film. The Bible teaches that our ideas are a battlefield where spiritual forces compete for power, just as Freddy uses mental weakness and terror to subjugate and destroy his victims. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world,” according to 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. Instead, they possess the divine ability to destroy fortresses. Every reasoning and pretense that stands in the way of God’s understanding is destroyed, and every thinking is captured and made submissive to Christ.
The Bible consistently highlights the invisible, spiritual conflict that exists all around us, particularly in the mind, where unfavorable ideas, anxieties, and spiritual assaults can have disastrous results. Nightmare on Elm Street serves as an example of how crucial it is to protect our minds and thoughts since they have the potential to be both powerful and destructive. Capturing and changing the mind is the first step toward success in the spiritual world.
3. Frankenstein (1931)
Based on Mary Shelley’s novel, the 1931 film Frankenstein narrates the tale of Dr. Henry Frankenstein, a scientist who develops an obsession with creating life. Frankenstein attempts to create life from the dead by assembling a creature and bringing it to life through a risky experiment using body parts from several corpses. Despite being physically alive, the creature is unable to comprehend or regulate its emotions, which results in chaos, devastation, and death. This is one of the movies that examines the perils of humanity attempting to “play God” by interfering with life and death and going beyond natural bounds.
Particularly when it comes to questions of life and creation, humanity should not take on the role of God. Dr. Frankenstein’s arrogant endeavor to surpass human limitations is reflected in his desire to dominate life, which ultimately has sad outcomes, most notably the death of the woman he loves. Proverbs 16:18, which states, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall,” is a warning from the Bible against this type of hubris. Because he cannot control the creature he created—a form of life whose genesis was death—Dr. Frankenstein’s pride in his power to create life ultimately leads to his destruction. The result was death.
Scripture teaches that only God has the knowledge, strength, and power to give and take life, just as Frankenstein’s experiment goes awry (Job 12:10). Frankenstein is a warning story that reminds us that when people try to play God, the results are frequently terrible and can lead to both moral and personal destruction.
4. Dracula (1931)
Based on Bram Stoker’s novel, the 1931 film Dracula narrates the tale of Count Dracula, a vampire who journeys from Transylvania to London in search of fresh victims. Under a dashing and attractive façade, Dracula conceals his actual identity as a charming and sophisticated nobleman. He feeds on the blood of the living, transforming his victims into undead beings like himself, yet beyond his grace and charm is a sinister evil. As Dracula manipulates and seduces his victims with his charm and good looks, the film emphasizes the illusion of appearances.
Evil can appear in ways that seem pleasant, which makes it easier to succumb to temptation rather than constantly taking the form of something hideous or frightening. In 2 Corinthians 11:14, the Bible discusses this fact: “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” This lyric cautions that, like Dracula, who seems endearing but has deadly intents, evil can pass for nice.
Christians are reminded by Dracula to use caution and discernment since not everything that appears to be wonderful is actually good. Spiritual evil can utilize deceit to entice people away from truth and justice, much like Dracula uses his looks to entice and destroy. The way Dracula is portrayed in the movie emphasizes the value of seeing past outward manifestations and comprehending the biblical definitions of good and evil.
5. Needful Things (1993)
Based on Stephen King’s book, Needful Things (1993) is about a mystery shopkeeper named Leland Gaunt who establishes a store called “Needful Things” in the little hamlet of Castle Rock. Though each thing has a hidden cost, Gaunt sells people their deepest wants. Townspeople’s lives become chaotic as they purchase things they think will satisfy their deepest desires. The seemingly innocuous items feed on people’s self-centered wants, causing jealousy, aggression, and ultimately devastation. The inhabitants are manipulated by Gaunt, a person who resembles the devil, who demonstrates how their wants might be perverted into something harmful.
The book Needful Things warns of the perils of self-centered wants and how they might result in ruin. “But each person is tempted when they are drawn away by their own evil desire and enticed,” James 1:14–15 states. Following conception, desire gives birth to sin, which, when fully developed, gives birth to death. The film shows how our own ambitions, when pursued selfishly and without knowledge, can harm ourselves and others by showing how the townspeople’s unbridled impulses lead them to destruction.
This is one of the movies that serves as a reminder that our desires aren’t always beneficial. As the Bible cautions, we are led down a path of ruin when we allow our selfish wants to guide our actions. God urges us to be satisfied and seek his will rather than letting our own ambitions and material possessions consume us.
