Supernatural and Satanic Horror

Sticking on the topic of religion and horror films, I wonder if non-believers can experience certain horror sub-genres (satanic horror or supernatural horror, vampire or werewolf narratives, for example) in the same way as people of faith.

What would a film such as The Exorcist mean to someone that doesn't believe in God? Sure, the imagery is graphic and the devil is by nature amoral, but with a non-belief in a higher power, in this case the Christian God, the horror in the movie seems absent. It amounts to a parody of sorts against the religious fanatics.

What about The Evil Dead? A lack of spirituality in the viewer, or a complete skepticism for the paranormal or superstition, renders the film a comedic splatter fest. I personally laughed through my first time viewing of The Evil Dead. I believe my disbelief in the supernatural made this possible.

A contradiction to my cinematic testimony is The Blair Witch Project. I don't believe in witches or curses, but I felt really uneasy during this movie, marking the first time a movie made me shiver (or the hairs on the back of my neck stand up). I was nervous for the student filmmakers, terrified as they fell deep into the abyss of the woods. Maybe this belief I talk about is actually irrelevant in horror cinematic discourse.

Perhaps rationality cannot conquer effective horror films that deal with supernatural or satanic themes. This is an important trait in these films, because even though the audience's common sense would preach not to be afraid, the brain is no match for certain cinematic techniques.

There is an interesting distinction between these types of horror films and the slasher or serial killer movies. The latter sub-genres, especially the serial killer pictures, are vastly more plausible to non-believers than a films such as The Exorcist. However, overall, I think the success of supernatural or satanic films, in the past and in contemporary times, tells film scholars something interesting about our culture's lingering interests in "other-worldly" experiences, rather than in scientific reason, championed in current times by Richard Dawkins.

Religion and horror films are clearly intertwined, making it fascinating to ponder how supernatural films of the past would be viewed in a predominantly atheist culture.
Posted by Panic Picture at 5/19/2010 4:47 PM
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: The Exorcist The Blair Witch Project Richard Dawkins The Evil Dead
 

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