In Focus - Should We Fear Horror? ( March 2026 )

Title:

Should We Fear Horror?

A Closer Look at the Mainstreaming of Horror

Intro

Should we as Christians consume horror entertainment? Shelton Pinheiro lays it out for us. 

Highlight

The line between understanding what is real and ‘construct’ is fast disappearing. With generative AI and immersive graphics at play, the ability, time or reason to distinguish is slowly deteriorating. With fake mysterious worlds playing around, how does one surprise or instil a sense of wonder once they are grown up? Is it even surprising that a set of cynical, sarcastic, ‘seen it all’ people are growing in number?

Article

Having been brought up in a middle class family in the 80s, barely any exposure or understanding of what was happening around the world, my teen encounters with horror and mystery happened mostly through clandestinely read books – often picked up from friends or the nether regions of libraries, surreptitiously smuggled home to be read secretly. Looking back, I mostly began with Gothic horror, which also had a literary element to its writing – with stories like Fall of the House of Usher by Poe – and quickly descended into a miasma of trashy writers and kitschy horror novels. At one point in college, I got involved with the Jesus Youth movement and among other things, gradually lost interest in horror and moved past the phase. Yet, I remember the time and the febrile excitement that horror triggered, while exorcists, vampires and zombies swirled around my mind.

Forays into Fear

For teenagers at the threshold of growing up, all flush with adrenaline, their forays into fear are about testing their limits and checking out the intriguing world of grownups. On another level, according to psychologists, it allows people to explore the excitement of vicariously encountering fear of death, fear of injury and fear of the unknown in a controlled way and within a ‘protective frame’ by which we are aware that the scenario is an 'act’ and that we are ‘detached’ from the situation. 

According to Associate Prof. Haiyang Yang, John Hopkins Research University, ‘Our sense of control can serve as a form of psychological protective frame, a prerequisite to experiencing pleasure from horror consumption.’ 

In recent times, the arrival of new visual technology, devices and platforms have led to almost lifelike recreations of fearful scenarios, all in the control and comfort of one’s room. From very primitive horror flicks a few decades ago, this sudden mushrooming of options is leading us and our young ones down a very addictive and dangerous slope.

Perhaps mystery and fear had a legitimate role in shaping our growth during adolescence and teenage years. For some, these narratives even opened up a symbolic way to confront their deeper fears around mortality and the meaning of existence, and for others it might have been cathartic.

But today, there is a need to be more alert. The line between understanding what is real and ‘construct’ is fast disappearing. With generative AI and immersive graphics at play, the ability, time or reason to distinguish is slowly deteriorating. With fake mysterious worlds playing around, how does one surprise or instil a sense of wonder once they are grown up? Is it even surprising that a set of cynical, sarcastic, ‘seen it all’ people are growing in number?

Besides, the clear loss of a religious underpinning to mystery turns most awe-inducing experiences or imagery (horror, violence and gore included) into a congregational experience – in short, a pseudo religion. Most of the popular horror narratives today are not standalone projects but million dollar franchises and cinematic universes designed to attract followers for life. These grow and intersect with each other. They prolifically spawn spin offs, merchandises, crossovers drawing literally ‘religious’ fans from around the world. The followers choose their kind of ‘world’ and faithfully perform a set of intricate and meticulous rituals that differentiate them from the ‘believers’ of other franchises. They congregate in social media platforms and chat rooms, inspired by the high priests of horror.

Moreover, indications of the impact of watching horror shows and movies on physical and emotional health are also fast emerging. Exposure to intense horror imagery, whether in movies, shows, games or books has resulted in sleep disorders and nightmares. Content that arouses fear has seen to be carried over to dream content and sleep quality. In fact, 60% of male and 44% of female teen viewers reported nightmares after watching horror films. 1 in 4 still experienced long term effects (nightmares, disturbances, obsessive thoughts) years later.

Sources: Klarity Health Overview, Humanity Publications, Harrison & Cantor (University of Wisconsin)

The Mainstreaming of Horror and Gore

These days, when teenagers talk about their horror viewing habits, I notice a difference – there is nothing furtive about horror anymore. Unlike earlier generations, they are animated, excited and eager to talk about it. Witchcraft and the black arts have moved into the realm of something as legitimate and normal as sport. Even the younger ones who are not up to viewing such horror shows, still  claim to have watched these shows, because of the ‘cool’ factor among their peers. Horror has moved from niche to mainstream, from exclusive cult to blockbuster cool.

In a sense, this rise is also linked to the spirit of our times. Experts say the rise of horror as a prominent theme of our times is often linked to the upheavals, and societal unrest. This generation has experienced distress linked to the pandemic, political volatility, climate disturbances, armed conflicts and uprisings. Horror, thus could be an outlet or a mirror for their lived experience. 

More importantly, as always, big business is playing a significant role behind this cultural shift. The recent explosion of the Stranger Things in conversations, reels, memes and trends was quite smartly engineered. Though it had elements of fear and darkness, it was also cleverly layered with ideas of friendship, loyalty, identity, self-discovery, adventure and risk, all very relevant for younger audiences. 

And not for no reason. The show has, according to recent estimates, already reeled in around $1 billion in global streaming revenues for Netflix and has attracted 2 million new subscribers to the platform over the life of the series. Last year the horror flick Conjuring (Last Rites) alone grossed $494.7 million globally. Even in a market like India, the movie opened to ₹180 million on its first day and went on to close at ₹740 million in revenues, revealing the global hunger for horror. All put together, horror as a genre grossed over 1 billion by September 2025 – clearly signalling that it has entered the commercial, blockbuster segment. 

Shining the Light of Christ

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27).

These words of Jesus do not come from a simplistic negation of fear, but from a clear assurance of the presence of Jesus in the midst of darkness. So the ultimate answer to the questions that the popularity of horror raises is ultimately an encounter with God. 

As teenagers seek answers to fear of death, darkness, rejection and meaninglessness in the rising tide of horror, these narratives offer symbolic answers. The horror stories do so by trying to erase God from the human experience or by distorting the true picture of God, adding elements of rebelliousness and corruption into divine imagery.

Subversion and corruption of positive or Christian imagery is at the heart of most horror franchises. Since the early age of horror movies, the profaning of sacred imagery – crosses, cathedrals, vestments, chalices, priests and religious – has been a device through which shock and awe were evoked. This is still the cheapest trick in the book for horror script writers. As of now, horror franchises have set their eyes on corrupting some of the most beautiful human expressions. Two recent franchises, Smile and Pluribus have subverted the idea of a smile, which is the expression of a genuine, loving human connection. In both these narratives the smile is shown as a sign of mindless evil or that of an infectious societal malaise. 

Making A Move

As Christians, as parents, those working with youth or even as people attracted to the dynamics of the horror series or movies playing around us, we are not called to just sit on it, but to act on it.

1. Understand

It takes the empathy of Christ to understand that there are deeper factors that draw people into these worlds. Understanding in this case, also means looking at the rise of horror from our faith perspective and having observers who draw out the nuances and implications of the damage of horror and gore. So we need even more articles, podcasts and YouTube videos that deal with the issue. Above all, understanding means praying with likeminded people and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in responding to the dark narratives of our times. 

2. Converse

When young people are into horror and gore, it is important to open up genuine conversations with them. We must approach them with the knowledge that they are trying to seek meaning and understand death and evil. Usually, if approached genuinely and without condemnation, young people are ready and sometimes even excited to tell us about the details and nuances of the franchises they follow. We need to create safe spaces where young people who are deeply into such shows can question, share, talk and be listened to. 

3. Engage

Horror franchises and movies thrive through communities. And usually friends are one of the important factors in influencing young people to watch a particular horror flick. This calls for positive Christian communities that are cool, yet involved in media, theatre and games that are faith-based. We need to see the rise of faith centric sports, media and creative storytelling forums – both physical and online. 

4. Guard 

Above all else guard your heart, as everything you do flow from it (Proverbs 4:23). As people immersed in a culture at odds with our faith, living in a post-Christian age, it is important to guard ourselves, our families and friends from the dark influences of horror, violence and gore. We are called to constantly examine what we and our loved ones see and imbibe.

5. Create 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:18). Today, we are also called to think about these things from the perspective of Scripture and create stories that go against the grain, change the game and flip the algorithm.