The Power of Ghost Stories

"The power of Christ compels you!"

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of being a judge for a screenwriting challenge held by a group called NYC Midnight. They host a number of different writing challenges that vary from poetry and prose to screenwriting and beyond. While I’ve never entered myself, it’s been fun to be on the opposite end of a screenwriting competition for a change.

This season, I was asked to return to judge and was given the “Ghost Stories” category. While I’m not yet through my 20 submissions (though I’m nearly finished), they’ve been a joy to read. It’s been fun discovering new ideas, vantage points, and concepts from unknown writers who are also (like myself) working to generate new material. Likewise, it’s a joy to give constructive feedback that will hopefully make them better writers.¹

Some of the stories have been exceptional, with ideas that I would’ve never thought of given the time constraints these writers work under. Others have great concepts but terrible execution, which are usually the most heartbreaking since the themes are so compelling. But one thing has become clear to me while reading, critiquing, and ultimately judging these scripts: I need to read more ghost stories.

Within the Church, there is a lot of taboo surrounding spooky campfire tales and horror stories of any kind. Older church ladies might scoff, claiming that you’re opening a door for the Devil. “You shouldn’t glorify evil,” others might say in protest while condemning those who watched (or read) The Exorcist. Certainly, their intentions are pure, and I would never suggest otherwise. As children of Light, it’s understandable why a Christian might avert their eyes from horror altogether, not unlike how many respond to Halloween. On the surface, there is honor and dignity in that.

But, in truth, I think this is a huge disservice to writers, storytellers, and readers, both Christians and non-Christians alike.

At the beginning of April, I found myself alone in the theater for the first time in a long time. Now, before you think I’m some weirdo who likes to go see movies alone, others showed up eventually. It was the first time in years that I attended the movies solo. My wife had graciously allowed me to go see the horror/thriller Nefarious (which I recommended here last time around) since she wasn’t interested at the time, and I was overjoyed to be in the theater again. I’m something of a movie popcorn addict.

As I sank into my chair, I was bombarded with trailers for upcoming features, many of which were for horror movies. Two other big horror flicks came out around the same time as Nefarious, the first being The Pope’s Exorcist starring Russell Crowe and the other being the recent Evil Dead reboot, Evil Dead Rise. The trailer for the latter played before the film, and let me tell you, I haven’t been that scared in the theater in a long time.

When I say that the Evil Dead Rise trailer freaked me out, I assure you that I’m pacifying how I really felt. As I shifted in my seat, I averted my eyes to my phone and held my hands up to my ears. Quick glimpses of a demonically possessed mother seeking to devour her children were enough, and had I not been quaking in my Keens I might’ve left to demand a refill.

I’ve only had that experience in the theater twice before, but both times were during horror movies. The first time was when I saw the trailer for M. Night Shyamaylan’s Split, which featured an antagonist with 23 different personalities (many of which were homicidal). The second was years later when I went with some friends to see Jordan Peele’s Us – which I will never watch again. So, let me reassure the reader that I do understand the psychological and spiritual dangers of horror, and how icky the genre can make one feel. The torture porn that is Saw is not my cup of tea, and I have no interest in any more Halloween slashers.

And yet, juxtaposed alongside some truly terrifying trailers was Nefarious, a movie made by Christians that not only delivered some intense thrills but proved more thought-provoking than your average scare.²

Now, I’ve written about Christian horror flicks before, but none of them compare to Nefarious – which manages to thrill without any unnecessary gore. If we're being honest, most gore is inherently unnecessary, but that's an entirely different point. Nefarious is a truly good film and is currently my favorite of this year.³ Sean Patrick Flannery alone is fantastic, but the dialogue is what sells the picture. It's chock-full of hard topics and themes, but all of them are worth mulling over and chewing on.⁴

Strangely, this isn’t the first horror story I’ve felt this way about since the new year.

Back in February, I read the novel Chapel Street by Sean Paul Murphy.⁵ Based on a true story about Murphy's own family history, the novel has been described as "The Conjuring meets Hereditary," and that's not far off. Evoking the themes of authors like Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker, Murphy’s story flew off the page. While it wasn’t always the wisest book to read before dark (or in the middle of the night), it contained a powerful message of redemption and hope that transcended the horrors within. By the end, I was so moved that I almost wanted to read it again.

Make no mistake, I’m not out here claiming that Nefarious and Chapel Street are the end-all-be-all of horror fiction. They’re not. But they’re certainly steps in the right direction, and good ones at that. Yes, horror is meant to scare, there is no doubt about that, but fear isn’t always a bad thing – and should never be the end goal.

Many times in the Scriptures, we find Jesus saying hard things that frighten those around Him. Heck, many of the biblical prophecies were dark and harsh warnings to the people of Israel, meant to inspire them to change their ways. Sometimes, the prophets had visions of horrific beasts, and oftentimes angelic messengers had to reassure those in their presence not to be afraid. Yet, all of this “fear” was meant to redirect the people’s affection toward God.

It was meant to inspire repentance.

Now, I’m not here advocating that Jesus wants to watch the next fill-in-the-blank slasher flick. More than likely, He does not, and for the sake of our own soul health, we probably shouldn’t either. But I am saying that, if done right, fictionalized fear – especially the kind that represents true realities – can lead to something greater. It can lead to real spiritual breakthroughs.

There is power in ghost stories because they intentionally frighten. They make us look over our shoulders in the middle of the night or compel us to leave a light on in our closets. Believe me, I know. When I was in seventh grade I watched 30 Days of Night with my Dad and had nightmares for three months. I stayed away from horror for a very long time after that.

But what if a ghost story – like any other story or parable – had the power to change your worldview for the better? What if it helped you see that you too have power over your spiritual enemies and over the sin within you?⁶

That’s what Frank Peretti's novel This Present Darkness and its sequel did for me in college. In fact, I was so inspired that I started a short-lived podcast named after one of them that focused on "pursuing Christ as we challenge the Kingdom of Darkness."⁷ Peretti's works – which are more reminiscent of Stephen King than G.K. Chesterton – helped me to better grasp the spiritual realities around me. They challenged me to see the eternal weight of my own actions, and genuinely consider their spiritual implications. More than that, these supernatural thrillers reminded me of the practical power we have through the name of Jesus Christ.

There’s a reason that movies like The Conjuring and The Exorcist end with lines like, “The power of Christ compels you!” There’s definitive power in the name of Jesus, and it’s in His name that we’re commanded to “cast out demons.” Likewise, it’s clear why classic horror stories such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula contain so much religious imagery. It’s by design that the titular Count can’t even be in the same room as a crucifix and is powerless in the sunlight.

To plagiarize myself, “Christian themes and religion have already been a part of the horror genre for over a hundred years.” So why did the Church let the pagans lay claim to the genre?

We fight tooth and nail to remind folks that The Lord of the Rings was a distinctly Christian work, rightly reclaiming fantasy for the Kingdom. We do the same for other genres too and celebrate when we witness decent characterizations of believers in fiction.⁸ Yet we often fail to venture too far into the horror genre, hoping to avoid all appearances of evil. Certainly, there's something admirable in that, but there's something equally honorable about taking a genre wrongly associated with darkness and reworking it for the True Light.

If anything, Christians should thrive within the horror genre. Through Christ, we hold the ultimate weapons against evil, we bare the spiritual armor that can overtake the darkness. In an increasingly materialistic world, horror is one of the few genres that still venture into the unknown and unexplained. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Church could use this to further the Gospel, and maybe disarm and humiliate the Enemy in the process.

The horror genre is forever linked to the unseen realm, and since that world is populated by both clean and unclean spirits, it stands to reason that the only way to defeat them is through the One who made them in the first place. Admittedly, a Deus Ex Machina can come across as tacky and anticlimactic if poorly implemented. But when used correctly, the “God card” is some of the most powerful stuff we can pen on the page and watch unfold on screen.

Think of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. In C.S. Lewis’s fantasy novel, Aslan (a stand-in for Christ) hands himself over to the White Witch in order to save the life of another. Though he was innocent, he willingly gave up his life in a Gospel presentation for Edmund, a traitor who didn’t deserve a lick of mercy. In saving Edmund’s life, Aslan lost his. And yet, miraculously, the Great Lion raises from the dead before claiming victory over his murderers.

Yes, I am aware that The Chronicles of Narnia is fantasy and not horror, but stories are stories all the same. Look back at the previous Dracula examples. If Christians can implement Gospel messaging properly into the fantasy genre (Tolkien spun a similar web with Gandalf’s resurrection), then horror should be a piece of cake by comparison – you just have different genre rules and expectations to follow.

It’s true that not every writer should write ghost stories, just like not every Christian will or should engage with the horror genre. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But just like there are Christian heavy metal bands that strive to reach the unreached for Jesus (Demon Hunter, Wytch Hazel, and Stryper all come to mind), so must there be writers, filmmakers, and storytellers who venture into the world of horror for the same purpose. Albeit, with a clear directive in mind.

I applaud the filmmakers behind Nefarious for their valiant efforts, and I pray that this ignites a fire within the Church to continue to venture into the unknown. As ambassadors of the Kingdom, it is our duty to claim every plot of darkness for Christ.

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This Week’s Petty Picks

The Wormaid’s Lair is a short story by Rev. Josh Robinson that serves as the first installment of his greater Shadow Appalachia saga. A ghost story in its own right, it follows the strange events beneath Blair Mountain, which may just chill you to the bone. You can find The Wormaid’s Lair on Amazon.

Aside from writing fiction, Josh is also the author of The Narnian and one of the hosts of The Sword & Staff. Be sure to check out his other work and follow him for exciting new adventures into the unknown. Recently, he released a preview for his next Shadow Appalachia installment here.

Dark Holler is a horror docu-series directed by filmmaker Ward Hiney that focuses on a West Virginian family and their generational encounters with a dark spiritual entity. Coincidently, Rev. Josh Robinson appears here too, alongside a host of others who were directly involved in these events.

Not all horror stories need to be fictional, sometimes they’re very real. Dark Holler chronicles a true story of demonic oppression that extends far beyond a single soul. More than that, it tells of how an encounter with Jesus saved a young woman from not just her spiritual oppressor, but herself. This powerful five-episode series can be viewed in full on YouTube.

Satan Will Fall is a Spotify playlist by the British metal band Wytch Hazel that I’ve recently become obsessed with. Pulling from their three studio albums and their recent single, these tracks are some of the most spiritually rich and powerful from their discography. The playlist can be found here.

With 10 songs clocking in at just under 45 minutes, this is the perfect introduction to Wytch Hazel if you’ve never heard of them before. Self-described as what would’ve happened if “the New Wave of British Heavy Metal happened 600 years early,” if you’re a metalhead, you’ll love these guys.

1. I’d love more of that feedback myself if anyone is interested…

2. Despite being made by Christians, Nefarious wasn’t marketed as a “Christian film,” and it’s good that it wasn’t. Likewise, The Conjuring was written by two Baptists and quickly grew into one of the biggest horror franchises out there. Just because something was made by Christians, doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by everybody. The Lord of the Rings is a wonderful example of that.

Interestingly enough, I pitched Nefarious-related pieces to both Collider and Looper after seeing it, and each was rejected under the guise that the film didn’t perform well enough to warrant an article. Yet, the movie was in the Top 10 opening weekend, has a positive audience score, and did decent financially for only reaching 900-ish theaters. I can’t help but wonder if the film’s criticism of the abortion industry, connections to conservatives like Glen Beck (who strangely appears in the film), and overall subject matter had anything to do with it…

3. Of course, that’s subject to change. We’re only in May after all, and I have yet to see Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

4. The movie itself was an excellent take on the demonic possession subgenre, one that many priests and exorcists, including Father Carlos Martins of The Exorcist Files (a podcast I highly recommend), have reportedly deemed fairly accurate. Like a modern-day Screwtape Letters, the titular demon unravels Satan’s master plan and explains just how easy it is for unclean spirits to influence those around them. More than that, it (rightfully) calls out the American Church for its laziness and apparent disinterest in fighting the spiritual war we’re in.

5. Another tale I’ve recommended on Further Up & Further In previously here.

6. The caveat here being that said power comes exclusively through Christ and Christ alone.

7. Yes, this podcast can still be found online. No, I don’t agree with everything I said back then. Since I unceremoniously ended the show, I’ve come to better understand and respect different faith traditions within the Christian Church, even if some of my theological disagreements remain. Maybe one day I’ll continue the show, but for the time being it is finished.

8. The titular character from The Book of Eli comes to mind. As does Desmond Doss from Hacksaw Ridge, who, of course, was a real flesh-and-blood person. There are very few solid representations of Christians in the media as Rainn Wilson rightfully pointed out. They’re out there, but biblically-solid Christian characters are extremely rare. Especially positive representations of clergymen.