Fear and Faith
Fear and faith have always been important pieces of my life. I have been in a church as long as I can remember, and I have watched horror films as long as I can remember. Both were handed down by family, and both have become deeply personal to me as I've grown into adulthood.
When people get to know me and learn that I am both a Christian and an avid horror fan, they are usually perplexed. Honestly, so am I. I have not always understood why this peculiar mixture appeals to me. But I believe that I am beginning to.
Chiaroscuro is an artistic term defined as the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition.
This technique was especially strong in the baroque style of artists such as Caravaggio, who painted Judith Beheading Holofernes (featured above) in 1598. Believe it or not, It's based on a bible story. Beautiful and gory. Spiritual and violent.
Scott Derrickson (who is literally my favorite) said that it's almost impossible to make an amoral horror film. And when you think about it, he's right. The driving force behind horror is ultimately the conflict between good and evil. Light and dark. Sometimes external, sometimes internal, but either way it's almost always there. The conflict sets it all up, but the resolution, the moral of the story, is what makes or breaks it in the end.
I like to say that horror films are much more realistic than your basic romantic comedy. I mean, let's be honest. You are alot more likely to get decapitated by a mad man on your way home than to have two Prince Charmings fall in love with and fight over you.
Much like the campfire stories of old, horror isn't afraid to ask hard questions, and give hard answers. It forces us to confront our fear and come to terms with death. It's not always an easy journey, but we always make it through and come out safely on the other side. I appreciate the honest and sometimes brutal reality that horror presents, but I also recognize and identify with the hope that it offers.
When I started to realize these things, it all began to make sense. How the darks and the lights work together. How they need each other. How they create the beautiful contrast that illustrates the whole picture.
And sometimes, you need to walk through the darkness to really appreciate the light.
I created this blog as an outlet to explore and develop my unique perspective, and to share it with others. My hope is that it finds those who identify with the peculiar mixture that I've grown to love. It will sometimes include spiritual commentary, but will always be related to horror.
So come, gather round the fire and we'll share these dark tales. We just might get to know a little bit more about each other, about ourselves, and maybe even about God.
Come, gather round...
