Horror Movies Can Be Redemptive

I didn’t grow up watching horror films for the same reason most kids don’t – they’re too disturbing for a young one’s mind.

During my freshman year of college, though, I watched It with my friends on Halloween. The movie was both thrilling and scary, yet still had thought-provoking themes about growing up and learning to face your fears. As a Christian and movie-buff, I found It to be just as hopeful as the majority of movies I watch, and therefore realized my affinity for horror. Audiences agree; the horror genre has so far made $1.3 billion in 2026, with Backrooms and Obsession responsible for most of this profit.

Horror films are a valid medium of storytelling, well-done horror stories serve an important purpose within the arts. But I am not naive. I know what most Christians think about horror, so you can imagine my non-surprise when Allie Beth Stuckey shared a common take on horror movies on her podcast, Relatable With ABS: