A quick browse through the movie section at a local movie rental place will reveal (among other things) a vast array of that movie phenomenon - the horror flick. Horror flicks, however, have achieved a certain level of demonic revelry, as half of the movie covers will reveal. What used to be King Kong destroying cities is now seriously demented and psychologically twisted films that truly change the person watching it - for the worse. Filmmakers are not content just to make people jump in their seats anymore - they want to distort minds and hearts and create entertainment out of - well, Hell.
The Sistine Chapel contains a gorgeous image by Michelangelo depicting the triumphant Christ in heaven surrounded by a vast array of souls. The title of his painting is The Last Judgment. The majority of the painting (the painting covers an entire wall of the chapel) is filled with the souls of the just having reached, or attempting to reach, Heaven, all set upon a background of a vivid blue sky. The mid-section of the painting depicts the battle for souls which occurs spiritually - with people attempting to reach heaven but who are thwarted by demons and devilish powers - sin. At the bottom of the painting - all kinds of demons and skeletons lurk - some of which are truly frightening. Death is the theme below, life is theme above. In one dark corner, a fire-red sky is the backdrop for a soul that chose death over life - sin over mercy - as his entire body is choked by a snake (the head of which is clamping down in a rather sensitive part of his body). The images of the demonic powers reminded me of a walk through my local video store.
Now, of course, compared with our modern day depictions of evil, Michelangelo seems to show restraint. But it is enough to make the point that those who expected to see, upon entering the Sistine chapel, chubby baby angels or the happy faces of saints on the walls, instead see a vivid depiction of the battle of good and evil - the battle of Heaven and Hell. And when they see the demonic faces on the walls of a sacred chapel (perhaps the most sacred chapel in the world) many I am sure are left in shock wondering why evil faces like we see in Blockbuster were painted in the Last Judgment. What is Horror doing in the Sistine Chapel? Why would we want to be afraid upon entering the holiest chapel in the world? Shouldn't we leave there feeling all peaceful and smiley?
Apparently Michelangelo didn't think so - nor does the Church. Leaving the chapel with a conviction was more likely the intent of the artist and continues to be the mind of the Church - it is a conviction that Hell is real, scary, and a person striving after Christ can avoid its throes. I am too young to have experienced it, but I hear that that message used to come from the pulpits. But people hated hearing about it and so decided that Hell was not real. The result is that evil still exists and scary things still exist (like horror flicks) - but these things are not associated with Hell, or Heaven for that matter. Michelangelo and the Church wanted people to look to Heaven and to choose good rather than evil. It was a matter of life and death. Scary images and demons were not amusement, they were auguries.
And so when our modern filmmakers decide to take up the themes of evil in the more demented horror flicks of our day, it is not to make people afraid of eternal punishment. Rather, their engagement of real evil and true horror is simply meant for entertainment. But many leave the theater changed. Many leave with a conviction. Evil is real. After removing the idea of evil from the greater story of Christ's conquering of sin and death - an act which conquers evil - many leave hopeless because they are convinced of Evil but not convinced of God.
And so I do not watch horror movies because they teach me nothing about the goodness of God. If you need a good scare, visit the Sistine Chapel and meditate on Hell. I assure you, the beauty of Heaven, which, in Michelangelo's Last Judgment, is most of the chapel wall, will draw you towards God and towards a new conviction - Christ has conquered evil and the holy life, though difficult, is worth every effort your soul can make. Your eternal future depends on it.
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