Fear Not!: A Christian Appreciation of Horror Movies

by Josh Larsen, Soong-Chan Rah (Contributor)

Why would anyone want to watch horror movies? Why would Christians, in particular, bother with the genre? In Fear Not! , critic Josh Larsen makes the case that monster movies, creature features, slashers, and other fright films artfully reflect our deep worries in a way that resonates with the Christian experience. Combining critical observation and theological reflection, Larsen devotes each chapter to a different horror subgenre, connecting that subgenre to a commonly shared fear. In addition to considering how the Bible acknowledges and speaks to that fear, each chapter demonstrates how the related themes, narratives, and aesthetics of a handful of films can be viewed through a corresponding theological lens. Reading Fear Not!, movie fans will come to appreciate the artistry of the likes of Get Out , The Shining , The Blair Witch Project , The Babadook , Night of the Living Dead , and The Sixth Sense , while also seeing the ways these movies resonate with our fears and, in some cases, hint at God’s redemptive comfort.

Genres: Horror, Film, Nonfiction, Christian, Spirituality, Christianity

120 pages, Paperback

Published June 20, 2023

Reviews

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t consider myself a big fan of horror films. But the genre seems to be having a surge of popularity and critical appreciation lately among, of all things, Christian filmgoers. 1980s me would be surprised. Actually, 2023 me is kind of surprised, too. In an effort to understand the delight these movies give some people, I’ve started listening to Kutter Callaway’s podcast, Be Afraid, and I’ve just read Josh Larsen’s book, Fear Not!. It’s not that I want to be converted into a horror fan (though I’m willing to be convinced that it’s a worthwhile thing to do), but I’m interested to learn what I might have missed by not delving too far into the genre.

Fear Not! looks at various subgenres within horror, and that was helpful for me, because I realized that I do enjoy some films in some of those subgenres. I had seen more of the films Larsen references than I’d expected. Before reading this book, when I’d say “I’m not a horror fan,” I was thinking of slasher films. I knew I liked suspenseful films like The Birds and ghost stories like The Others, but I guess I thought those didn’t really count as horror films, because they’re relatively tame in the amount of gore they show. Now I know that I’m slightly more of a horror fan than I would have admitted to.

That’s the good aspect of Fear Not! . What I found frustrating, and sometimes unintentionally hilarious, was its extreme brevity. So few pages are devoted to any single topic, and the book is only 106 pages. I was intrigued by the possibility of theological reflection on horror, but Larsen’s commentary often felt less like analysis and more like word association. In the chapter on slasher films, for example, he explains that in A Nightmare on Elm Street, the protagonist is upset with her friend for falling asleep when she’d asked him to stay awake—and also, Jesus was disappointed with his friends for falling asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane! I mean . . . okay, but . . . ? In the chapter on body horror, he writes about Hellraiser: “The sight of Frank slowly emerging from a pile of viscera in the wake of each killing feels like a demonic variation on Ezekiel 37, where the prophet watched as ‘dry bones . . . came together, bone to bone [and] tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them’” (72–73). Really, has anyone who isn’t writing a book about horror films and theological reflection ever watched Hellraiser and thought of Ezekiel? For me, these tenuous associations cheapened the potential for deep reflection, instead making me wonder if there’s much going on in horror films.

So I ended the book more or less where I started. My question remains: Is there really much worth contemplating in horror films, or do some Christians just like watching horror films and feel that they need a deeper justification for doing so? Comments are welcome here, if anyone has insights to share.

[Greg Talbot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Filmspotting extradonaire, Wes Anderson enthusiast, and defender of the Lego movie...there really is no one like Josh Larsen.

Even if i'm shaking my head, listening to his ardent defense of another Pixar film, I always listen and admire. Larsen is passionate about film, but always a critically-minded , thoughtfully delivered, and admirably sensitive to larger cultural topics that impact the viewing experience.

Larsen's second book is a delighftul pairing. Horror and scripture. God and Godzilla. Holy Books and Holy Hell. Horror movies he reminds are essential for any movie lover. So many conventions and conceits began in the genre. Sure, you can say "Godfather' is the greatest achievement in film...but it took movies like "Psycho", "Night of the Living Dead" and "Get Out" to transgress the taboos and explore the traumas in our culture. Larsen wisely clusters horror movies to subgenres ("Creature Features", "Body Horror", "Monster Movies"). He then highlights 4-5 movies to the chapter. Larsen shares a Biblical passage or impactful sermon that elevates the horror movie to a spiritual wrestling match.

For instance, Larsen shares a passage of "Song of Songs", and reminds us that Biblical guidance for sexuality may be more permissive than the horny celibates teenagers in "Halloween" or "Friday the 13th". He explores the stewardship of animals and nature against the grotesque machinations of human activity from Jurassic Park to the Host. There are of course wrestlings with the spiritual realm - the explotitative and singular 'The Exorcist", or the dark fantasty of "As Above So Below, a Dante-esque puzzlebox of horror and adventure.

The universal monsters play well into universal morality tales of inner fears and their external ghoulish represenations. There is of course the found footage horror - Larsen's well documented love of "The Blair Witch Project" is explored here, as well as the megahit "Paranormal Activites". At times, Larsen hits back at where the horror movies could have gone even futher. "Poltergeist" hits at the horrors of manifest destiny and genocide of native american americans, but largely aligns to a family drama. Similaraly, I agree with Larsen that Jack Nicholson's antics in "The Shining" overshadow the story to a degree...even if the film remains a masterpiece.

If there's any complaint it's just that the book is too short. Horror movies are known for their sequeles can we get a part 2 with The Ring, Rosemary's Baby, Child's Play, Carnival of Souls, Bride of Frankenstein, Hereditary, The Thing, and Barbarian.

For those of us brave enough to keep our viewing eyes open, we need books like "Fear Not" to get some restful and peaceful sleep.

[Chris Roundhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful and insightful follow up to Movies are Prayers, film critic Josh Larsen has penned a wonderful defense of horror films from a Christian perspective. Fear is a powerful emotion that has been used and abused by humans for years and by examining the kind of fears different horror genres evoke we can better understand how humans have been made in Gods image. Emotional reactions to art can be expressions of worship or inspire us to worship God for what he has faithfully promised to us. I love how Larsen does this with film and can’t wait to read what he may write on the topic in the future.

[Joakim Silverdal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a beautifully realized gift for those of us interested in combining fright with thought.

Growing up in a community that instinctivly shunned this type of culture really makes me appreciate this all the more.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna head off and see if i’m able to find the light in the darkness of a couple of old film favorites.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish more people wrote about faith in the way Josh does. Though I’m sure plenty do, but maybe what I would say is I wish more people who read about faith read writing like this. Josh’s knowledge and appreciation of the genre combined with a well researched thesis on fear, sin, and humanity could have been a preachy, evangelical diatribe in less skilled (or humble) hands.

Yes what comes across is a different way to think about movies you probably already love.

This was a good book and inspired some faith wrestling for this reader.

[Dave Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hold a deep appreciation for Larsen's work as a Chicago film critic. He's known as one of the hosts and critics at filmspotting, and also for his work at Think Christian. And I appreciate him on two levels.

First, his approach to film criticism blends his wealth of knowledge of the craft and his keen eye for the form with equal attention given to his personal experience. His reviews are never mere data points about the craft, they always anchor his opinions in an in depth analysis of why the film did or did not work for him personally on an experiential level. To this end he never shuts out other opinions, but rather invites them in to the conversation as equally valid viewpoints. And if that conversation is able to lead to a discussion about the objective nature of the craft and form, all the better.

Second, I really like how he approaches film as a Christian, building the mantra of Think Christian around the idea that there "is no such thing as secular". His book Movies Are Prayers, released a number of years ago, was an intimate look at what informs his love of movies and film criticism, walking through how he bridges this intersection of faith and culture as a formative practice. He never demands a film to be anything, rather he engages all art from within his particular worldview.

His latest release, a book he wrote to tackle what might be one of the more precarious genres to engage within christendom, at least traditionally, takes a different approach than Prayers. Prayers seemed to be targeted at fellow film lovers, and more specifically fellow film lovers who are also people of faith, simply as a way to use his own approach to enrich our appreciation of film as a formative experience. Its very much designed to function as a liturgy. In Fear Not he appears to be reaching more for a kind of apologetic, simply one being targeted at Christians who might see the horror genre as being off limits for a christian film goer. And as he states in one of his earlier chapters, he is not so much encouraging christians to embrace horror as offering a window into why some Christians appreciate horror as a genre, encouraging each person to employ discernment in their own life while also calling them to consider not lobbying their own sensitivities on to others. He wants to make clear why the horror genre holds value for him, and how it plays a significant role in his appreciation of the form as a Christian.

Which brings me a slight critique of the books structure. While this appears to be his aim, the vast majority of the book, which is structured around different kinds of horror films (zombies, creature features, ghost stories, religious horror, psychological horror for example), is given to analyzing different films from a theological perspective, just to show how it is one can approach them as being something of value for both our faith and our understanding of personhood and the world. I feel like the missed opportunity here would be a chance to spend the earlier portions of the book building his case at the beginning, as it seems to me like his target audience will be unlikely to embrace his argument for horror given that they already hold a disposition that prevents them from watching the films he is discussing. Further, those with an aversion to horror on christian principle who do push through are likely to miss much of that application without the benefit of seeing those films. Had it layed out the case in the earlier chapters, and then used a series of analysis in the back half as an invitation to watch and see the films while putting some of the tools of film criticism and experience to practice, I think that could have been more effective.

That said, the work is there interspersed with the different kinds of horror films he is talking about. He touches on important considerations, such as an understanding of the horror genre helping to make us better readers of the horror genre present in scripture. Or helping understand the relationship between faith and fear, with the call to fear not being the foundation for the book. Or the ways horror can broaden our understanding of reality, or connect us more deeply to the reality of our physical bodies and minds. As he writes on body horror,

“Christ did not assume our flesh once, only to abandon it after his death. Rather, through his bodily resurrection he both affirms the goodness of the original creation, including our bodies, and points to a future in which we enjoy the goodness of embodied life as God intended it.”20 Conversely, a biblical view holds that the breakdown of the body—via illness, desecration, death—goes against God’s design. Decay and death are both the first enemy, in Genesis 3, and the last, as described in 1 Corinthians 15:26. And so our fear of mortality—of “this mortal coil,” as Hamlet would describe it—is both a physical and a spiritual one."

Or his reapplication of Philippians 8 is particularly insightful
"(Paul's) citation of the qualities in Philippians 4:8—“whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable”—is not meant to chastise his audience because they had been pursuing other, “unholy” things, but to encourage them to overcome the fear they held by seeking such qualities. Horror films encompass both the fear and the admiration. Not only do these movies honestly acknowledge that which terrifies us, but the most redemptive of them—the ones explored in this book—do so with an artistry that is true, noble, and admirable. Some of them even take us to the other side of our fears, to a lovely place of grace."

As he suggests,
"One of the reasons the Bible remains a vital document, thousands of years on, is because it encompasses the entirety of our human experience, both the lovely moments and the ghastly ones. The world, after all, is a frightening place, in ways big and small, existential and intimate."

And if this is the case, then, as he reflects, "If method is as much a part of the art form as meaning, then few genres are as fertile a playground for playing with film form as horror." This should open up the horror genre as a place in which to find God, find ourselves, and indeed find one another. Which is a wonderful sentiment to hold on to for anyone perhaps wondering about its worth.

I will also add this. There are definite points of departure between Larsen and myself when it cones to him speaking from a Reformed perspecrive. Perhaps the most noted point of delarpture is where he begins with the concept of total depravity as his fundamental starting point (Monster Movies: Fear of Our Own Capacity For Sin). This frames the rest of the books theological joruney as one bent on individual redemption anchored in a larger promise for bringing us in to the new creation. For me, i find theological reonsnance in looking at a world enslaved to Sin and Death first, and allowing that to define the central problem that we face and fear.

That said, i don't think theological differences should be a thing that prevents us from coexisting in fellowship, here as reader and author, and to be sure, I feel like Larsen brings an even headed and open minded approach to the table as a Reformed Christian. And certainly, as a fellow Christian I very much respect and have learned from his love and analysis of film, and I think he can bring some valuable observations to the table regarding the intersection of faith and fear. As a horror lover, I might not be the target audience for this book, but as a horror lover i gained a lot from the film analysis, and even came away with some touchpoints i can use with others who might find a love of horror to be irreconcilable with being a person of faith.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josh Larsen, co-host of the WBEZ/NPR podcast Filmspotting and editor of Think Christian, a digital magazine on faith and culture, has taken on a tall order: writing about horror movies and Christianity in a way that will attract rather than repel both groups. Horror fans may gravitate to the genre for many reasons, and from my frequent examination of new movie releases on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K, horror is alive and well. Yet a significant number of Christians want nothing to do with horror, sometimes citing a passage from Philippians that Larsen uses in his introduction:

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. (Phil. 4:8, NIV)

Is it even possible to find something noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent, or praiseworthy in films like The Shining (1980), Train to Busan (2016), The Witch (2015), Candyman (1992, 2021), Psycho (1960), Paranormal Activity (2007), and others? Larsen seems to think so, and so do I. After all, as Larsen points out, “Christianity speaks specifically to our fears,” and not only do these films speak to those fears, they frequently do so with messages of (or at least opportunities for) redemption.

Please continue reading:

https://bit.ly/3DlK3gy

[Joshua Matejka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise, convincing, clear-eyed. I like that Larsen writes from the perspective of a conversationalist rather than an academic. I wish more critics would follow in those footsteps.

[Joseph R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first glance, it seems like Christianity and horror movies should have nothing to do with each other. Christianity is all about loving God and your neighbor as yourself. The typical horror movie icons are completely remote from such fundamentals. They are killers, predators, sadists. Their victims are usually people "who deserved it" for moral infractions or being part of some group (so those icons are bigots too?). The only seeming bright spot in horror films are the occasional opponents who defeat the evil ones by being pure or having special powers, almost as if they are supernaturally gifted. So there's a tiny window for some Christian understanding or appreciation to come in.

Josh Larsen, co-host of Filmspotting and senior producer at Think Christian, comes at the problem from a different angle. He looks at a key component of horror films, namely fear, and how that relates to Christianity. So there's the fear of losing individuality which is manifest in zombie films or the fear of guilt which is manifest in ghost stories. The format lends to a lot of commentaries, though sometimes films can fit in multiple categories. Larsen acknowledges this ambiguity. He has some insightful comments and writes well. There's no earth-shattering revelations here, other than how Christians can appreciate and learn from (or at least experience catharsis with) horror films.

Mildly recommended.

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. Josh Larsen finds the cogent theme for various categories such as monster movies, ghost movies, slashers, etc. and links them to our human condition — both as fallen people and as children of God striving for more. He's an engaging writer and each chapter focuses on a few movies, examining similarities and contradictions in the themes he's found. These are very effective.

However, as other reviewers have noted, the book is very short, 100 pages. The book page size is small and the margins are large. Therefore, there is not as much content as one would wish. In fact, I was startled to find myself at the end of the book after one evening. I understand this is meant to be a primer which helps us explore these themes on our own and primers can be brief. That said, a deeper examination in each chapter would have been helpful and thought provoking. It seems a bit pricey for what is delivered.

I'm not sorry I bought it and will keep it for future reference. Recommended.

[J. Todd Kingrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clocking in at only 102 pages, there's not much depth to be had in "Fear Not!" As a clergy person who has always enjoyed horror films, I was immediately attracted to the book. Larsen approaches his material intending to link specific fears (of being alone, sexuality, the dark, sin, loss of individuality, death, societal evil, etc.) with horror films that explore said fears. There are three to four films per chapter--and he's quite apologetic about leaving so many out. The book fails for me in that the theological components are sparse. There's little depth to any of Larsen's theological insights (although to be fair, he does offer perspectives and details of the films themselves that I've overlooked before). At times, it felt like it was not much more than citing a couple of Scripture passages. In the Conclusion, Larsen acknowledges that this book is essentially just a primer and that more thorough work remains to be done on the subject. Kudos to Larsen for tackling what is a sticky, almost no-win subject: "How can you be Christian and watch horror movies?!"

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my favorite film podcaster comes out with a new book its an automatic "must read" for me.
Josh Larsen is down-to -earth, smart, funny, informative and presents his thoughts in a logical format. I was less interested in the Christian aspect of this--just doesn't resonate with me-- but I really appreciated his explanations of the themes explored in these cinematic productions:

Monster Movies: Fear of our own Capacity for Sin
Zombies: Fear of Losing our Individuality
Creature Features: Fear of nature run amok
Slashers: Fear of Being Alone
Religious Horror: Fear of a Spiritual Realm
Sex and Death:Fear of Sexuality
Found Footage: Fear of the Dark
Prophetic Horror: Fear of Societal Evil ( Us is a wake up call about Greed)
Psychological Horror: Fear of our Anxieties ( The Babadook)
Ghost Stories: Fear of Guilt

[JJ Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to be honest; I've been looking for a book like this for a while. This is a really personal subject for me, and while I've found some things that are close, this is really what I've been wanting to read. And while there is obviously a lot more to say, Larsen makes it clear that this is an introduction.

The purpose of this book is essentially to explain the spiritual impulses that lead an enjoyment of the horror genre. It's very brief, very simple, and very easy to understand, all of which is really important when trying to talk to other Christians about why horror is not inherently evil and sinful. I really enjoyed it, and I hope to incorporate it with my own research; I can't wait to see where it takes me.

[Thomas Unitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great dissection of the horror genre through Christian eyes. I have always felt that the Christian rejection of horror was particularly odd, as Scott Derrickson says, horror is probably the most Christian genre of them all. Again like Movies are Prayers Larsen explains his controversial thesis well and generally looks at some ways of how horror sub genres can help not just our Christian walk but our human experience.

Like Movies are Prayers if you don’t agree with Larsen at the fire front then the book won’t do much after the first few pages to convince. It’s also a difficult book to reccomend to someone who isn’t already versed in the horror genre, Larsen talks about a lot of films and spoils a good amount. It’s a good short read though.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Introduction to Horror Movies from a Christian Perspective

As a long time listener of the Filmspotting podcast, I've enjoyed co-host Josh Larsen's perspective on movies. I knew he works for a Christian website/podcast, but discussion on Filmspotting rarely strayed into theological territory, Here the secular meets the Christian through the area of horror films. While anyone can guess at some of the intersections between Christianity and horror, there are some unique connections Larsen makes I haven't heard or thought out before. Designed as an introduction to the Christian view on horror films, one can easily breeze through this monograph eager for a deeper dive.Recommended for horror fans and Christians, or those interested in both.

[Jordan Benesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve long been a fan of culture critic and author Josh Larsen; first, for his reviews and top-5 contributions on the long-running podcast “Filmspotting”, then later for his broader culture writing and contributions at Think Christian, and more recently a few years ago for his first book, “Movies Are Prayers”, which was foundational for me as someone who came to know Jesus long after I fell in love with the movies.

Larsen’s latest writing endeavor, “Fear Not! A Christian Appreciation of Horror Movies”, is an excellent primer for those Christians who, perhaps more than any other aspect of popular culture, would say maybe there isn’t much to find in the horror genre that is truly redeeming or worth their while. It is also a great read for the avid film lover who doesn’t normally gravitate toward horror, or who maybe just has some blind spots when it comes to scary movies.

Count me among the latter, as someone who has only more recently grown interested in horror films and all that the genre has to offer. I dog-eared several pages with recommendations of movies to watch and books or articles to read, and my main takeaway was that I have a lot of watching left to do.

I really appreciated Larsen’s way of tackling different sub-genres, tying them to specific fears we hold, and then using examples from specific films to describe how those fears are portrayed and addressed — both on-screen and through the hope we find in the gospel.

Larsen closes the book with a fun call to action: to identify movies that weren’t covered in the book and discuss the particular fears those films explore.

[Michael M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book to support the author who, along with co-host Adam, host my favourite movie podcast 'Filmspotting'. I am realy glad I did. Josh writes beautifully about both horror and faith, and I found his insights thought provoking. Josh's faith comes up every now and then on the show, but as a foundation to this text, its clear he has put a lot of thought and consideration into his approach.

Very short book, and I thought the structure probably lended itself to skimming over very interesting topics, but - it is a monograph and only meant to be very introductory, and it fits that purpose well.

[Dave Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filmspotting co-host Josh Larsen writes about a subject that has not been tackled often: looking at the horror movie genre through a Christian lens. The result is a thoughtful and fascinating exploration of what the horror genre has to say about Christian faith and human nature and maybe even God’s grace. Coming in at 102 pages, I wish the book was even longer as there was so much more to explore. However I believe Larsen intended this as an introduction to think about these topics in a deeper way and with that, he has succeeded.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The reader is in excellent hands with Josh, who is the perfect host for this theme. I really appreciated the ways he approached the horror genre from the Christian perspective. Ultimately, though, this book was just too short, with most films only getting a paragraph and the “key texts” getting only a few. The theological explorations felt a little scattered too; even though Larson has a wholistic perspective on scripture, at times it felt just a little too much like proof texting. I still recommend this book, I just think his approach deserved a longer, more fuller treatment.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertainment writer and Christian, Josh Larsen tackles the appropriateness of a Christian watching and finding value in horror films. The author states that while horror films may conflict with the Christian understanding of grace and teachings. The message and feeling of the fear of something known versus anxiety over what might happen is a main theme of this short but powerful book. The author tackles the subgenres of the horror film (monster, zombies, creatures run amuck, slasher, religious/spiritual - possession, sex and death, found footage, body abomination, prophetic/social psychological, and ghostly) and drapes them in scriptural application and moral lessons. As he states it, the best-made horror films (excluding the senseless, violent, and bloody ones, that the film fan can find messages that relate lessons of the bible. Truly, this book is for teh veteran horror film fan. This was enjoyable.

[Andrew Corsini · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Josh, Filmspotting, and as a practicing Christian, there's no bias here. Rather, I was delighted with this book and its careful, loving consideration of a genre I adore through the same lens in which I worship and live my life. Fear Not! examines a much-maligned genre that teaches us to fear through teachings of love and worship and, ultimately, concludes the horror genre is one of hope as much as it is one of fear.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I toyed with giving this a 4-star review but decided that wouldn't be fair just because I wished the book had been much longer. I've always appreciated Larsen's film criticism, both on the Filmspotting podcast and in his book Movies are Prayers, so when I heard he was going to be writing a book on horror films from a Christian perspective, I wanted it to be a massive tome. Oh well . . . Larsen's brief commentary on a wide range of horror film sub-genres is still well worth reading.

[Taylor Cyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is the perfect springboard for thinking Christianly about horror movies. Like the movies discussed, the book includes brief glimpses of hope—pointers toward what might alleviate our fears. The structure of the book (which pairs different kinds of horror with various common objects of our fears) was neat and helpful, and now my list of horror movies to check out is even longer.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, short diversion written by a cohost of my favorite podcast, Filmspotting. I don’t like horror films and I’m not a practicing Christian, but I thought this was a pleasantly fast and entertaining read.

[Michael Quinlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting, short read. I could listen/read Josh Larsen talk about film and Christianity all day. Unfortunately, Larsen is much more concise than I hoped for and would’ve enjoyed a much deeper dive into his discussion of horror and Christianity

[Joel DeJong · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute breeze of a read (I took it in during an afternoon while my kids napped), but no less thoughtful than a heavier tome. It does a great job of getting to the heart of central fears reflected in horror films, as well as the hope and comfort we have in the real world.

[Jonathan Crites · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Christian and long-time horror fan, I enjoyed reading this set of essays on how to relate to horror films in a Christian way. Josh has a good sense of tying basic Christian thought to popular horror films as well as. Short and sweet, recommended for film fans.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great little book. I liked it so much I wish it was longer.

[Jonathan Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a good horror film, Fear Not keeps the reader pushing through it, points to bigger ideas, and then leaves us going “Wait, I want more!”.

[Rodney Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great exploration of Christianity and it’s influence on Horror films.