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his week on Be Afraid, we walk through the various subgenres of horror and consider the ways in which different kinds of horror films not only reflect our wide-ranging fears, but also provide us with models for responding to the undeniable horrors of real life.

Joining us this week:

  • Wes Craven is a well-known American filmmaker who is considered by many to be the master of horror. Although Craven passed away in 2015, his influence lives on through interviews like the one we conducted at the Reel Spirituality Conference in 2001.
  • Scott Derrickson is a filmmaker whose projects include, among others, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Dr. Strange, and The Black Phone.
  • Coltan Scrivner is a behavioral scientist and author of a forthcoming book exploring our morbid sense of curiosity.
  • Brad Strawn is chief of spiritual formation and integration at Fuller Theological Seminary as well as dean of the chapel, Evelyn and Frank Freed Professor of the Integration of Psychology and Theology, and chair of integration for the clinical psychology department.

Resources Referenced:
A Witch’s Invitation” by Carman
A Very Nervous Person’s Guide to Horror by Mathias Clasen
A recent study conducted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic indicating that horror fans were more psychologically resilient toward the radical disruptions of lockdowns and isolation.

“Be Afraid” is a production of Christianity Today, Fuller Seminary, and Uncommon Voices Collective
Executive Producer: Erik Petrik
Producer, Writer, and Editor: Kutter Callaway
Producer, Editor, Graphic Design: Stephen Scheidler
Producer: TJ Hester
Music: Jeremy Hunt and Qoholeth

More from Kutter Callaway on theology and culture: https://www.kuttercallaway.com/
More from Uncommon Voices Collective: https://www.uncommonvoices.faith/
More from Qoholeth: https://qohelethnoise.bandcamp.com