Fear Not!

A Christian Appreciation of Horror Movies (Reel Spirituality Monograph Series)

By: Josh Larsen

Narrated by: Josh Larsen

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.

Listening to 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.

©2023 Josh Larsen (P)2023 Josh Larsen

Favorite Film Podcaster’s New Book

Josh Larsen co-hosts Filmspotting ,the best film podcast out there, so I was thrilled when Fear Not! came out. Really like how it is structured. Each chapter covers a specific type of horror film and the human paranoia that it taps into. For example, Zombies: Fear of Losing our Individuality. I was less interested in the religious explorations but overall found this a light, interesting and informative read that will certainly enhance my annual Halloween horror watch!

Amazing dive a tough subject

Josh Larson does a wonderful job of bringing the gems the horror genre has for both Christians and non Christians. This book has helped me learn what does it mean to be a mature Christian in the realm of viewing the horror genre. Larson did a great job in diving into the main genres, and the popular movies that make up those genres while pointing to the messages that resemble scripture. I have read the hard copy and just listened to this rendition and was still worth while.
I appreciated Larson narrating so it felt like a conversation from a person who loves movies and loves Christ. My only knock is at times there were long pauses in between chapters but amazing work!! Definitely recommending to friends and family.