Just when I was beginning to think “edgy Christian fiction” is an oxymoron, something 
has caught my eye…
It’s a trend toward “Christian horror.” Okay, that’s not the term we like to use. The horror genre is usually equated with occult-laden splatter flicks aimed at indiscriminate teens or uncivilized adults. Whether or not that distinction is totally accurate, Christians tend to favor “thriller” or “supernatural suspense” as the term of choice and distance themselves from being labeled as “horror writers.”
It was refreshing to hear one acquisitions editor from a Christian publishing house recently admit that the distinction between “horror” and “supernatural suspense” is purely semantical. Nevertheless, there is increasing evidence that Christian authors are skirting that line, pushing the proverbial envelop, and challenging the traditional boundaries between Christian Fiction and the horror genre. Some of that evidence includes:
- Eric Wilson’s Undead Trilogy — slated for October release; it includes, of all things, vampires!
- Sta Akra — Sta Akra is Greek for “on the edge” — a group of nine successful Christian authors like Tim Downs, T.L. Hines, Bob Liparulo, and Melanie Wells, pushing toward more “edgy” Christian Fiction.
- Kathy Mackel’s “Christian Chillers” — it’s a term she’s coined to re-frame the “Christian horror” category.
- Anne Rice‘s upcoming “Christian vampire” story — As reported in Time magazine earlier this year, in an article entitled Lestat Lives. Ms. Rice says the story will be
“redemptive” (in keeping with her recent conversion to Catholicism). - Coach’s Midnight Diner — Described as “A hardboiled anthology of horror, mystery, and paranormal fiction” with a Christian spin. As an editor of the mag, I can attest that the next issue will be bigger, better, and more creepy, than the first! Booyah!
- Fear and Trembling — an e-zine sponsored by the folks at Double-Edged Publishing showcasing “horror and dark fiction” that “will not offend traditional Christian values.”
Okay, so it’s not earth-shattering, but things like this give me hope that the ocean liner that is Christian Fiction is slowly changing course (at least, broadening her horizons).
Maybe I’m in the minority, but when it comes to fiction I have little qualms about splicing the terms “Christian” and “horror.” After all, some of the basic staples of Hollywood-ized horror (see: sin, evil, the Seven Deadlies, the Devil, Hell and their associated torments), find their roots in Scripture. The Bible is replete with demons, wailing and gnashing of teeth, the slaughter of children, human sacrifice, souls in eternal anguish, and blood. Heck, Dante’s Inferno contains some of the most macabre, disturbing images in Christian literature.
No doubt one of the main reasons we Christian authors distance ourselves from the horror genre is the disproportionate amount of crap found there. But there’s a big difference between pointless gorefests like Saw, Hostel, and The Hills Have Eyes, and the supernatural and psychological terror of films like The Exorcist, The Sixth Sense, and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Likewise, there’s a decided dissimilarity between the “horror” of Dean Koontz, Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti, and the Texas Chainsaw Massacres of the world.
If any genre is ripe for the Christian imagination, it is “horror.”
Whether or not we are trending toward something new in Christian Fiction has yet to be seen. But I would personally be excited about believers claiming — or re-claiming — a place in the discussion.
Revisiting Christian Horror — “Rather than trying to re-say what I just read, I want to encourage you to click over to Mike Duran’s blog and read his post on Christian Horror…”
Reclaiming is exactly right. Boris Karloff disliked the term “Horror Movie” because he thought that cheapened the genre, and preferred to refer to them as “Tales of Terror.”
True artisans of horror understand what they are writing at heart: morality plays. Somewhere along the line the schlockmeisters added a “t” and started pumping out “morTality” plays instead.
Frankenstein (A Modern Prometheus), Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Invisible Man, War of the Worlds, The Haunting of Hill House, A Good Man is Hard to Find, Perelandra (the epic zombie fistfight scene is a classic), the Rats in the Walls, Dante’s Inferno, The Portrait of Dorian Gray, It, Psycho and I Am Legend are not all Christian stories, but they all are morality tales, most of which are influenced by Christian ethics.
Saw IX (or whatever number they are on) is the slacker version of morality which poses stupid parlor game questions: “Would you rather eat a plate full of cockroaches or clean a public restroom without using your hands?” in place of the truly moral. Compare it to The Wicker Man which asks questions like “Does the hand of Providence protect the missionary? How does a Christian approach truth, grace and the law in the face of pending martyrdom? Does paganism possess the seeds of manifest destiny?”
Wow, quite a catalog Xd! Thanks especially for referencing Ransom’s wrestlemania with the Un-Man in Perelandra. Truly classic! That beast was harder to kill than even Jason…
Thanks for mentioning Fear and Trembling! 😀
I’m just thrilled to tears about the new Anne Rice Book. I can’t wait!!! I’ve been really enjoying her “Christ Our Lord” books. What an amazing talet! And her story is just wonderful. Those are the souls the angels cheer about. Once lost, not found.
I agree, I definitely see a trend. And why not? Every genre should belong to Christ. He is the creator of all things, and the expert of bring beauty from ashes. 😀
Hi Mike. Thanks for drawing attention to this talented group of writers and to the page-flipping, infarction-inducing thrillers coming from these folks’ (admittedly, slightly twisted) imaginations. I cringe at the word “horror” – you’re right about that – because of the association with the ridiculous films and books you mention. But also because bookstore placement is crucial to selling books (last name beginning with “W” – not helpful) and getting yourself labeled as a “horror” writer will get you stuck on a shelf you probably don’t want to be on. Most of the readers you’re trying to reach simply won’t go there. If “horror” is defined as suspense with a supernatural element, I guess we’re stuck with that, to some degree. But if horror means splattered blood and heads floating in jars marked with crosses, count me out. But then,I’m such an oddball, I don’t like being labeled “Christian” either. Not because I have any compunction about being a follower of Christ, but because I think the separate universe theory, or as Francis Schaeffer put it, the bifurcation of the culture into Christian and secular, is ill-advised at best. But that’s another conversation. I appreciate the thoughtfulness you’re bringing to this discussion. Thanks for your cogent, observant and thought-provoking comments.
Mike, thanks for the thought-provoking discussion and for the mention in your blog.
I think most Christians would be surprised–if they were willing to give it a try–by the spiritual elements in Stoker’s Dracula. I think The Beach, Fight Club, Saw, and The Cube are some examples of movies that explore morality in our present age in ways often more piercing than “Christian” fiction. While we certainly don’t need to wallow in the darkness, I write and live with these words of C.T. Studd ringing in my head:
Some want to live, within the sound,
Of church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop
Within a yard of hell.
Okay, buckle your seatbelts and see if this makes any sense:
I have no problems with Christians writing horror, or the concept of horror novels/stories built around elements of faith. I do, however, dislike labels in general, so I’m not a fan of the term “Christian horror, suspense” or any of those other things. I just like to call it “fiction”, and leave it at that.
However, I think Midnight Diner, Fear & Trembling are very important venues in the Christian market, because I think they are on the frontier of faith fiction – especially Midnight Diner. Submitting both last year and this year, I knew I had the artistic freedom, (including swears and stuff), to tell a realistic just dripping with “genre”, but still center it around a faith concept. I didn’t feel as if I was “curtailing” my craft to fit into a Christian publication, which may sound like a bad thing – but I think is the best thing.
This is what I’d like to see: I’d like to see more Christian writers get out there in the general market, and utilize horror to their own faith driven ends. That means using a whole set of tools not fit for the CBA, but so be it.
I’ve dedicated this summer to studying the horror genre – reading issues of Cemetary Dance, Doorways Magazine and Shroud Magazine, and I’m now on on Dorchester Publishing’s reviewer list for their horror line. I’ve found there are lot of novels out there – albeit secular – that are readable, enjoyable, and have elements of faith or perseverance of faith in them. However, some of them are as Mike mentioned: full of grotesque violence, sex, and occultic themes not needed for a good story.
I recently went to a Maurice Broaddus, a Christian who has committed himself to writing secular horror, for some advice about the market. He acknowledged the growth of the Christian Horror Market, but expressed his continued desire to see Christians stepping out into the secular market, bringing stories of faith to the secular market.
That being said, I have high hopes for both Midnight Diner and Fear & Trembling. I’d live to see F & T take off and grow, and I’d love it if Midnight Diner become the faith version of Cemetery Dance. It’s already published one novelist in Mike Dellosso, and hopefully that will continue.
One last thing in my rambling entry – I would also like the CBA/General Christian market or whatever you call it give more credence and attention to the small press. One thing that’s amazed me more than anything else is the wide variety of creative opportunities in the secular market, in horror in general. I open an issue of Cemetery Dance, and I see so many outlets – most of them small press, and very well respected – wheras in the Christian market, a lot of small press places – like The Writer’s Cafe Press – are largely dismissed. I’d like to see that change.
Anyway. Here’s hoping I made some semblance of sense.
…that’s “realistic story just dripping with genre…”
I’ve been happy (as a Christian) to see some positive Christian images in horror fiction lately, such as the priest in Michael Laimo’s latest novel, FIRES RISING, and the character Samuel in ORGY OF SOULS (by Wrath James White and Maurice Broaddus) sacrifices the ultimate for the love of his brother. So long as the stories stay fresh I’m all for this.
I don’t think there’s been enough of a splash to call it a trend, but the crack in the wall is leaking a bit. Several sources have been names already. I personally prefer to say supernatural thrillers (although I like Kathryn Mackel’s chillers, too), but then I was never a fan of horror for horror’s sake. Chainsaw massacres and Scream and Freddy Kruger. Lately, though, I’ve seen “a light at the edge of darkness” (that’s a plug for a pretty cool anthology put out by The Writers’ Cafe Press and the Lost Genre Guild) in some short stories and novels. A couple of years ago Never Ceese by Sue Dent was even short-listed for the Bram Stoker Award. It’s not even really
horror, it just has vampires and werewolvew in it. 🙂
Melanie, thanks so much for visiting! I guess the problem with any label is that it comes to mean different things to different people. The horror genre is just as misinterpreted, in some ways, as is Christian Fiction in general. In fact, I wonder that finding oneself “stuck on a shelf” with Christian Fiction may potentially be just as risky as being found in the horror section. Myself, I wouldn’t mind being labeled a “horror writer” for the same reason I don’t mind being called “Christian.” In both cases, the labels don’t do justice to the reality. And in both cases, I have the opportunity to disprove those misconceptions. Thanks again for commenting!
Nick –
I was actually thinking of Fires Rising, also Mary S’s “The Hollower”, and Brian Keene’s “Ghost Walk” – coming out in August – played with a TON of that stuff. There are probably a bunch more I’m just not thinking of at the moment.
Kevin, thanks for your comments, and the links. For the last three years I’ve read The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror anthology, edited by Kelly Link and Ellen Datlow. Much of the horror in its pages is psychological, rather than visceral, and often literary. There really is some powerful, thought-provoking horror being written.
I agree with you about Christian writers needing to stretch their legs, and wonder if resistance to horror in the CBA is as much a reaction against the perceived gore it might sanction, as it is fear that the boundaries of what has traditionally been called Christian Fiction is, indeed, crumbling. Godspeed to your endeavors!
Yeah, Mike, I agree with you about labels. I think that’s one of the unfortunate realities of commerce – which is the area in which it has the most impact on “christian” writers – meaning anyone whose book is published by a press who is a member of the Christian Bookseller’s Association. You could write the same book, btw, and if Random House publishes it (but not through Waterbrook/Multnomah, its CBA imprint), then you’re on the shelves in the middle of the store with the civilians. If your press is CBA, you’re in the “religion” section, which again – back left corner of the store – is a genuine handicap with book sales. Another problem – huge – is getting reviewed if your a CBA writer. Most “mainstream” reviewers/ editors won’t touch it. Also, I cringe knowing that many non-beliving readers who might be touched by the themes of faith and grace in these books would never read “Christian fiction.” Boom. You’ve alienated the very people you’d love to reach. I’m sure all this applies to the “horror” label also. So in addition to whatever philosophical issues we may all have with labels, there are practical drawbacks as well. grrrrrrr. Too bad they don’t have just two categories: Good Fiction and Crap. Now THAT would be useful information for book buyers. 🙂
Glad to see that the genre is getting more attention. I’ve been writing “Christian Horror” (I’m not afraid of the title, because it really makes for some funny reactions) for nearly ten years. I’ve had so many people question what I was doing–worried I had crossed over into the occult or, as in the case of non-believers, was writing a horror story just as a cheap excuse to preach. I genuine love monsters and I am devoted to my faith. Writing my book (watch how I plug this here) “The Coming Evil” was an excercise in both. This is such fertile ground for good storytelling, as well as giving an account of our faith.
Hello, First-time reader here.
At first reading through this post I was growing increasingly anxious because I thought that you were opposed to Christian’s mingling in the horror genre realm. I know that many Christians are, of course, opposed to anything that could be mildly offensive to watch when it comes to devils, demons, ghosts, gore, etc.
The interesting thing that happens though is that something will be released as a “Christian horror” or “Christian thriller” and all of a sudden it’s okay to watch or read. Why is this? Is it because the author feels obligated to put some message of salvation in the movie/text. Isn’t that called “selling out” elsewhere? I just tend not to care anymore what the “Christian market” is doing. And I think having a “Christian market” where you can buy your Christian horror, Christian metal, Christian toothbrushes, and Christian mints is incestuous, which is far more grotesque than Saw and 28 Weeks Later.
Thank you for the post, I will continue reading your blog when you post.
Also, I have a blog at beerandscifi.com and have recently posted (posted on July 9) a list of utopian/dystopian sci fi movies that I rank from best to worst. You should check it out if you have interest.
I see there’s another person named Eric around here. Hi, there.
My goal in writing a vampire series is to build on the traditional spiritual struggle inherent in vampire fiction (as opposed to the martial arts/erotic stuff it’s turned into). There are so many elements that beg to be dealt with from a biblical worldview. But, my goal as always, is to write a story that stands on its own two feet. A thinly couched sermon is better suited to nonfiction.
Eric, you mentioned the idea of “selling out.” It’s an interesting term, that gets bandied about loosely. Strangely enough, I could make more money and sell more books by “selling out” and writing what’s acceptable in the “Christian market.” Truthfully, I wish we could publish books all under the same umbrella, instead of separating ourselves. It’s hard to be salt and light without getting out into the world. That’s always a struggle of mine.
Well, being the author of the bram stoker short-listed vampire/werewolf novel written by a Christian and accepted widley and wildly by CBA readers and readers of the general Christian market, I’d just like to say thank-you to all those who’ve read and enjoyed my book. Forever Richard the sequel will be out shortly. 🙂
It will be in all bookstores, Christian fiction sections and otherwise, but not in Christian/CBA bookstores as my publisher is not CBA affiliated.
Thank-you again to all the you CBA readers who’ve enjoyed my book. It means so much to me.
Frank Creed has been ringing this bell since at least ’06. I believe his contention goes something like: We own the copyright on fallen angels, right? Why is Christian horror (or Christian sci-fi for that matter) considered an oxymoron? It was the raison d’etre for founding the Lost Genre Guild.
Last month at Mo*Con III in Indianapolis, Maurice Broaddus amassed an amazing group of horror writers (general market and Christian) who experience nominalization in the Christian marketplace or at the very least, mislabelling of their genre.
Hi,
I'm a screenwriter who just had a novelization come from the script. Yes, in the movie world it would be horror and the novel is actually selling well on Amazon under the horror/occult genre. When I tell my Christian friends this, they freak out. I even had one reviewer comment that I was worshiping demons. How outrageous! All demons and demon possession in the novel are evil and the Biblical world view is strong. I'm guessing this comes from my honesty about being physically assaulted by demons which led to my research on how better to protect myself discussed on my blog which focuses on the supernatural from a Biblical world view.
–Rebecca Ellen Kurtz, author of Sons of God
I would tend to see "fear" as a major component of horror, and here's where I have a problem with Christian horror. If "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind," should we be writing/reading stories that intend to inspire fear in readers? I know people who can't be alone in dark rooms because of horror films they saw as children (which tipped their minds toward being unsound, apparently), and I dislike the thought of Christians contributing to that.
That's not to say that everything published under the auspices of "Christian horror" is meant to inspire fear; I just finished reading Wilson's "Haunt of Jackals," and while it can be gross, it's not going to keep me out of any dark rooms. But I do think this is an aspect of the genre we shouldn't gloss over.