As a Catholic—or just a Christian in general—it can be almost impossible to find quality faith-based content to watch, given the vast majority of films produced by believers are, let's face it, crappy. The acting in most of these projects drips with more cheese than an order of nachos. And the storytelling usually just shoves out overt propaganda with an obvious intent to proselytize rather than entertain.
In fact, Christian filmmaking suffers from the same problem plaguing most mainstream movies. Hollywood is overrun with radical leftists who ignore solid storytelling in favor of overt messaging, turning films into preachy sermons. Christians in the entertainment industry, who often shake their fists at the sky and rail against major studios for pushing agendas, don’t seem to realize they’re guilty of the same sin.
Which is why, as a lifelong horror fan, I’m shocked by the vitriol the genre gets from so many believers. To some extent, I get it. A lot of scary movies drown in gore and sex, a poison no Christian wants to ingest. But that doesn’t mean we should toss out the baby with the bathwater. After all, the Bible itself bursts with horror—monsters, prostitutes chopped into pieces and sent through the mail, giants, cannibalism (not referring to the Eucharist, people), and a whole lot of blood and violence.
Heck, there’s even quite a bit of sex too. Just read through the Song of Solomon, for example. But not if you aren’t married.
Entire subgenres of horror provide perfect opportunities to tell solid stories with supernatural themes that can launch powerful discussions about the gospel and strengthen one’s faith walk.
That’s why, as someone who tries to keep Jesus Christ at the center of my life, I believe the best Christian film of all time is a major studio horror production called The Conjuring. And I’m not being hyperbolic—I truly believe this spooky demon-possession story is a Christian film, whether director James Wan and his team meant it to be or not.
The story follows a family that moves into a new home out in the boondocks, only to discover it’s haunted by the spirit of a Satan-worshiping witch from hundreds of years ago who sacrificed her baby to the devil and then committed suicide. Personally, I don’t believe Bathsheba—the witch—haunts the house herself, but rather the demon who once possessed her, likely by her own invitation.
When the Perrons face relentless terror from the demonic force, they call Ed and Lorraine Warren—demonologists recognized, though not ordained, by the Catholic Church—to investigate. By the way, the Warrens were real people, and the films within The Conjuring universe draw directly from their actual case files.
The Warrens, devout Catholics, soon realize that the Perrons suffer from demonic oppression. They agree to help because they believe spiritual warfare is real. If you follow God, you go to heaven. If you choose Satan, you go to hell.
And Jesus Christ, along with the sacrament of exorcism, provides the only solution. The Warrens don’t hide their faith. In one scene in The Conjuring, Ed asks the family if they’re baptized. When the father admits they aren’t really into church, Ed tells him to rethink that position.
Christian iconography, imagery, and prayer fill the movie. The Warrens use crucifixes to provoke the demonic entities so they can gather evidence to convince the Vatican to approve an exorcism of the home.
Later, during the film’s climax, an exorcism takes place and the characters invoke the name of Jesus against the dark forces attacking the family. As if that’s not explicit enough, the film ends with this quote plastered on screen:
The fairy tale is true. The devil exists. God exists. And for us, as people, our very destiny hinges upon which one we elect to follow.
What makes this such an amazing film is its focus on storytelling and family. The movie uses very little gore and minimal foul language. It earned an R-rating solely because of how genuinely scary it is. While the messaging sometimes comes across overtly, it avoids preachiness. Most of the faith elements operate in the subtext.
By presenting a compelling story with characters you actually care about, the film makes you emotionally invested—and that makes its message hit deeper. Most people I know who’ve watched The Conjuring walk away asking serious questions about the unseen spiritual realities surrounding us.
Add in the true, real-life aspects of the Warrens’ case, and viewers walk away shaken by what they experienced. That shock opens the door for honest conversations about God, the afterlife, and the gospel.
What more could you want from a Christian movie?
If you’re looking for a good spooky movie this Halloween—or really any time of year—check out The Conjuring. Especially if you’re a believer. It’ll give you plenty to think about.
