Top 10 Christian Horror Films

#10. The Prophecy
     This old Christopher Walken gem is a classic. The sequels, not so much.
​     Walken plays the angel Gabriel in a modern day war of Biblical proportions. If you don’t immediately want to see that then there isn’t anything I can say to get you to.

#9. The Wicker Man
     Christopher Lee seems like a necessary addition to any horror move made within a certain three-decade period. This movie does a good job juxtaposing true religion with a cult. 
​    The original The Wicker Man is an absolutely brilliant film about a devoutly Christian policeman who is summoned anonymously to a mysterious island to find a captured girl. Honestly, saying much more would spoil the intricate story. The British film combines the thriller, horror, and musical genres to make something truly unique. Unfortunately, the 2006 remake starring Nicholas Cage may be one of the worst movies of all time, so steer clear of it. Trust us, it is as bad as advertised.

#8. A Thief in the Night
     This bit of Christian horror seems like a modern twist on the morality plays of Medieval Europe. Unfortunately, this one is still on my to-watch list.  
    A Thief in the Night is the first of many ‘70s era horror films made by conservative Christians who had one simple goal – get people to convert and fast. The films took a literal approach to the horrors of the end times by depicting beheadings of Christians and an actual rapture. Fellow Beliefnet editors who saw these movies as children vouch for their effectiveness at scaring children. In retrospect though, it is mainly frightening that someone thought this was a good idea.
     It looks easy enough to watch this movie on YouTube in its entirety. Comment below with your thoughts and reviews!

#7. Carrie
     I added this one to this list of Christian horror after some hesitation, but in the end, I erred on the side of including this Stephen King classic. The religiosity presented in this movie seems to fall beyond the pale. This is not so much Christian horror as an horrific caricature of a Christian. Let me know what you think! 
​     From BeliefNet: "Carrie’s frightening telekinetic powers are the focus of this film, but her overbearingly religious mother is as much of an antagonist as they bullies at her school. Carrie is locked in her room and forced to pray while her mother blames her daughters’ problems on her sins. Unfortunately for the mother though, her intense religious sheltering comes down on her in the end, quite literally."

#6. The Exorcism of Emily Rose
     See? Not all of these Christian horror films are from the 70s, though that begs the question - what was going on in the 70s?
     I was so surprised when I first saw this to find a beautiful message folded within this truly horrifying movie. The choice at the end, whether theologically accurate or not, truly elevates this movie. Also, the best part, it's based on a true story, right?
     Let’s face it – exorcisms are played out. A priest chanting Bible verses while a demon inhabits a person’s body? Yawn. This film, however, takes an interesting approach to the subject by wrapping the disturbing tale of Emily Rose in a court case against the very priest who performed the exorcism. It is ripe with scary bits, but it also tackles the concept of faith vs. science in a very powerful way, leaving you both scared and ready to discuss what exactly the movie was trying to say. That is rare for a horror film!

#5. The Omen
     This movie has it all, as well as about 40 sequels ... and Gregory Peck to boot! 
     The end times are a common concept in horror movies, but few are willing to go to the lengths that The Omen did in the ‘70s. Young Damien is a little different than the other children. Namely, people seem to suffer bizarre deaths in his presence. The audience follows his family as they discover the horrible truth – their only son is the antichrist. What makes the film a classic is the parents’ believable relationship and genuine reactions to the insane events happening around them. Damien is so adorable that you won’t believe it either.

#4 and #3.
The Seventh Sign
The Seventh Seal
     Please excuse me for including these together, despite one film being far superior to the other. This is as much to help me disambiguate! 
     As a child of the 80s, I admit I was probably watching this movie more for Demi Moore than its Christian themes. Watch out with this one - there is a mix of pseudo-Christian theology and Hebrew mysticism in this movie. Don't confuse this movie or any of these movies for the Catechism!
     I've also included the Ingmar Bergman film of the same name, which is in all respects superior to the Demi Moore Version :)

#2. 
Rosemary's Baby
     Not exactly the feel-good movie of the decade ... but a classic nonetheless. 
     Rosemary’s Baby seeks to answer the age old question - “What would you do if you were carrying Satan’s baby?” It seems far-fetched, but the genius of the film lies in just how normal everything seems much of the time. The characters live their seemingly mundane liveswhile the audience sees the macabre events taking place around them. Little do they know, the Woodhouse couple is actually a part of a satanic ritual aimed at bringing the antichrist into the world. The film is incredibly bold considering its age, and it will still effect you today.

#1. The Exorcist
     Big surprise, right? A movie so chilling it spawned a whole horror sub-genre. Also, it provides a healthy reminder to all people, everywhere: when things get really bad, accept no substitutes, get a Catholic priest! 
     At its heart The Exorcist is a simple movie about a family, a group of Priests, and the lengths that they would all go through to save a little girl. All of this is told through a nastily claustrophobic take on demonic possession. Its shocking scenes may lose some impact nowadays, but the emotional content of the film is as effective as it has always been.
     I've also included a link to a great book by the world's most experienced exorcist priest. Very interesting read!

Adapted from an article originally published at BeliefNet.