If the devil is going to show
up at some point in a movie, I’d rather not pay to see it. Yet, any exorcist will tell you that it’s the
devil that you don’t see that is the most dangerous–the ones that tell you
immorality is a good thing and if there’s
a God, he wouldn’t mind.
up at some point in a movie, I’d rather not pay to see it. Yet, any exorcist will tell you that it’s the
devil that you don’t see that is the most dangerous–the ones that tell you
immorality is a good thing and if there’s
a God, he wouldn’t mind.
In the movie, Ouija, which opened on October 24, the devil shows up. And by
name. He does not come trying to make
evil look good, he comes as pure evil with all the horror you would expect.
name. He does not come trying to make
evil look good, he comes as pure evil with all the horror you would expect.
The premise is that after a
teen is brutally killed in an accident, a group of her teenage friends attempt
to contact their friend through a Ouija board. They awaken the dark powers of an ancient spirit,
which intrudes into their lives. Oh, and
it’s based on a true story. No thanks.
teen is brutally killed in an accident, a group of her teenage friends attempt
to contact their friend through a Ouija board. They awaken the dark powers of an ancient spirit,
which intrudes into their lives. Oh, and
it’s based on a true story. No thanks.
I’ve only watched the movie
trailer to know what it is about and that is enough for me. The only reason I know about it at all is
through a friend who emailed me about it.
I don’t personally find evil entertaining, but is it okay for people who
like to be scared to go to such a movie? Would you let your kids go? It’s rated PG-13, so a young teen would have no problem buying a
ticket.
trailer to know what it is about and that is enough for me. The only reason I know about it at all is
through a friend who emailed me about it.
I don’t personally find evil entertaining, but is it okay for people who
like to be scared to go to such a movie? Would you let your kids go? It’s rated PG-13, so a young teen would have no problem buying a
ticket.
Different
Reactions
Reactions
According to Fr. Patrick, (not
his real name, since he is a parish priest and his work in exorcism is not publicized) who has
worked as an exorcist for ten years, horror movies are not necessarily bad and
can even be good in some ways. “One of the things that I have found about these
kind of movies—such as the Exorcism of
Emily Rose–is that it has helped some people, done nothing for some people,
and caused a stir among others,” he said. “It is a person’s emotional make-up that can
effect how they react to such movies.”
his real name, since he is a parish priest and his work in exorcism is not publicized) who has
worked as an exorcist for ten years, horror movies are not necessarily bad and
can even be good in some ways. “One of the things that I have found about these
kind of movies—such as the Exorcism of
Emily Rose–is that it has helped some people, done nothing for some people,
and caused a stir among others,” he said. “It is a person’s emotional make-up that can
effect how they react to such movies.”
In the case
of Emily Rose, Fr. Patrick said he
had people come to him in fear after watching the movie because they kept waking up at 3
AM [supposedly the opposite hour of the hour of mercy at 3 PM]. Those are the kind of people that he said
should not go to horror movies since they are left in a state of fear which does not help them spiritually. He noted that there
were others who saw the same movie and responded by going to confession and
telling him they wanted to be sure to stay away from evil. “Horror movies can
bring evil to light and that’s a good thing,” Fr. Patrick said. “I would not go
so far as to recommend them to people but at the same time, some people are
helped by recognizing evil for what it is.”
of Emily Rose, Fr. Patrick said he
had people come to him in fear after watching the movie because they kept waking up at 3
AM [supposedly the opposite hour of the hour of mercy at 3 PM]. Those are the kind of people that he said
should not go to horror movies since they are left in a state of fear which does not help them spiritually. He noted that there
were others who saw the same movie and responded by going to confession and
telling him they wanted to be sure to stay away from evil. “Horror movies can
bring evil to light and that’s a good thing,” Fr. Patrick said. “I would not go
so far as to recommend them to people but at the same time, some people are
helped by recognizing evil for what it is.”
In the old
Dracula movies, Fr. Patrick pointed out that there was no question that
vampires were evil and a crucifix was used to fight them—fighting evil with
the power of God. He said the problem is
when evil and good are blurred or when evil is portrayed as good such as in
movies that promote immorality.
Dracula movies, Fr. Patrick pointed out that there was no question that
vampires were evil and a crucifix was used to fight them—fighting evil with
the power of God. He said the problem is
when evil and good are blurred or when evil is portrayed as good such as in
movies that promote immorality.
Hollywood’s
Version
Version
Fr. Patrick
was in the seminary when he watched the classic exorcism movie, The Exorcist. He credits that movie with inspiring him to eventually become an exorcist himself. Evil
was evil and good was good in the movie; there was no confusion. But some people ended up confused. “A lot of
people walked away and were afraid they were possessed,” he said. “Those kind
of people should not watch a horror movie, but I thought the movie itself was
pretty balanced and not that sensationalized.”
was in the seminary when he watched the classic exorcism movie, The Exorcist. He credits that movie with inspiring him to eventually become an exorcist himself. Evil
was evil and good was good in the movie; there was no confusion. But some people ended up confused. “A lot of
people walked away and were afraid they were possessed,” he said. “Those kind
of people should not watch a horror movie, but I thought the movie itself was
pretty balanced and not that sensationalized.”
Hollywood
movies, according to Fr. Patrick, usually do sensationalize the truth. So even in a movie which shows evil for what it is and portrays the Church in a good light, there is still a lot of
sensationalism. “There are some weird
things that you see during an exorcism, it can be pretty horrible,” he said, “but still,
the movies usually exaggerate them.”
movies, according to Fr. Patrick, usually do sensationalize the truth. So even in a movie which shows evil for what it is and portrays the Church in a good light, there is still a lot of
sensationalism. “There are some weird
things that you see during an exorcism, it can be pretty horrible,” he said, “but still,
the movies usually exaggerate them.”
Stern
Warning
Warning
The most
important thing, according to Fr. Patrick, is for evil not to be glamorized.
Regardless of whether one goes to the movie or not, he gives a stern warning
against Ouija boards, even out of curiosity.
He has had several people come to him after experiencing problems that
stemmed from Ouija boards.
important thing, according to Fr. Patrick, is for evil not to be glamorized.
Regardless of whether one goes to the movie or not, he gives a stern warning
against Ouija boards, even out of curiosity.
He has had several people come to him after experiencing problems that
stemmed from Ouija boards.
Fr. Patrick said
he talks to his parish’s high school youth group about the dangers of the
occult and playing with Ouija boards. One
student called him after he went away to college. “I’m so glad I got a hold of you; you were
right,”’ the student told Fr. Patrick. “We
were messing with a Ouija board last night and in the morning, I woke up with
scratches all over my back.’”
he talks to his parish’s high school youth group about the dangers of the
occult and playing with Ouija boards. One
student called him after he went away to college. “I’m so glad I got a hold of you; you were
right,”’ the student told Fr. Patrick. “We
were messing with a Ouija board last night and in the morning, I woke up with
scratches all over my back.’”
Fr. Patrick
told him to go to a priest to confess and renounce what he had done. He kept in
touch with the student for a while but lost touch and assumes there were no
further problems.
told him to go to a priest to confess and renounce what he had done. He kept in
touch with the student for a while but lost touch and assumes there were no
further problems.
The bottom
line, according to Fr. Patrick, is that curiosity and dabbling in anything
occult is very dangerous. In this case,
he explained that it is better to learn from the bad experiences of others than
to learn first hand. “God warns us against it in the Bible,” he said.
“There’s nothing good that ever comes from that, there is nothing safe about
it,” he said. “It’s a dimension you have
no control over. Evil wants to convince you that you will have control over it,
but you won’t. It’s always a mistake.”
line, according to Fr. Patrick, is that curiosity and dabbling in anything
occult is very dangerous. In this case,
he explained that it is better to learn from the bad experiences of others than
to learn first hand. “God warns us against it in the Bible,” he said.
“There’s nothing good that ever comes from that, there is nothing safe about
it,” he said. “It’s a dimension you have
no control over. Evil wants to convince you that you will have control over it,
but you won’t. It’s always a mistake.”
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