Hi I suffer from a scrupulous conscience, and I love horror films and buy DVDs of horror films. Well, I just bought The Omen last week and have seen that one a few times and enjoyed it (I love Greg Peck). I went on the Catholic Bishops Movie Review and it rated it "O". Then I went on EWTN and did a search on morally offensive films and the priest said "It would be at least an occasion of sin to see movies judged morally offensive by the onference of Bishops." I also read from another priest that your age can make a difference (in other words the younger and more impressionable you are the more it would affect you). Here I am almost 59 years old and worrying about the fact that I love horror films and the omen. I have tons of horror on DVD. What is an occasion of sin???? do you have to confess it???? do you watch horror films and do you agree that it is okay if you are older and not impressionable? thanks all, maryann

-- mparker (maryann.parker!@citigroup.com), November 05, 2004

Answers

BUMP! OR SHOUDL I SAY BOO!!!

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), November 05, 2004.

It should depend on you more than anything else. Do you think your faith and your morals are firm enough to survive watching the occasional zombie flick? If they are, then you shouldn't have much of a problem (I reccomend 28 Days Later, personaly).

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), November 05, 2004.

Anti-Bush, we seem to agree on something. I too am a horror flick watcher. Ghostship is pretty good too as far as new films go, but I still like the old classics like Frankenstein, Dracula, Omen, Rose Mary's Baby, ect....

-- Suzanne (james-betsy@sbcglobal.net), November 05, 2004.

there is ONE common ground ive found at this site (lol)-- enjoying watching horror. i actually like more drama and suspense than dismemberment/gore.

i would say this about "the omen" : its fiction. and its enjoyable, and somewhat disturbing. but as far as being offensive? ambassador thorn was actually anglican, not catholic, anyway.

i hated "the exorcist". talk about being offended. there was NO reason that degradation of the crucifix needed to be in that movie. that was a little extreme, and shocking still. and sacriligious, even if it was for theatrical effect. (i love the theme, though ("tubular bells"), and the georgetown scenery).

-- jas (jas_r_22@hotmail.com), November 06, 2004.

mparker,

i would agree with anti-bush. EWTN is a great site, although it IS still the OPINION of that priest who posted that message. it is NOT objectively sinful to watch most morally objectionable films, assuming they do not contain such things as sacrilage or heresy. if a film is violent then yes, it could be deemed morally offensive to youth. You, however, are far enough beyond the age of reason to distinguish between reality and fiction. It really is your call in the case of most horror movies to determine if they are heretical and therefore beyond your ability to handle.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), November 06, 2004.

I have always loved horror movies--- as a youngster (facinated) to even this day if they are good enough. I would agree with most that its up to you.

I can see nothing sinful in being scared by evil--- which is usually one of the central themes in most horror flicks. We should fear evil and recognize it. Maybe thats where the facination lies.

Even as kids we really knew the horror film content was not real. Scared us but still I always knew it really wouldn't happen.

I'll tell you the first and scariest movie I ever saw as a little kid was "The Wizard of OZ." Especially the scene in when Dorothy was looking into the witches chrystal ball and she sees Auntie Emm calling her and then Auntie EMM's image fades and turns into the witch.

I was afraid to look out of our windows at night time for fear I'd see actress Margaret Hamilton "The Witch" looking back. It passed with time and I always knew it was just fiction.

-- Jim (furst@flash.net), November 06, 2004.

A little off topic, but I just saw "The Grudge", and it was terrible. It relied more on the shock value of some scary-looking creature popping out of the closet than any real psycological element. I like the apocalyptic zombie movies the best, like 28 Days Later or Dawn of the Dead. Jim, I like your point about evil. You hit the nail on the head.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), November 07, 2004.

Have any of you seen Shawn of the Dead? Is it worth renting?

Thanks,

(You guys could be Greenspun's own movie critics)

Joe

-- Joe (joestong@yahoo.com), November 11, 2004.