Hosted by Dr. Kutter Callaway, this podcast takes you on a journey into the heart of one of the most popular genres of contemporary film and television: horror. Whether you’re a lifelong horror fan or won’t go within 10-feet of a scary movie, each episode generates a conversation about the nature of our fears and why we just can’t seem to look away from the things that terrify us, even if we find ourselves peering through the slightly parted fingers covering our eyes. Over the course of the season, you’ll hear from major Hollywood filmmakers, well-known film critics, leading psychologists, and even an exorcist or two. At times, it will be dark, and perhaps even shocking, but the goal isn’t to wallow in this darkness anymore than it is to eliminate it from our lives. This podcast isn’t about how to avoid fear, how to leverage it, or even whether or not it’s ok to be afraid. This podcast is an exercise in learning how to fear rightly. It’s an exploration of fear, faith, and stories that scare the daylights out of us. From the studio that brought you "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill" and "The Bulletin," “Be Afraid” is a production of Christianity Today, Fuller Seminary, and Uncommon Voices Collective.
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Hosted by Dr. Kutter Callaway, this podcast takes you on a journey into the heart of one of the most popular genres of contemporary film and television: horror. Whether you’re a lifelong horror fan or won’t go within 10-feet of a scary movie, each episode generates a conversation about the nature of our fears and why we just can’t seem to look away from the things that terrify us, even if we find ourselves peering through the slightly parted fingers covering our eyes. Over the course of the season, you’ll hear from major Hollywood filmmakers, well-known film critics, leading psychologists, and even an exorcist or two. At times, it will be dark, and perhaps even shocking, but the goal isn’t to wallow in this darkness anymore than it is to eliminate it from our lives. This podcast isn’t about how to avoid fear, how to leverage it, or even whether or not it’s ok to be afraid. This podcast is an exercise in learning how to fear rightly. It’s an exploration of fear, faith, and stories that scare the daylights out of us. From the studio that brought you "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill" and "The Bulletin," “Be Afraid” is a production of Christianity Today, Fuller Seminary, and Uncommon Voices Collective.
This week on Be Afraid, we walk through the various sub-genres of horror and consider the ways in which different kinds of horror films not only reflect our wide-ranging fears, but also provide us with models for responding to the undeniable horrors of real life.
More from Kutter Callaway on theology and culture: https://www.kuttercallaway.com/
More from Uncommon Voices Collective: https://www.uncommonvoices.faith/
More from Qoholeth: https://qohelethnoise.bandcamp.com
Joining us this week:
Wes Craven is a well known American filmmaker who is considered by many to be the master of horror. Although Craven passed away in 2015, his influence lives on through interviews like the one we conducted at the Reel Spirituality Conference in 2001.
Scott Derrickson is a filmmaker whose projects include, among others, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Dr. Strange, and The Black Phone.
Dr. Coltan Scrivner is a behavioral scientist and is the author of a forthcoming book exploring our Morbid sense of Curiosity.
Dr. Brad Strawn, Chief of Spiritual Formation and Integration at Fuller Theological Seminary, Dean of the Chapel, Evelyn and Frank Freed Professor of the Integration of Psychology and Theology, and Chair of Integration, Clinical Psychology Department.
Resources Referenced:
“A Witch's Invitation” by Carmen
A Very Nervous Person’s Guide to Horror” by Mathias Clasen
A Recent study conducted at the beginning of the COVID pandemic indicating that horror fans were more psychologically resilient toward the radical disruptions of lockdowns and isolation.
“Be Afraid” is a production of Christianity Today, Fuller Seminary, and Uncommon Voices Collective
Executive Producer: Erik Petrik
Producer, Writer, and Editor: Kutter Callaway
Producer, Editor, Graphic Design: Stephen Scheidler
Producer: TJ Hester
Music: Jeremy Hunt and Qoholeth
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Be Afraid
Hosted by Dr. Kutter Callaway, this podcast takes you on a journey into the heart of one of the most popular genres of contemporary film and television: horror. Whether you’re a lifelong horror fan or won’t go within 10-feet of a scary movie, each episode generates a conversation about the nature of our fears and why we just can’t seem to look away from the things that terrify us, even if we find ourselves peering through the slightly parted fingers covering our eyes. Over the course of the season, you’ll hear from major Hollywood filmmakers, well-known film critics, leading psychologists, and even an exorcist or two. At times, it will be dark, and perhaps even shocking, but the goal isn’t to wallow in this darkness anymore than it is to eliminate it from our lives. This podcast isn’t about how to avoid fear, how to leverage it, or even whether or not it’s ok to be afraid. This podcast is an exercise in learning how to fear rightly. It’s an exploration of fear, faith, and stories that scare the daylights out of us. From the studio that brought you "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill" and "The Bulletin," “Be Afraid” is a production of Christianity Today, Fuller Seminary, and Uncommon Voices Collective.
