Our annual Halloween show applies a theological lens to horror both new (Barbarian) and old (1978’s Halloween). Josh, Joe, and Abby discuss what Christians might appreciate about movies designed to scare us.

Show Notes

Sign up to receive email updates about Josh's forthcoming book, Fear Not! A Christian Appreciation of Horror: fuller.edu/fearnot

Read Joe's TC post on 1978's Halloween: thinkchristian.net/looking-for-good-samaritans-in-john-carpenters-halloween

Read Abby's TC post on Five Films to Help You Observe Advent: thinkchristian.net/five-films-to-help-you-observe-advent-at-home

How should Christians think about innocence, especially alongside the reality of original sin? Two new albums — by Marcus Mumford and Death Cab for Cutie — provide context for considering innocence lost and gospel repair.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth has captured countless imaginations, Christian imaginations in particular. Josh, Claude, and Sarah weigh in on the Lord of the Rings-based fantasy series, now streaming on Prime Video, and also dig into the new TC ebook reflecting on the eight previous screen adaptations of Tolkien’s work.

Prey, the new Predator installment, feels fresh partly because its central female character recontextualizes the macho masculinity of the original action film. Josh, Abby, and JR. discuss both movies alongside the idea of Christlike masculinity.

Toward the end of a summer in which many slowly emerged from COVID, Beyoncé released Renaissance, a celebratory dance album. How might Christians understand its spirit of freedom? And how does it sound alongside another new release, Maggie Rogers’ Surrender? Josh and Kathryn discuss the albums and the biblical idea of freedom in surrender.

Listen in as TC’s Josh Larsen and D. Marquel lead a conversation with Movie Club members about the ways Nope, Us, and Get Out speak truth to power. (To join the club, sign up at http://www.thinkchristian.net/movieclub)

Gentleness, a fruit of the Spirit, defines a silly little movie about a talking shell and an HBO Max biography series about television chef Julia Child. How might both encourage us to “keep in step with the Spirit” by living lives of gentleness? Josh, Sarah, and Joe discuss.

What does mentorship look like in a Christian context? How might two new streaming series - Ms. Marvel and Obi-Wan Kenobi - offer helpful models? Josh, Michelle, and JR. head to Disney Plus to find out.

A new book from Claude Atcho looks at classic African-American literature through a Christian lens. Claude joins Josh to discuss the book and a film adaptation of one of those classics: 1998’s Beloved.

A new movie from Alex Garland (Annihilation, Ex Machina) and a new song from Florence + the Machine employ biblical language to consider the reign of men. Josh, Abby, and Sarah discuss how the film and song remind us of the ways sinful and broken expressions of patriarchy warp God's plan for humanity, especially by devaluing the imago dei in women.