Just In Time For Halloween

 

     I myself do not much care for, nor do I celebrate, Halloween. However, I thought that this would be a great time to delve into the idea of darkness and the Christian storyteller.

      First off, I would like to say that I agree with Leeper's assessment that young men are particularly susceptible to want to make films that are extremely dark, and many times rather disturbing (not necessarily in a good way). Lets just be honest, guys, girls are not likely to make the Joker character. However, I think that this is a great place to study the idea of implications and darkness in a film.

     First, let us examine whether or not darkness has its place in a film. My answer to this would be the same as when, in an earlier blog, I said that I have heard the theory that the reason that it is believed that those in heaven will be able to see hell, and the reason that evil exists, is to provide a contrast with light. Light is all the better when one has been suffocated by the dark for too long. Therefore, I think that darkness has its place in a film or a story. After all, the best villains always have a decidedly dark turn in them.

     Now, let us consider how long and to what extent we should be willing to stay "in the dark places of the world." My response hear would be the one that C.S. Lewis gave when he was asked why he didn't create a sequel to The Screwtape Letters. He said that when one stays in the dust, grime, grease, and darkness too long, you risk become suffocated by it and giving the devil a foothold, and you may never find your way out. Therefore, I think we should realize the limits that each one of us has on how much we can handle (in terms of watching movies/reading stories) and how much we can make (in terms of creating movies/stories).

     I will be the first to admit, I love a dark tale. Poe's "The Raven" is one of my favorite poems, and I like others of his tales quite a bit as well. I quite enjoy The Silence of the Lambs and S7ven. However, for me personally, I view them much as I view surfing. I have never surfed myself, but find the sport shearly fascinating. However, I know that without careful attention and much practice, you can die from this sport. Perhaps one day I will surf the big waves, and perhaps one day I will make a dark film. However, I recognize that I have limits, and that if one risks too much too early or too often, one risks being overcome by the harsh waves.

     Below, in time for Halloween, I have included some of my favorite animated films. They aren't very dark, but they definitely have a dark streak in them (which is perhaps why I like them so much).