Devil In The Details

“Pope Paul VI” makes a cameo appearance in Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Please note that this site is in a state of perpetual becoming; that is – it’s still under construction. Pardon us while we tweak ourselves for your dark delectation. All images used on this site belong to their respective film or publication companies unless otherwise noted and we make no claim to these images. Site created Jan. 2017.

With an obsessive eye we examine the filigreed darkness of the most diabolically accented Horror films.

Why …?

The deep answer (in three parts): Because:

1) Film is a mirror in which society views itself, it’s changing values and social mores. Films featuring Satanic themes have contributed a mighty influence on contemporary society’s views of  “The Devil” and what constitutes “Evil,” from Häxan (1922) and I Married a Witch (1942) to Rosemary’s Baby (1968), The Exorcist (1973) and The Omen (1976) and the many  imitations and reiterations of the premise which have followed in their prodigious wake. Much of this societal hysteria peaked with the Satanic Panic of the 1980’s and 1990’s.

And here: Satanic Panic

Geraldo Rivera helped stir up the Satanic Panic in the 1980’s

2) the failing of traditional Christianity – is a poorly under-researched, contemporary phenomena. We are referring not only to the rapidly dropping numbers of those who identify as Christian, but to the vicious hatred and un-Christlike values towards which religious extremism, in some who do identify as Christian, has been directed. There is a tremendous shift occurring now in human religious culture and psychology.

This outspoken and vehement turn to the so-called “religious right” has appeared steadily alongside the release of these films. This can be seen, to a certain degree, as a violent reaction within those who believe that an  “END TIMES” scenario is unfolding before their very eyes in the daily news. As they fearfully (and gleefully) hope for and anticipate “The Rapture” – fully expecting the coming of a Savior to end the world – they are also simultaneously witnessing the death (prophesied, as many believe) of their outdated belief systems which are so at odds with a progressive, more globalized, religiously tolerant, even Atheistic, modern society.

Many established within the conservative dogma of patriarchal religions, be they Jews, Christian Fundamentalists or Islamic Jihadists, choose to actively demonize and spread fear and hatred of “the Other,” or hunker down with their scriptures and an arsenal of weaponry.  Many of these groups view their beliefs and themselves as under attack from ideas perceived as “Evil;” ideas which many others view as basic human rights – women’s rights to determine what happens to their own bodies, the acceptance of same-sex relations, religious tolerance and non-preferential treatment of one religion over another, just to name a few. As equality and separation of Church and State is sought, these congregations feel threatened, as though they are being backed into a corner by the wiles of an Antichrist.

Westboro Baptist Church is one group claiming to be Christian yet exerts much effort to spread hate speech in a most Un-Christ-like manner

3) A widely held and sincere belief (amongst Abrahamic faiths) in the coming of an Antichrist figure and/or Armageddon – an “End Times” conflict, through literal interpretations of scripture – has brought on a self-fulfilling prophecy being played out in contemporary, religiously-motivated political moves involving the borders of countries, active and “soft” genocide, and the migrations of ethnic and religious groups, especially in the Middle East (viz.: Religiously motivated terrorism, the conundrum of Israel and Palestine, the claims for Jerusalem or Who Gets to Own the Holy Land?, Indeed, “The Holy Land” interpreted as a piece of real estate, the very real persecution of the Yazidis, Coptic Christians and other ethnic or minority faiths, etc…). In short, we are seeing the final flailing out of the death throes of traditional patriarchal Christianity (and perhaps Judaism and Islam) as we have known it.

Sam Neil as Damien Thorn – Antichrist; soaking-in the sacrilege of his private chapel in The Omen III (1981)

The not-so-deep answer: We love the hell out of these films.

Caveat: We are not out to attack or single out any one religious faith. We believe in the “Live and let live” philosophy. We think all would benefit by basically following The Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” which, if you read the words of Jesus Christ (forgetting the multitudinous translation and ancient/foreign cultural context issues) and omit all the other bullshit in the Bible, say pretty much the same thing. If the Golden Rule is too much trouble, you can always just mind your own damn business!