The Theology Mill Ryan Duns / Theology of Horror
Sep 16, 2025
Join Ryan G. Duns, SJ, a Jesuit priest and theology professor at Marquette University, as he explores the unsettling connection between religion and horror films. He discusses favorites like The Black Phone and how they reflect theological themes. Delve into the ideas of horror versus terror, the significance of the body in film, and the phenomenon of sociophobia. Ryan also examines why horror often features rich Catholic imagery, distinguishing between dark and divine transcendence, leading listeners to an intriguing understanding of frag events in the genre.
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Episode notes
The Black Phone And Hidden Providence
- Ryan names The Black Phone as a favorite for its portrayal of providence working backward in the plot.
- He praises Scott Derrickson for showing how mysterious divine action can be perceived in hindsight.
Teach With Midnight Mass
- Use Midnight Mass as a teaching tool to probe theological and metaphysical questions.
- Pair episodes with theoretical texts to deepen student engagement and reflection.
Horror As Embodied Breach
- Horror is the embodied response to an entity that breaches and threatens one's known world.
- It reveals our finitude by forcing us to acknowledge fleshly vulnerability and material consequence.
