Religious horror

Religious horror is a subgenre of horror film whose common themes are based on religion and focus heavily on supernatural beings, often with demons as the main antagonists that bring a sense of threat. Such films commonly use religious elements, including the crucifix or cross, holy water, the Bible, the rosary, the sign of the cross, the church, and prayer, which are forms of religious symbols and rituals used to depict the use of faith to defeat evil. Despite its main focus on religion, it can also contain graphic violence.

Most religiously themed horror films feature struggling characters who are experiencing supernatural occurrences and disturbances that often become tragic, forcing them to turn to their faith and religion to combat them. Examples of classic films include Amityville II: The Possession, Stigmata, The Calling, Omen III: The Final Conflict, The Exorcist, Child of the Corn, Carrie, The Church, and Hellbound: Hellraiser II. The genre is mirrored even more by modern films like The Rite, The Crucifixion, Apostle, The Nun, Prey for the Devil, The Unholy, The Vatican Tapes, The Possession, Ouija: Origin of Evil, and The Conjuring films. There is even some religious horror video games, for example Faith: The Unholy Trinity.

Criticisms
Many film critics have expressed their disapproval of the way religion is portrayed in horror films. Some said, "But, as with religion, people hate when you poke holes in the insincerity of their beliefs". Sam Acosta stated in his review piece that "An entire genre most Christians seem to reject regardless of the franchise is horror”. Acosta provided biblical verses and authors that are opposed to this type of film to buttress his critical viewpoints.