Hi Father Shane! I have a question. I have a (Catholic) friend who enjoys horror - whether it's movies/TV shows or books. It's his number one hobby. Is that a sin? I felt somehow that it was contradictory to our Catholic faith, but I didn't know how and what to tell him. Thank you! :)
No, it's not necessarily a sin, but it's not a good sign either.
The horror genre often includes heavy doses of graphic violence and sexual content; a lot of viewing can be itself sinful and lead to diminished sensitivity to others and therefore create occasions of sin. But let's just focus on the horror part.
You're right that the message of horror (fear, despair) is diametrically opposed to what our Catholic faith offers us (hope, victory). Let's assume that your friend is just seeking the emotional catharsis that can come from this type of experience, sort of like a roller coaster. In that case, it can be okay, but only if someone is emotionally stable.
An addiction to horror could be twisting his idea of reality (and certainly of relationships) imperceptibly, to the point where he may eventually become incapable of normal entertainment... and perhaps even insensitive to the Gospel message of love, hope and trust.
I'm not a psychology expert, so don't take this as anything more than an amateur opinion, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a sign that he's repressing something from his past or is unable to deal with something in the present.
So... let's pray for him! God bless you.
- Father Shane