Since today is Halloween, I’d like to discuss the most frightening movies I’ve ever watched. While they didn’t have the highest budget or great production value, they did make a lasting impression on me.

When I think back on my childhood in the church, there’s a memory that stands out vividly, one that left an indelible mark on my young mind. It’s the memory of sitting in the pews of our church, watching two movies that would forever shape my relationship with fear and anxiety surrounding the Rapture. Despite being a faithful believer, because of these movies I was terrified of not being raptured and being left behind.

As a child, the prospect of a cozy movie night in the church seemed inviting. Little did I know that these films were far from the comforting, family-friendly entertainment I had expected.

These films were “A Thief in the Night” and “Image of the Beast.”

“A Thief in the Night” is a Christian apocalyptic film released in 1972. It was directed by Donald W. Thompson and is the first in a series of four films known as “The Thief in the Night” series. Released in 1981,”Image of the Beast” is the second of four films in the “The Thief in the Night” series. The storyline of “A Thief in the Night” revolved around the sudden disappearance of people known as the rapture, and the turmoil that followed. “Image of the Beast,” on the other hand, delved into the post rapture tribulation consequences of refusing to accept a mark that aligned with opposing religious beliefs.

“The Thief in the Night” series was part of a genre often referred to as “end times” or apocalyptic cinema, designed to instill fear and anxiety about the future, particularly the Second Coming of Christ and the concept of being left behind.

For a child sitting in the dimly lit church, these films were nothing short of terrifying. The depictions of chaos, panic, and individuals grappling with the realization that they had been left behind struck at the core of my young heart. Fear welled up within me, and it wasn’t the fear of a typical childhood nightmare but a fear rooted in my very perception of faith and the future.

What these movies managed to do was implant a sense of overwhelming dread in my young heart and mind. I became terrified of being left behind of one day finding myself here on earth while my family and friends had vanished, leaving me behind. The religious messaging of these films had left me deeply anxious about assurance of salvation, leading me to question whether I would ever be “good enough” to avoid such a fate. And if I wasn’t truly saved would I be strong enough to stand up for what is right and resist the mark of the Beast.

These experiences created a sense of trauma, one I would carry into my teen and early adulthood years, shaping my relationship with religion, fear and anxiety about the Second Coming of Christ. The desire to not be left alone became a deep-seated need. I sought reassurance through the safety of being around people who I knew were believers, an ever growing instinct born out of the trauma I had experienced due to the subject matter of these movies. Even as a young adult I remember several instances when I felt sheer terror because I couldn’t reach any of my friends or family on the phone, and I convinced myself that the rapture had occurred and I had been left behind.

In retrospect, my early encounters with these films have been a constant reminder of the impact media can have on our children, especially when intertwined with the weight of religious teachings and trauma. It’s a reminder of the power of storytelling, and how the stories we hear as children can reverberate through our lives, sometimes leaving us with scars and fears that last well into adulthood.

These movies, filled with apocalyptic imagery and heavy religious undertones, had the power to traumatize my young and impressionable mind. The religious topics, in particular, held a higher weight in my life. They not only stirred fear and anxiety but also shaped my perception of faith and spirituality, instilling in me a profound sense of dread surrounding the concepts of lack of assurance of salvation and the Second Coming of Christ.

It’s important to be mindful of the stories and fears we expose our children to, especially in religious contexts. These narratives can be powerful tools for teaching faith and morality, but they can also leave lasting fear, anxiety, and scars. The movies “A Thief in the Night” and “Image of the Beast” are proof that even poorly made low budget films can cause fear and terror for years.