A Possession Story for Halloween Countdown 2025
A cinematic possession and a scriptural possession!
Time for a scary movie and scary scripture passage. This week: a possession story!
Movies and faith in your mailbox for free.
Scary Movie: Buried (2010)
Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) awakens in a coffin, buried alive in the deserts of Iraq where he’s a civilian held for ransom. He has a phone and a lighter and his wits, that’s it. Everything that made him feel safe and secure before — his prior life, his possessions — won’t save him now. The only possessions that will help him are the two items in his hands and thinking quickly off his feet. No time to play with trivialities. Survival will require tremendous focus.
Scary Scripture: Matthew 19:16-30
Jesus encounters a man who is buried by his lifestyle. On the surface, it appears he wants to do the right thing (or at least, be told that he’s already doing the right thing). But digging deeper, Jesus names what’s missing in his life: letting go of his possessions and focusing on what matters. Here’s the scripture:
16 Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. 19 Honor your father and mother. Also, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “I have kept all these;[a] what do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money[b] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
The young man is possessed by his possessions. His path forward is buried by his stuff holding him back. Both Paul and the young man are isolated and at risk, building pressure. They will have to let go to survive. Weighted down, both stories show how if we cling to the wrong things, that can prevent our taking good next steps. In Paul’s case, survival, and in the young man’s case, a spiritual renewal.
Scary Phobia: Taphophobia
The fear of being buried alive is called taphophobia. The fear of too much messy clutter is called ataxophobia. The movie is concerned with literal burial and the scripture is concerned with figurative burial. In both cases, there has to be an escape. However you feel about those situations, may you live a life in which your possessions don’t bury you, Dear Reader.
Your turn!
Disclosure: Some links here are affiliate links, which means at no cost to you, I earn affiliate commission if you tap or click the link and finalize a qualifying purchase. You can also express your support by Ko-Fi or as a paid subscriber.
The Halloween Countdown continues this week… if you dare…
Glad you’re here today, Dear Reader. God’s peace and good movies to you!