Here’s today’s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.

Creepy stuff! I happened to catch screenwriters Chad and Carey Hayes talking about how The Conjuring, their new horror movie based on a said-to-true saga of a family terrorized by a demonic presence in their farmhouse, at the recent Variety Family Entertainment & Faith-Based Summit. The brothers spoke openly at the event about how their personal faith in God affected their approach to the subject. Their guiding rule before taking on the project was a deep conviction that any such film show God to be the ultimate victor. The film, which is showing in theaters this weekend, stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as Lorraine and Ed Warren, a real-life Catholic couple who also happened to be psychic investigators. Ed died in 2006.

This week I was given the opportunity to review the movie but, due to a particular set of circumstances, I missed the screening. So, instead of my review, here’s what Steven Greydanus had to say about it for Reel Faith:

Should believers in God believe in demons? My own view is that we’re always best to keep our focus on the reality that is God. As it says in Desiderata, “Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.” The real demons in this world are the hatreds, phobias and addictions and that drive us apart and distract us from utilizing our talents and sharing God’s love and compassion with one another.

Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11