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Proud to be Woke

(59 posts)
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 06:01 PM Jan 23

How do I write a good article about a fiction film about Satan when I don't personally believe in that stuff?

I accepted a magazine assignment, due in about a month, about one of the classic older movies about the devil. I thought it would be a breeze but then I hit a snag; how can I make it sound scary when I don't believe in the devil?

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Girard442

(6,497 posts)
2. Imagine you're reviewing "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure."
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 06:11 PM
Jan 23

Fun movie. You can go with the premise if you, y'know, don't go all thinky on it.

CrispyQ

(38,941 posts)
5. Oh yes, playing Twister with the Grim Reaper was such a fab scene!
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 06:52 PM
Jan 23

The whole thing was fun!

Irish_Dem

(63,019 posts)
3. It is a movie review, not an article about religion.
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 06:17 PM
Jan 23

I don't have to believe in ETs to get scared watching a sci-fi movie.

Writing a movie review should be independent from your religious beliefs.

Be a professional and write the article from the viewpoint of a movie reviewer and average person.

If the movie is not scary, it is not scary.
This is an easy review to write.

SWBTATTReg

(24,674 posts)
4. Ha ha heh. Hire someone or subcontract it out to your evil siblings (if you have any). You may be surprised at
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 06:17 PM
Jan 23

what you come up w/ (or they). Or, write the story w/o the devil, and substitute another scary critter, such as a giant spider or something like that. Then, later on, go and change all instances of 'spiders' to 'devils'. Pick something that makes you nervous or iffy, such as the spiders (I don't like them).

Proud to be Woke

(59 posts)
6. Thanks!! Good advice!
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 06:59 PM
Jan 23

Hi, all, and thanks!! I write a lot of stuff that has been published, and most of the fantasy movies I write about have to do with werewolves and people who take potions to live forever, and who worries about whether the readership really believes in those? It does not matter. But in the case of devils and such, some people do believe in those and I don't wish to appear condescending.

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