Symbolism of Inverted Crosses in Horror Movies and Horror Literature

Inverted crosses began to make a strong presence in horror movies and horror literature in the 1960s and have gained more and more popularity over they years. As a writer who focuses on the hidden symbolism in horror movies and horror literature, I have been keyed in on the deeper meanings of inverted crosses, and the reasons why they scare us, and why they are meant to scare us.

History of the Inverted Cross

Long before horror movies, and horror literature, inverted crosses were given a connotation of mockery. Inverted crosses were originally called the Petrine Cross as St. Peter was recorded to have been crucified on an inverted cross. The story goes that St. Peter considered it an honor to be killed the same way as Jesus. His cross was inverted as a sign of mocking his devotion. Ever since then, inverted crosses have been related to mockery of the sacrifice of Christ.

Inverted Cross Flashes

A common tool in horror movies is to have a quick flash of an inverted cross. This is to hint at the influence of Satan in the area. In many cases, any crosses that are in the area will quickly invert as the power of the Devil movies into the area. This symbolizes the power of the Devil to twist even the most holy of physical objects on Earth.

Inverted Crosses on Characters

One common thread in many of the horror movies in the 1970s was to show a character in Satanic worship garb donning an inverted cross. This was meant to symbolize the foulness in the soul of the character. If a character went to place an inverted cross on another character in a horror movie, or in horror literature, it meant that the victim was being prepared for consumption by Satan.

The next time that you see an inverted cross in a horror movie, or read about it in horror literature, remember these points that you read here. By understanding the deeper meanings of horror symbolism, we are able to take a glimpse into the minds of horror directors and writers. We are able to reveal messages that would be too complex or time-consuming to put into words.