What Enjoyment Does a Classicist Get Out of the Latin in Horror Movies?

A brief overview of some examples of the use of the Latin language in horror cinema and where it should go next.

Foreign languages can be used to great effect in works of fiction as a thin veil that obfuscates some bits of foreshadowing. Bilingual viewers of John Carpenter’s The Thing would have had the opening twist spoiled for them in the first few minutes of the movie because the Norwegian scientist that chased the dog delivered key exposition in his native ton…