Morning Wire Weekend Edition: Inside Nefarious — Steve Deace on Evil, Art, & Adaptation

Date: October 26, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley, Georgia Howe
Guest: Steve Deace (Author, Commentator, Host of The Steve Deace Show)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the making and impact of the independent horror film Nefarious, based on the novel by Steve Deace. The conversation explores Deace’s inspiration for the story, the process of adapting the book to film, the cultural and spiritual themes addressed, industry challenges, and what’s ahead for the Nefarious franchise. Notably, the episode unpacks how the film subverts common horror tropes to deliver a unique theological argument, all while navigating Hollywood, faith-based audiences, and cultural headwinds.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Genesis of the Story

• Inspiration in an Unlikely Place:
  • [03:00] Steve Deace describes the "creepy" voice in his head that became the seed for A Nefarious Plot, conceived during his first D.C. trip:

    “This voice in the back of my head says, ‘this book is dedicated to all the useful idiots out there... Lord Nefarious.’ And I thought, that is a weird thing to have hop into your head in the shower.” — Steve Deace

• CS Lewis & Cultural Scale Evil:
  • The idea: Take the Screwtape Letters and expand from individual temptation to a demonic attack on an entire culture.
  • Deace wanted perspectives from various theological backgrounds before finalizing the introduction, seeking a broad, resonant message.

2. From Polemic to Film

• Book vs. Film:
  • [04:16] The book is described as a polemic—“a senior general, a high lord of hell, just yells at you for 230 pages.”
  • For the film: Instead of a two-hour monologue, the movie acts as a prequel, showing the origins of the demonic manuscript.

3. Adapting for a Broad Audience & Theological Depth

• Narrative and Theological Choices:

  • [05:16] Focused on "evergreen topics" to keep the story relevant.
  • The film’s primary goal: to be “an evangelistic construct.” Darkness is used to deliver messages that an audience might resist if presented overtly or from the light.
  • Horror tropes allow the audience’s worldview to be challenged more deeply than a straightforward article or film.

• Genre Inspirations:

  • [06:02] Silence of the Lambs and Seven heavily inspired the film’s mood and narrative structure.

    “We patterned it a lot after Silence of the Lambs... What’s everybody’s favorite part? When Clarice and Hannibal are talking. So we took out all the other stuff.” — Steve Deace

4. Subverting Horror Tropes & Challenging the Genre

• Accessible Yet Theological:
  • [07:22] The film includes horror atmospherics—demon possession, darkness—but omits gore, profanity, nudity, and religious defilement.

    “Once you get past the atmospherics, this is a deeply theological film. The atmospherics are there to lure you in... so you’re too invested to turn it off.” — Steve Deace

• Challenging Audiences:
  • The horror elements serve to keep viewers engaged while the deeper theological arguments are delivered.

5. Casting and Character Design

• Unique Character Dynamics:
  • [08:56] Jordan Belfi plays James, a secular psychiatrist—a stand-in for modern progressive rationalism, not a clergyman versus demon dynamic.

    “Jordan is a stand in for the typical, 'I’ve got it all figured out, I’m smarter than God...' James embodies that. Nefarious attacks a lefty from the left and it completely deconstructs his worldview.” — Steve Deace

• Avoiding "Cheesy Conversion":
  • Deace strictly forbid the clichéd, instant religious conversion scene.

    “No cheesy conversion scenes. That has ruined too many movies in the faith-based genre.” — Steve Deace [09:54]

6. Art Reflecting Reality, Not Dogma

• Messiness of Real Life:
  • [10:46] Host John Bickley praises the film for not presenting conversion or revelation as abrupt and simplistic:

    “Creative content should mirror the real world, not be so cut and dried... conversion... is a real process.”

• Letting Viewers Wrestle:
  • The film invites viewers to process ambiguity and spiritual struggle over time.

7. Industry Hurdles and R Ratings

• MPA Pushback:
  • [11:31] Deace describes the R rating as politically motivated, not content-based:

    “There’s nothing in this film by today’s standards... that would merit any R rating. It was clearly just an attempt to minimize [its] marketability.” — Steve Deace

• Obstacles and "Spiritual Warfare":
  • The film’s creation faced industry, regulatory, and spiritual resistance; Deace notes repeated “real spiritual warfare” at every stage.

8. Behind-the-Scenes Miracles

• A Providential Editor:

  • [13:01] After a disastrous first film cut, editor Brian Jeremiah Smith reached out unsolicited. A Netflix horror editor on indefinite paid leave (for refusing the COVID vaccine), Smith saved the movie, working for a fraction of his usual rate, essentially paid by Netflix.

    “When we talk about spiritual warfare, folks, it’s being waged on both sides.” — Steve Deace [15:43]

9. Future of Nefarious and Creative Independence

• On Larger Studios & Independence:
  • [16:05] Deace expresses interest in more Nefarious–related content but insists on retaining creative control over the franchise.

    “To me... we did not want to give up creative control. I think that’s always a challenge in this line of work.” — Steve Deace

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [03:00]

  “This book is dedicated to all the useful idiots out there... Lord Nefarious.” — Steve Deace

• [05:16]

  “Evergreen topics... And ultimately we made the decision that we wanted the movie primarily to be an evangelistic construct.” — Steve Deace

• [06:02]

  “Why don’t we make a movie that: we patterned it a lot after Silence of the Lambs... and Seven.” — Steve Deace

• [07:22]

  “There’s no one’s gonna, you know, we’re not gonna have any vulgarities... The atmospherics are there to lure you in.” — Steve Deace

• [08:56]

  “On purpose we chose to put a lefty in there... Instead of the clergyman versus the demon, Nefarious attacks a lefty from the left and it completely deconstructs his worldview.” — Steve Deace

• [09:54]

  “No cheesy conversion scenes. That has ruined way too many movies in the faith-based genre.” — Steve Deace

• [11:31]

  “There’s nothing in this film by today’s standards... that would merit any form of an R rating. It was clearly just an attempt to minimize the marketability of the film.” — Steve Deace

• [15:43]

  “When we talk about spiritual warfare, folks, it’s being waged on both sides. That’s not just a one-sided affair whatsoever.” — Steve Deace

• [16:05]

  “We did not want to give up creative control... That’s always a challenge in this line of work.” — Steve Deace

Important Timestamps

• 03:00 – Deace’s initial inspiration and creepy “voice in the shower”
• 04:16 – Transition from book polemic to film narrative
• 05:16 – Strategy shift: crafting an “evangelistic construct” via horror genre
• 06:02 – Influences: Silence of the Lambs, Seven
• 07:22 – Horror tropes used as a theological “Trojan horse”
• 08:56 – Intentional genre subversion: lefty psychiatrist as foil
• 09:54 – “No cheesy conversion scene” rule
• 11:31 – R rating as political roadblock; industry resistance
• 13:01–15:43 – Behind-the-scenes miracle: Netflix editor saves the film
• 16:05 – Deace’s commitment to independence and future Nefarious works

Tone & Style Highlights

Throughout the episode, the hosts maintain an enthusiastic yet probing tone, while Deace balances dry humor with earnest conviction. There’s a playful nod to horror conventions, countered by sober reflections on spiritual and cultural warfare.

Deace’s style is direct and narrative-driven—illustrating creative challenges with vivid, often self-deprecating anecdotes. His insistence on creative integrity, theological depth, and subversive storytelling stands out, as does his appreciation for collaborative “providence” in the filmmaking journey.

Conclusion:
For listeners seeking an insider take on Nefarious, this conversation gives a thorough look at the creative, spiritual, and industrial forces behind the film. Deace offers both practical filmmaking lessons and thoughtful commentary on culture, faith, and the enduring power of art to disrupt and persuade.