Abduction
Abduction refers to the kidnapping of an unwilling living being for any number of reasons including ransom, scientific experimentation, torture, etc. Examples of abduction are featured prominently in the Saw and Hostel film franchises. Extraterrestrials may abduct people from Earth for scientific study or even breeding purposes.
[top] [Edit Abduction]
Abomination
An abomination refers to the blending of two or more supernatural creatures that are otherwise incompatible. The phrase was first coined to describe such an entity by White Wolf Publishing in their Storyteller system role playing game modules. By White Wolf's definition, an abomination is the end result of a cross-breed between a vampire and a werewolf. This term has also been used in the film Underworld.
The Abomination is also the code name used to describe Emil Blonsky, a comic book character featured in Marvel Comics titles who is usually presented as an adversary to the Hulk. Like the Hulk, Blonsky was mutated into a monster via exposure to intense levels of gamma radiation.
[top] [Edit Abomination]
Activist
An activist is an individual who seeks to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. In 28 Days Later, a group of animal rights activists unwittingly unleash a deadly virus while attempting to rescue primates from an animal testing center. In True Blood, vampires who have "come out of the coffin" seek to have their voices heard in the halls of congress and have lobbied for the creation of the Vampire Rights Amendment.
[top] [Edit Activist]
Actor
An actor is a male performer who adopts the physical and behavioral characteristics of another individual for purposes of entertainment. Actors play a wide variety of roles and are featured in films, television programs, plays and radio dramas. In modern years, the term has become gender neutral to include both male and female performers.
(See Also: Actors)
[top] [Edit Actor]
Actress
An actress is a female performer who adopts the physical and behavioral characteristics of another individual for purposes of entertainment. Actresses play a wide variety of roles and are featured in films, television programs, plays and radio dramas.
(See Also: Actors)
[top] [Edit Actress]
Ahab
Ahab refers to a specific character archetype. The term is derived from the character of Captain Ahab from Herman Melville's Moby-Dick and describes an individual who has an intimate, yet adversarial relationship with a known serial killer. An Ahab knows the true nature about the individual and will stop at nothing to bring the killer to justice, even at the cost of his own reputation or life. The term was first introduced in the 2006 film Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon in which the title character, Leslie Vernon, describes Robert Englund's character, Doc Halloran, as his "Ahab". Arguably, the most famous example of an Ahab is the character of Doctor Sam Loomis from the Halloween franchise.
Alien
An alien is any living organism, including plants and animals, that does not originate from the planet earth. Alien beings often take an aggressive stance against people of Earth, though some of the more sentient alien life forms may take a more passive approach towards dealing with Earthlings, often observing them from afar. Examples of alien life forms may include the Blob, Predators, Xenomorphs, etc.
(See Also: Extraterrestrial)
[top] [Edit Alien]
Alligator
An Alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. The name alligator is an anglicized form of el lagarto the Spanish term for "lizard", the name by which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. Sometimes referred to simply as "Gator". A popular urban legend states that one or more alligators were reported habitating in the New York City sewer system, but his has since been proven false. This urban legend has been used as the inspiration for several horror films. In film, there have also been examples of mad scientists using alligator hormones to transform injured men into a race of mutant alligator people.
(See Also: Alligator (1980); Alligator II: The Mutation (1991); The Alligator People (1959))
[top] [Edit Alligator]
Amulets of Damballah
The Amulets of Damballah are two mystical artifacts that possess the ability to summon and control the animated dead. Also known as the Talismans of Damballah, these items are mystically endowed with the power of their namesake, Damballah – one of the most powerful Loa (spirits) of the Voodoo religion. Each talisman is etched with the symbol of the serpent. Singularly, each amulet is capable of granting the user control over the dead, but the power only fully manifests when both amulets are used in concert.
(See Also: Amulets of Damballah)
[top] [Edit Amulets of Damballah]
Anaconda
Anaconda is a large, non-venomous snake found in tropical South America. They are found mostly in water, such as the Amazon River. Although the name actually applies to a group of snakes, it is often used to refer only to one species in particular, the common or green anaconda, Eunectes murinus, which is one of the largest snakes in the world.
(See Also: Anaconda (1997))
[top] [Edit Anaconda]
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution that represents the opposition against which the protagonist or protagonists must contend. In other words, an antagonist is a person or a group of people who oppose the main character(s). In the classic style of stories wherein the action consists of a hero fighting a villain/enemy, the two can be regarded as protagonist and antagonist, respectively. Of course, some narratives cast the villain the protagonist role, with the opposing hero as the antagonist. The antagonist may also represent a major threat or obstacle to the main character by their very existence, without necessarily deliberately targeting him or her.
(See Also: Antagonist)
[top] [Edit Antagonist]
Antichrist
The Antichrist embodies everything that is literally not of Christ. Traditionally, this term is used as a title in deference to the son of the devil of Judeo-Christian lore. It is believed that the son of the devil shall be born bearing the mark of the beast (666) upon his body. One of the most popular cinematic representations of the Antichrist is Damien Thorn from the Omen film franchise. It is said, that the coming of the Antichrist will signal the "End of Days", a biblical Apocalypse in which the world will be plunged into eternal darkness. In the continuity of Marvel Comics, the so-called "Son of Satan" is a man named Damien Hellstrom; a character who has served as both a hero and villain and is constantly at war with his Satanic heritage.
(See Also: 666; The Omen)
[top] [Edit Antichrist]
Apocalypse
Apocalypse is a term that describes the potential end of the world. The phrase originates with the book of Revelations from the Judeo-Christian Bible. Some theorists believe that the Apocalypse will come about following the rise of the Antichrist. In Christian eschatology, the coming of the Apocalypse is predicated upon the opening of seven seals. Each opening of a seal is followed by some event or series of events. When each of the first four seals is opened, a horse and its rider appear and are described. These are commonly referred to as the four horsemen / four horses of the Apocalypse. When the seventh seal is opened, seven angels with trumpets begin to sound, one by one. Also known as the End of Days
In summary:
- First Seal - Conquest, White horse
- Second Seal - War, Red horse
- Third Seal - Famine, Black Horse
- Fourth Seal - Death, green or pale horse
- Fifth Seal - Vision of martyrs
- Sixth Seal - Earthquake and the marking of the 144,000
- Seventh Seal - Trumpets of Angels and the end of the world
Another variation of the Apocalypse prophecy is demonstrated in the role playing game Werewolf: The Apocalypse, published by White Wolf Publishing. In the mythology of the game, the werewolves of the world (called Garou) fear the coming of a time when the world will be consumed by the ultimate expression of entropy and corruption, which they call the Wyrm.
[top] [Edit Apocalypse]
April Fool's Day
April Fool's Day is an unrecognized holiday-style event celebrated on April 1st of each calendar year. The tradition goes that one individual plays a light-hearted prank on another individual, usually involving deception of some kind. When the prank is exposed, the perpetrator shouts "April Fool's!"; Also the name of a 1986 horror/comedy film and its 2008 remake.
(See Also: April Fool's Day (1986); April Fool's Day (2008))
[top] [Edit April Fool's Day]
Arachnid
Arachnids, commonly referred to as spiders, are a class (Arachnida) of joint-legged invertebrate animals in the subphylum Chelicerata. All arachnids have eight legs, although in some species the front pair may convert to a sensory function.
(See Also: Spiders)
[top] [Edit Arachnid]
Arachnology
Arachnology is the scientific study of spiders and related animals such as scorpions, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, collectively called arachnids. However, the study of ticks and mites is sometimes not included in arachnology, but is called acarology. Those who study spiders and other arachnids are arachnologists.
(See Also: Arachnology)
[top] [Edit Arachnology]
Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia is the pathological fear of spiders. The condition has been demonstrated in several films such as the David Arquette feature Eight Legged Freaks.
(See Also: Arachnophobia)
[top] [Edit Arachnophobia]
Archon
Archon is a term used in the Vampire: The Masquerade roleplaying game published by White Wolf game studios. It is a title used to describe an elder vampire who has acquired great notoriety and respect. Archons are considered "Lords" in the fealty of vampire nobility and can often exert great influence over regions ruled by vampire Princes.
(See Also: Archon Raine)
[top] [Edit Archon]
Arterial spray
Arterial spray is blood that is pumped through an open artery at high pressure, usually in the wrist of the carotid artery. Forensic pathologists can use arterial spray patterns to determine whether a body has been moved post-mortem.
Assamite
An Assamite is the name attributed to a clan of vampires featured in the role playing games Vampire: The Masquerade by White Wolf Publishing. They are one of the original thirteen vampire clans descended from Caine. Assamites have a longstanding tradition of xenophobia, but have developed a fierce reputation as a cult of highly trained assassins. Assamites do not accept money for their contracts, but rather, they are paid with the blood of other vampires.
(See Also: World of Darkness)
[top] [Edit Assamite]
Astral projection
Astral projection is the ability to separate the spiritual essence and conscious mind from the physical form and have it act independently of the body. It is an ability often used by magic users such as witches and warlocks, but may also be used by psychics and other supernatural creatures as well. While an individual is projecting their mental consciousness, or, astral self, their body is rendered inert and is incapable of taking any action until the user's mind returns to it. This leaves the body extremely vulnerable to attack, so those who have mastered the ability are often careful to leave their corporeal form in a location where it will suffer no harm.
(See Also: Astral projection)
[top] [Edit Astral projection]
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood, harvest timber, as a weapon and a ceremonial or heraldic symbol. The axe has many forms and specialized uses but generally consists of an axe head with a handle. It is a favored weapon among several murderous individuals such as Jack Torrance and Earl Firefly.
(See Also: Hatchet)
[top] [Edit Axe]