Cabal
A cabal is a group of people numbering three or more who share a common interest and meet with one another to propogate or discuss their objectives. In horror, cabals may range from anything to witches' covens, unlicensed government agencies, or monster hunter cells. In the WB Network television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the main character, Buffy Summers, hunted vampires, demons and other evil creatures with the aide of her Watcher, Rupert Giles, as well as her closest friends including Xander Harris, Willow Rosenberg, Cordelia Chase, Daniel Osbourne, and occasionally the vampire known as Angel. This cabal was affectionately referred to as the "Scoobies", named after the main characters from Hanna-Barbera's Scooby Doo, Where Are You?. In season six of the WB Network television series Supernatural, the surviving members of both the Winchester and Campbell families formed a cabal aimed at hunting down the "Alphas" or progenitors of various supernatural creatures. Cabal was also the name of a 1988 novella written by Clive Barker, which was adapted into the 1990 film Nightbreed. The main character from the story, Aaron Boone assumed the name Cabal, which served as a title referencing the savior of the Nightbreed.
(See Also: Cabal)
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Camp counselor
A camp counselor serves as a guide and chaperone hired by a licensed campground. Camp counselors are responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the campground during the off season and prepare the property to receive campers during the busy summer season. Camp counselors are also the favored victims of infamous mass murderer Jason Voorhees. Notable camp counselors include Alice Hardy, Ginny Field and Megan Garris.
Camper
- 1. One who engages in the act of camping. This includes attending an established campground facility or camping privately in a wooded area, setting up a tent, campfire, singing songs, nature hiking, etc.
- 2. Another name for a recreational vehicle or a cab that can be mounted on the back of a flatbed truck.
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Cannibalism
Cannibalism is a dietary practice amongst living creatures who sustain themselves by consuming the flesh, blood or internal organs of members of its own species. The practice is generally frowned upon in most civilized societies. Those who engage in acts of cannibalism are referred to as cannibals. The practice of cannibalism is believed to have originated within ancient tribal communities in South America. The reasons behind cannibalism may vary. Some engage in it out of a sense of spiritual enlightenment, believing that by consuming the flesh of another human being, they in fact, absorb part of their spirit. This aspect of cannibalism can be found in some religious doctrines, including the Christian tradition of communion, in which the communion wafer is meant to symbolize the body of Jesus Christ. Cannibalism is a popular storytelling trope in many horror venues and has been popularized in several "grindhouse" films of the 1970s including The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Cannibal Ferox and Cannibal Apocalypse.
(See Also: Known cannibals; Cannibalism in media|)
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Captain
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The equivalent rank in many navies is Ship-of-the-Line Captain. The command of a ship is most often given to the naval rank equivalent to a commissioned officer between commander and commodore or rear admiral. In military armies, a Captain is an officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces.
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Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. Cemeteries in the Western world are the place where the final ceremonies of death are observed. These ceremonies or rites differ according to cultural practice and religious belief. Cemeteries play an integral part in horror fiction for it is often where vampires go when seeking the shelter of their coffins during the daylight hours. During zombie attacks, the dead can be seen clawing their way through the dirt in search of fresh brains. Historically, many Hunchbacked servants have been known to dig up the graves of the recently deceased in search of fresh body parts so that their scientist employers can create new life by stitching together body parts of the dead.
(See Also: Known cemeteries; Appearances of cemeteries)
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Childe
Childe is a term used in the Vampire: The Masquerade roleplaying game. It refers to the progeny of a vampire. The plural form of childe is childer. Neophyte vampires are often referred to as childer, as well as many who are of later generations. Although the term may be applied to any vampire, it is generally not ascribed to vampire elders.
(See Also: Sire)
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Chinatown
Chinatown is a general name that refers to any neighborhood, district or region that boasts a large Chinese population, which also includes many elements of Chinese culture such as restaurants, businesses, etc. The term only applies to areas outside of Chinese countries. Chinatown districts can be found in European and North American countries, including areas of Liverpool, England, as well as in the United States in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
(See Also: Chinatown)
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Church
A church building, often simply called a church, is a building used for religious activities, particularly worship services. The term in its architectural sense is most often used by Christians to refer to their religious buildings; they can be used by other religions. In traditional Christian architecture, the church is often arranged in the shape of a Christian cross. When viewed from plan view the longest part of a cross is represented by the aisle and the junction of the cross is located at the altar area.
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Claws
Claws are the little pointy things on the end of an animal's feet. They are sharpened extensions of a toe or finger nail and are found on many species of the animal kingdom. Nearly all felines, canines and many reptiles have some form of claw. Birds also have claws, but they are generally referred to as talons. Some crustaceans also have a form of claw, but these are different from mammalian claws. Crabs, lobsters, scorpions and many species of insect have claws that are called pincers. In speculative fiction, there are many characters who have claws, either naturally grown or manufactured, as part of their offensive/defensive capabilities. Claws are ideal for cutting and rending soft objects such as flesh, cloth and vegetable matter.
(See Also: Claws)
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Coffin
A coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of deceased remains – either for burial or cremation. In Egyptian culture, funerary boxes were referred to as a sarcophagus. Vampires are required to sleep in coffins during the daylight hours when they are most vulnerable. Some traditions have it that a vampire must line the interior of his or her coffin with soil from their native homeland. It has become a common practice amongst vampire hunters to destroy suspected vampire coffins wherever they are found. Failing that, they can place a ward upon an empty coffin to prevent a vampire from returning to it. Such wards may include a crucifix, a clove of garlic or sprinkles of Holy water. Egyptian sarcophaguses are usually of extremely high value for they were reserved only for the most respected members of Egyptian nobility such as Pharaohs, their family members and occasionally even high priests. Egyptians would mummify the remains of their respected dead and place their coffins in family crypts, usually pyramids of temples. To prevent grave robbers from defaming the dead, Egyptian priests would commonly place a curse upon a sarcophagus. Breaking the seal of a sarcophagus would generally earn one the wrath of an angry spirit, or worse, a murderous living mummy.
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College student
A college student is a male or female, usually between the ages of 17-21 who has enrolled at a college of university. Many students are encouraged to join either a fraternity, if they are male, or a sorority if they are female. Outside of their studies, students are often known for partying, particularly during the Spring Break season. This makes them ripe for any matter of tragedy to fall upon them, typically in the form of a psychopathic murderer, or in some cases, a predatory animal. College student deaths have been portrayed in literally hundreds of films including obscure classics such as Bikini Bloodbath Car Wash, Sorority House Massacre and Piranha 3D.
Coolie
Coolie is an old form informal term referring to slaves or indentured servants found in the regions of South Asia such as China and the Philippines. In the 1935 film Werewolf of London, Doctor Wilfred Glendon employed a group of "coolies" guide him through the mountains of Tibet in search of the elusive wolf flower, Mariphasa lupine lumina. Members of the team, which appeared to be of Cantonese origin, discussed matters relating to Doctor Glendon's work, while also shepherding the camels across the rough terrain.
(See Also: Servant; Slave; Coolie)
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Coroner
A coroner or forensics examiner is an official chiefly responsible for investigating deaths, particularly some of those happening under unusual circumstances, and determining the cause of death. Depending on the jurisdiction, the coroner may adjudge the cause him/herself, or act as the presiding officer of a special court. The additional roles concerning other judicial investigations and the legal and medical qualifications of the coroner vary significantly between jurisdictions. Some jurisdictions, particularly those with a legal system not originating in the English system, have a medical examiner rather than a coroner.
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Corpse
A corpse is a term used to describe a deceased human body. The term is taken from the Latin corpus, which means "body". In the medical profession, a corpse is often referred to as a cadaver. In medical schools, human cadavers are used to study dissection. Corpses may exist in various states of decomposition from the recently deceased to full dessication. As the subject of a dead body is a principal component of most horror media, nearly all films, programs and books within the genre feature or contain examples of a corpse to some extent. The word has also been incorporated into titles in horror media such as House of 1000 Corpses. A popular slang phrase used amongst teenagers is "Live hard, die young and leave a good looking corpse" (or any variation thereof). "Live Hard, Die Young, and Leave a Good Looking Corpse" was also used as the title of the 1990s vampire TV series Kindred: The Embraced.
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Coven
A coven is a gathering of witches. The group consists of like-minded individuals, usually women, who engage in the practice of some manner of pagan religious observance, or witchcraft. Tradition has it that a coven usually consists of thirteen witches. The number 13 is considered a mystical number in various folklore and the convention of a thirteen-member coven was first promoted by anthropologist Margaret Alice Murray, who was a proponent of the Wicca tradition.
(See Also: Coven)
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Crossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance. Crossbows have been known to be ideal weapons for fighting supernatural creatures, in particular vampires. The teenage vampire slayer Buffy Summers has been known to keep a crossbow as part of her arsenal and her comic book male counterpart, Blade, has also used on one occasion (though he typically prefers swords or wooden stakes). On the AMC television series The Walking Dead, the character of Daryl Dixon prefers the use of a crossbow for not only hunting, but also for killing zombies.
(See Also: Category:Crossbow/Appearances)
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Crucifix
A crucifix, commonly referred to simply as a cross, is a long wooden pole planted vertically into the ground with a crossbeam affixed horizontally 1/4 of the length down from the tip of the pole to form the shape of a cross. In ancient times, a crucifix was used as a means of punishment against criminals who were secured to the pole with either ropes or nails. The act of punishing or torturing a person by binding them to a cross is called crucifixion. According to the New Testament in the Judeo-Christian Bible, the Romans crucified Jesus Christ to the cross whereupon he died and rose from the dead three days later. Since then, the image of the cross has come to symbolize the Christian faith and to serve as a holy relic against all that is evil. Representations of the cross can be found in most Christian establishments such as churches and schools. Crosses function as wards against evil and creatures such as vampires and witches are repelled by the image of the cross and will flee in terror from its presence. A cross can sometimes be used to exorcise a possessing entity from an innocent person. If a cross makes physical contact with a witch, demon or vampire, it will often burn the flesh, forever marking them with the sign of the crucifix. In some cases however, this power to repel evil is dependent upon the faith and conviction of the wielder. Note: Some differentiate between a cross and a crucifix, indicating that a crucifix bears the likeness of Jesus upon the cross.
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Cult
A cult is a largely unrecognized religious organization whose practices involve elaborate rituals and invocations to more powerful ethereal beings. Many cult practices are sinister in nature, and some are outright outlawed. Those who join a cult are referred to as Cultists. Denominations of some legitimate religions are sometimes perceived as being cult-like, particularly Western society's attitudes towards the Voodoo religion. The term has also been used to describe the popularity of obscure or low-budget horror films. Underground films that have generated a select fan base are said to have a "Cult following".
(See Also: Occult)
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