I just had to make this joke, it's saturday so give me a break.
What makes a monster? As a noun, it's:
- An imaginary or legendary creature, such as a centaur or Harpy, that combines parts from various animal or human forms.
- A creature having a strange or frightening appearance.
- An organism that has structural defects or deformities.
According to The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition. As you can see the first one and the second is understandable, the third could be quite ableist but we've all seen body horror too in MIB men in black. A monster drives from both our imaginary and ancient survival fears, a real monster, not just an adjective you claim someone to be, it's frightening to the core. One interaction is enough to put you a constant state of alertness. But if that's what define's it. Then why are we subconsciously scared of one thing more than the other, isn't there a common ground for scary things? How do you make a generic monster, for a story, i might say?
There are a few commonalities among them, if you focus on the monster's appearance, there are traits uncanny or that trigger our survival mode, such as a smile that stretches from ear to ear(momo creepypasta), showing big sharp teeth, probably there for a reason, meat. Your meat. It's our basic behaviour with predators, similar to the too big eyes for a face, focused entirely on you, for either hunt or infatuation, just like a cat catching a fly. Sharp claws, big strong muscles that could break you with a slight touch, weird slick skin like a snake or orca, or perhaps furry like a polar bear (see this bitches crimes on the internet on the north pole). This thing could be big, huge even and trigger your fear of being smashed by them(godzilla), or it could be so small you can't see them, maybe there are thousands of them that unite to devour you slowly and painfully (amazon ants). Speaking of sight, maybe you can't even see them at all (the invisible man). What they do to you is what lingers around, they could be anywhere, anytime, watching you, haunting you, your loved ones(paranormal activity), you will never see it coming or how they really look like if they were visible. Which leaves all the more space for the imagination to come up with ideas based on the horrors they have done and tales surrounding them. This last kind of monster is the destination of all of them. A myth(werewolfs or vampires), after all, even if you kill it, how do you know it's the only one out there? Cautionary tales help being aware of them but they also increase fear and expectations of the monster (slay the princess or candyman). Now it's appearance is a mere side to it. The creature might have rules they follow, if not, maybe a pattern not with human logic. The creature might also have an uncanny intelligence(RPG Quarentena on Youtube), which is scary as hell in action but can also be funny if you're into monster fuck (sorry: someone reading monster smut on youtube), continuing. Well there's not much to say, they could be human. Not in a swearing way to someone, but rather a creature that looks human, might even be human, but has been dehumanized by either their uncanny appearance compared to other humans like shapeshifters or aliens and such. Or for their uncanny behaviour, which also might fall into ableism if you're not careful. But what i'm trying to convey here is more like perversity(ted bundy). A human like creature committing so many atrocities it has become a monster using it's human charm to deceive you. And if the story is in their perspective, (you series) if you're too empathetic, they might convince you. Then you're done. Much like a random cute stranger at the streets offering candy to children. But would you even realise it if it were another kind of psycho killer? or, coming back to fantasy, if it were a doppelganger, a clone, of your father? or sister? - then we enter another valley of horror development. Here the focus is the monster. But this could also be a mere tool to another kind of horror. A concept. See you next time.
