The Dark Side, and the Light it Shines

Abstract

Horror tropes are very popular for entertainment. From novels to films, to video games, we can't seem to get enough of vampires, witches and zombies. But these folkloric creatures were believed to be real by previous generations (and even some contemporary ones). It is worth engaging with our ancestors' history, their thought processes, their religious beliefs and general human psychology to see if this constant investment of energy that people give to malign supernatural agents can illuminate our thought processes and survival mechanisms.