History Main / GhastlyGhost

1) Some are primarily [[BodyHorror just plain not pleasant]] [[NightmareFace to look at]], with grotesque, unnatural facial and body appearances. Alternately, they might still look quite human but [[JacobMarleyApparel their ghostly state]] reflects the [[CruelAndUnusualDeath exceptionally gruesome and violent way by which they died]]. Even worse, [[GameFace they may not look like this all the time]], meaning that the people they interact with are unaware that the CuteGhostGirl interacting with them has a horrifying actual appearance. On the plus side this type includes DarkIsNotEvil or NonMaliciousMonster, when ''only'' the appearance is unsettling and it's actually a FriendlyGhost. On the bad side just look at type 3.

2) Some of them are malevolent and can actually harm anyone that do get too close- or spirits forbid, it's a VengefulGhost with a goal of inflicting general mayhem to avenge a (real or perceived) wrongdoing done unto it. Type 2 Ghastly Ghosts invoke BeautyIsBad or FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon, when it's particularly pleasant to look at but is all but pleasant in actions.

3) A combination of the two aforementioned types; they're both horrifying in appearance and malevolent in deed. This type of ghost can be a KnightOfCerebus that turns any work much darker than it normally is, if it isn't the main subject of the work to begin with.

** Spiritomb, who is made up of the souls of [[OneHundredAndEight 108]] criminals and is part-[[DarkIsEvil Dark type]].

** In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', ghosts, known as Boos, are common enemies in Pyramid Cave, Egg Quarters, and Death Chamber. In the same game, King Boom Boo is a giant ghost who [[KingMook serves as their leader]] and a boss. Knuckles fights him, and King Boom Boo is [[WeakenedByTheLight weakened when he is exposed to sunlight]]. He has a small ghost following him around to hold an hourglass that temporarily lets light into the arena.

** The Bloody Baron fits this trope aesthetically, being a howling, chain-rattling, sword-swinging ghost. Most ghosts in the series, however, fall into the FriendlyGhost category, with [[ThePrankster Peeves]] being the most malicious, and he's more of a [[MeaningfulName peeve]] than an actual threat.

** In the episode "Graveyard Shift", Squidward makes up a story about a murderous ghostly fry cook with a [[HookHand spatula hand]] called the Hash-Slinging Slasher to scare [=SpongeBob=]. At first, it looks like the Slasher was RealAfterAll, [[spoiler:but it turns out to just be a new employee who just so happened to be hidden in the shadows.]]

1) Some are primarily [[BodyHorror just plain not pleasant]] [[NightmareFace to look at]], with grotesque, unnatural facial and body appearances. Alternately, they might still look quite human but [[JacobMarleyApparel their ghostly state]] reflects the [[CruelAndUnusualDeath exceptionally gruesome and violent way by which they died]]. Even worse, [[GameFace they may not look like this all the time]], meaning that the people they interact with are unaware that the CuteGhostGirl interacting with them has a horrifying actual appearance. On the good side this type includes DarkIsNotEvil or NonMaliciousMonster, when ''only'' the appearance is unsettling and it's actually a FriendlyGhost. One the bad side look at type 3.

1) Some are [[BodyHorror just plain not pleasant]] [[NightmareFace to look at]], with grotesque, unnatural facial and body appearances. Alternately, they might still look quite human but [[JacobMarleyApparel their ghostly state]] reflects the [[CruelAndUnusualDeath exceptionally gruesome and violent way by which they died]]. Even worse, [[GameFace they may not look like this all the time]], meaning that the people they interact with are unaware that the CuteGhostGirl interacting with them has a horrifying actual appearance. Subversions of this type may include DarkIsNotEvil or NonMaliciousMonster, when ''only'' the appearance is unsettling and it's actually a FriendlyGhost.

2) Some of them are malevolent and can actually harm anyone that do get too close- or spirits forbid, it's a VengefulGhost with a goal of inflicting general mayhem to avenge a (real or perceived) wrongdoing done unto it. Type 2 Ghastly Ghosts might invoke BeautyIsBad or FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon, when it's particularly pleasant to look at but is all but pleasant in actions.

3) A combination of the two aforementioned types; they're both horrifying in appearance and malevolent in deed. This type of ghost can be a KnightOfCerebus that turns any work much darker than it normally is.

''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends'': In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyAndFriendsE11TheGhostOfParadiseEstate1 The Ghost of Paradise Estate]]", a monstrous and malevolent ghost chases the ponies around the Estate, turning itself into horrifying shapes and stalking them through their house in order to scare them into fleeing it.

** The haunt in "The Haunted House", despite being a [[DarkIsNotEvil benevolent entity]] who just wants her killer brought to justice, is portrayed in the illustration with an absolutely horrific NightmareFace, with empty rotting eye sockets, no nose, and a lipless mouth that weakly hangs open. This illustration is the most infamous in the series for a reason.

1) Some are [[BodyHorror just plain not pleasant]] [[NightmareFace to look at]], with grotesque, unnatural facial and body appearances. Alternately, they might still look quite human but [[JacobMarleyApparel their ghostly state]] reflects the [[CruelAndUnusualDeath exceptionally gruesome and violent ways in which they died]]. Even worse, [[GameFace they may not look like this all the time]], meaning that the people they interact with are unaware that the CuteGhostGirl interacting with them has a horrifying actual appearance. Subversions of this type may include DarkIsNotEvil or NonMaliciousMonster, when ''only'' the appearance is unsettling and it's actually a FriendlyGhost.

* In Aidan Chambers' short story "Dead Trouble", the ghost protagonist is trying to contact someone in the living world to let them know where his body is buried. At one point he tries to manifest himself to his former workmates as a faintly glowing figure, but in his haste he botches it and appears as a distorted monster surrounded by a hideous corpse-light. His colleagues, unsurprisingly, flee in terror.

[[folder: Fan Fiction]]
* Fanfic.DungeonKeeperAmi: From [[https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/dungeon-keeper-ami-sailor-moon-dungeon-keeper-story-only-thread.30066/#post-6355677 "Captured!"]], with someone who was turned into a ghost:

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing'' portrays the Army of the Dead as green, intangible ghosts whose faces look like living corpses. They are first hostile, but Aragorn shows them the sword that proves he's the heir to the throne of Gondor and promises to release them once they fulfilled their oath by joining him for the Battle of Pelennor Fields.

* In ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'', the ghosts are all very destructive and one of them, known as "Slimer", is gross-looking with his blobby green face.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', the Bloody Baron fits this trope aesthetically, being a howling, chain-rattling, sword-swinging ghost. Most ghosts in the series, however, fall into the FriendlyGhost category, with [[ThePrankster Peeves]] being the most malicious, and he's more of a [[MeaningfulName peeve]] than an actual threat.

* ''Literature/PrincessesOfThePizzaParlor'': From multiple episodes:

*** Ghost dancers, which consists of a gentleman with only half a head upon his shoulders, or some young lady whose throat was graced with a necklace of her own blood.
*** ScaryLibrarian ghost, who has [[WordsCanBreakMyBones mind-affecting magic based on the literacy of the target]] to enforce silence, whose writing is in SelfDemonstrating/{{Zalgo}} text, and is:
----> a spirit that used her own eyesockets as inkwells
** ''Banquets and Other Social Disasters'': An "enraged phantom":
---> a death's head with a fringe of hair like fire around the edges.
--->
---> currently empty sockets

* Senkhara from ''Series/HouseOfAnubis'' is an evil ghost woman who stalks, torments, and curses Nina and her friends. Due to being intangible, Nina and her friends can't do anything to hurt her, and being made of what looks like black smoke contrasts her with the far friendlier ghost of Sarah Frobisher-Smythe. Her introduction ramped up the stakes and the dark tone of the series, and every character who met her- student or adult- were terrified of her from the get-go.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. In early editions of the Advanced version, ghosts are LawfulEvil undead who are so terrifying that they cause their victims to suffer RapidAging: ten years just for seeing them, 10-40 years by being touched by them.

** The 5th edition gives ghosts the Horrifying Visage ability, which terrifies anyone looking at it (and if they're particularly badly frightened, ages 10-40 years). They can also possess people ([[AndIMustScream who remain aware of everything happening to them)]]. Both these abilities can only work once a day on the target, but the RapidAging can only be cancelled within 24 hours as well.

* In ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'', the Boo Buddies are villainous ghosts who dwell in haunted houses and ships and attack Mario when he enters these places. However, they are extremely shy and will cover their faces when Mario looks at them, only creeping up on him when he's turning away.
* VideoGame/WarcraftIII:
** Banshees are the ghosts of High Elves slaughtered by the undead Scourge and raised up by the Lich King, who gave them voices to avenge themselves on his enemies by [[MakeMeWannaShout shrieking at them]] (and going by their voicelines, also a literal case of AndIMustScream). Their ultimate ability Possession kills them in exchange for permanently controlling an enemy unit.
** Ghosts, Wraiths and Specters are the neutral monster version, having similar spells (including Possession). However, they don't have voices, only sad moans.
** Shades are unarmed ghosts used as scouts for the Scourge, made by sacrificing an [[WorkerUnit acolyte]].
* While most Ghost-types in ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' are not, strictly speaking, spirits of the dead, several of them still fit this trope:

** Froslass, a {{Yukionna}} who freezes attractive men and displays them as trophies.

* Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde are a quartet of ghosts who serve as the main enemies of the ''VideoGame/PacMan'' games. They spend their time chasing Pac-Man around the maze, trying to prevent him from eating all the Pac-Dots that send him to the next level. If they touch Pac-Man, he loses a life. When Pac-Man finds a Power Pellet, it temporarily turns the Ghosts blue, allowing him to eat them. Once eaten, the Ghosts' eyes retreat back to the Ghosts' Nest so that they can respawn.
* ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'': Ghosts appear as enemies that are represented as skeletons that lack legs and a pelvis in favor of an extended spine, and have enlarged hands to give the impression of huge claws. The KingMook variant has [[MultiArmedAndDangerous extra arms]] and the skulls and rib cages of multiple humans stuck in its torso.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'':
** Wraiths are, much like in ''D&D'', light-hating specters closely connected to the deadly powers of the Negative Energy Plane, and are born from the souls of murderers. They remember little of their lives beyond a powerful sense of hatred and anger, and consequently despise all living things. They victims are raised as more wraiths under their murderer's control, becoming free-willed but no less hateful should their master be destroyed.
** Spectres arise from murder victims, their souls given unlife by their rage at their fate. They hate all living things, haunting the sites of their deaths and killing anyone who comes close. Like wraiths, they are repulsed by light and raise their victims as more of their kind.
** Geists are spectral undead created when a humanoid is killed by a haunt -- a non-creature manifestation of the negative emotions created by a great tragedy or loss of life -- and remains shackled to the material plane by its bitterness and anger. They can control existing haunts, and emit horrific laughter capable of sending living creatures into a mindless panic.
** Dybbuks are the souls of criminals, sinners or suicides who remain in the world of the living to stave off the judgement that awaits them. They take out their dread and anger at their inevitable doom on the living, spreading death and mayhem wherever they go.
* Creator/GamesWorkshop games:
** ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'': Ghosts[[note]]4th Edition and before[[/note]] and Spirit Hosts[[note]]5th Edition and after[[/note]] are malevolent spirits summoned and bound by necromantic energies. These tortured ethereal undead creatures typically have a hideous, semi-transparent form that can cause all but the bravest of mortals to be paralysed with fear. On the tabletop, Ghosts and Spirit Hosts have the Fear special rule that makes it more difficult for enemies to attack them as they cower from the horrific spirits.
** ''TabletopGame/WarhammerAgeOfSigmar'': The lesser Malignants known as Spirit Hosts are the souls of damned that have been stripped of their identity and merged into a cloud of ethereal energy. These spectral creatures often accompany Legion of Nagash and Nighthaunt armies in their campaigns across the Mortal Realms, frightening the life from the mortals that they encounter.
* Wraiths in ''VideoGame/QuestForGloryIV'' are the malevolent ghosts of greedy and cruel individuals unable to pass on after death, and harbor a deep hatred for the living. Just being ''near'' one without some sort of protection will sap the Hero's strength so long as they are on the screen, if not kill him outright. They are among the toughest enemies to fight in the entire game (''especially'' the [[BossInMooksClothing Master Wraith]], [[HeroKiller which slew the Paladin Piotyr]] prior to the events of the game). Fortunately, they're bound to either the place where they died or their grave, so while extremely dangerous, they ''can'' be avoided.
* Ghosts are everywhere throughout the entire ''VideoGame/FatalFrame'' series, as they are of ghost-fighting SurvivalHorror nature.

[[/folder]]

1) Some are [[BodyHorror just plain not pleasant]] [[NightmareFace to look at]], with grotesque, unnatural facial and body appearances. Alternately, they might still look quite human but their ghostly state reflects the [[CruelAndUnusualDeath exceptionally gruesome and violent ways in which they died]]. Even worse, [[GameFace they may not look like this all the time]], meaning that the people they interact with are unaware that the CuteGhostGirl interacting with them has a horrifying actual appearance. Subversions of this type may include DarkIsNotEvil or NonMaliciousMonster, when ''only'' the appearance is unsettling and it's actually a FriendlyGhost.

1) Some are [[BodyHorror just plain not pleasant]] [[NightmareFace to look at]], with grotesque, unnatural facial and body appearances. Alternately, they might still look quite human but their ghostly state still reflects the [[CruelAndUnusualDeath exceptionally gruesome and violent ways in which they died]]. Even worse, [[GameFace they may not look like this all the time]], meaning that the people they interact with are unaware that the CuteGhostGirl interacting with them has a horrifying actual appearance. Subversions of this type may include DarkIsNotEvil or NonMaliciousMonster, when ''only'' the appearance is unsettling and it's actually a FriendlyGhost.

1) Some are [[BodyHorror just plain not pleasant]] [[NightmareFace to look at]], with grotesque or unnatural facial and body appearances. Even worse, [[GameFace they may not look like this all the time]], meaning that the people they interact with are unaware that the CuteGhostGirl interacting with them has a horrifying actual appearance. Subversions of this type may include DarkIsNotEvil or NonMaliciousMonster, when ''only'' the appearance is unsettling and it's actually a FriendlyGhost.

''Literature/PrincessesOfThePizzaParlor'': From multiple episodes:

** Unlike the other, playful ghosts of the mansion, [[SerialKiller Constance Hatchaway]] is an AxeCrazy [[BrideWithAPast ghostly bride]] with an obsession with [[OffWithHisHead removing her husbands' heads]] with her hatchet.
** The Hatbox Ghost has an "evil, grinning face" and a head that disappears from his shoulders and reappears in his hatbox, and cackles as people pass by him. In the comics, is actually responsible for murdering the Ghost Host's bride on her wedding night just to spite her groom.
** The Ghost Host is an omnipresent spirit in the mansion, who laughs and makes creepy threats as he follows people throughout his mansion. He revels in being a scary spirit, showing off a painting of him decaying and his hanging corpse in the rafters.

* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'': Scrooge's ghostly butler Duckworth usually just looks like a transparent butler. However, whenever the occasion warrants he can transform into a very frightening demonic apparition.

Literature.PrincessesOfThePizzaParlor: From multiple episodes: