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[[quoteright:270:[[Webcomic/WildeLife https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ghost_cold.jpg]]]]

->''"You ever feel the prickly things on the back of your neck?\\
And the tiny hairs on your arm, you know when they stand up?\\
That's them. When they get mad... it gets cold."''
-->-- '''Cole Sear''', ''Film/TheSixthSense''

One side-effect of the manifestation of ghosts or other spirits of the dead is coldness. Mirrors and windows may frost over, people's breath may make visible steam, and someone may comment on how cold it has got all of a sudden. The feeling may be especially acute if someone is being walked through, or is walking through, an immaterial ghost.

Sometimes this is explained by the ghost drawing on ambient heat energy to manifest (often with a fine disregard for thermodynamics), but just as often it's merely an unexplained side effect of ethereal activity. Objects that are ghost-touched often exhibit this trait as ThermalDissonance.

Compare EvilIsDeathlyCold, SnowMeansDeath, ChillOfUndeath, and ImColdSoCold.

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[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''Manga/DeliciousInDungeon'', the presence of ghost is signaled by a drop in temperature, and the ghosts themselves freeze whatever they touch: when one grabbed Laios, frost started spreading across his armor where it was touched. SupremeChef Senshi takes advantage of this by devising a formula for HolyWater that can be swung in a bottle on a rope like a flail; by the time the ghosts have all been exorcised, their cold temperature combined with the shaking from swinging the rope has turned the holy water into sorbet.
* This is used often on ''Manga/GhostHunt''. The [[WhoYouGonnaCall Shibuya Psychic Research]] team even has special thermal cameras that measure room temperature to help them detect ghosts/supernatural activity.
* The title character of ''Manga/MyLovelyGhostKana'' is observed chilling a beer in her cleavage. The male lead insists that she ''does'' have a warmth (and even a heartbeat!), but it's difficult to detect.
* In the 60 years of her [[UnfinishedBusiness haunting seat number 1]], Sayo of ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' gained almost complete exclusivity of the spot since it had become infamous as the seat that gives an otherworldy chill to those who sit there.
* While not ''[[DemBones technically]]'' a ghost, Brook of ''Manga/OnePiece'' [[spoiler:learns how to use his power to channel the energy of the Underworld through his attacks, which gives them [[AnIcePerson an additional icy effect]]]].
* A brief gag in ''Manga/DrStone'' has Senku and [[spoiler:Dr. Xeno]] theorize that if ghosts existed, this trope could be used to generate infinite electricity.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In ''Fanfic/ABoyAGirlAndADogTheLeithianScript'', when a disembodied soul touches a living, it feels like the air has become suddenly slightly colder. Likewise, the dead feels a slight sensation of warmth.
-->'''Warrior:''' What was it like, when you two intersected? [...] You and his Majesty's father -- we saw it when you were talking.\\
'''Beren:''' Oh. ''[glancing up at Finarfin]'' Not much. Like light, I guess, -- like when the sun bounces off something like a horse-brass or a sword, you know how you don't really feel it unless it's in your eyes, but you can tell sort of. For me at least.\\
'''Finarfin:''' ''[looking at the Warrior's shade]'' Of what matter is thy question?\\
'''Beren:''' What it felt like, when you tried to take the Ring from me. We were wondering -- earlier, that is -- what would happen if someone living hit one of us.\\
'''Finarfin:''' I did not strike thee, boy, nor did e'en attempt such.\\
'''Beren:''' No sir. We meant colliding in general as well -- even only by accident. Um, did it -- feel like anything to you? ''[pausing]'' If you're not offended for some reason by me asking that.\\
'''Finarfin:''' ''[shaking head]'' [...] -- Like to naught but to a shadow passed suddenly 'neath on summer's day, or to a chill air, that moveth off the water -- and to naught else.
* ''Fanfic/FatalFrameVIVengeance'': In chapter 5, the mere presence of Ayumi Oshiro makes the room so cold that Sumiko's breath becomes visible.
* The ghosts in the cliff dwelling in ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World'' have a fear aura and also freeze their opponents.
* ''Fanfic/MagicAndMayhem'': A slight chill in the air is a pretty good sign of the presence of a ghost in the area. Kat is so used to it, she can notice the Ghostly Trio approaching the room before anyone else does or keep track of Casper's exact location even while he's invisible.
* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/40170021/chapters/100783905#workskin Metro Master]]'': One of the many signs that the titular Metro Master is a ghost is the bitter chill lingering around his office, persisting even in the blistering Kalosian summer. Metro Master [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Ingo]] isn't a ghost, and it's implied that the he puts the AC on full blast because [[VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus he spent years in the freezing mountains of Hisui]]. The chill persists in summer because his office, like most of the subway, is underground.
* ''Fanfic/YouSeeThem'': To a T. The only indication of a ghost's presence for those who can't see or hear them is the cold feeling on a person's skin whenever a ghost touches them. The surrounding temperature also drops dramatically with a sense of dread when angry ghosts are nearby, and the effects intensify with more of them around.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* In the ''Film/{{Apocalypse}}'' film series movie ''Tribulation'', Eileen Canboro gets this when she enters the hospital room where a One Nation Earth agent subjects her brother-in-law Jason Quincy to a bit of MindRape. The agent relents when he senses the presence of a Christian (Eileen) in the room.
* In ''Film/AChristmasCarolTheMusical'', when Marley's ghost hugs Scrooge, a cold pallor spreads across his body until they break contact.
* A major feature of the demon's presence in ''Film/TheExorcist''. It's ''freezing'' in there. When they were making the film they built the set for Regan's room ''inside a freezer'', so you could see everybody's breath. One day it actually snowed inside the set. Though hundreds of hours of filming, Linda Blair wore nothing but a thin nightdress. To this day she cannot stand being cold.
* In ''Film/GhostTown2008'', people sneeze whenever they walk through a ghost.
* ''Film/HauntedMansion2023'': {{Subverted}}. Bruce wonders whether it's getting colder because of the ghosts, but it turns out that he's just cold because he's not wearing pants.
* ''Film/TheSixthSense'': The presence of ghosts makes one's breath visible. [[spoiler:This is one of the ways the protagonist understands he's actually dead.]] This actually only happens if the ghost is hostile (which most of them usually are). [[spoiler:For most of the film, the protagonist doesn't have this effect... but when he gets frustrated with Cole, the boy's breath becomes visible.]]
* In ''Film/TheStoneTape'', the scientists speculate that the chill is caused by heat being drawn out of the air and converted to other forms of energy, to create the physical manifestation of the ghost.
* When Eun-joo returns to the house in ''Film/ATaleOfTwoSisters'' and enters Soo-yeon's former room, her breath is visible and she is shaking rapidly. It's a sign that Soo-yeon's ghost is present who then proceeds to attack Eun-joo.
* In the opening narration to ''Film/TheUninvited1944'', Rick says "You get to recognize a peculiar cold, which is the first warning." Sure enough, the presence of spirits in the HauntedHouse is signaled by a mysterious chill in the studio.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Gamebooks]]
* ''Literature/FightingFantasy''
** ''Literature/CryptOfTheSorcerer'', overlapping with OurGhostsAreDifferent, have you encounter Ice Ghosts in the howling tunnels. These specters have a chilling touch that upon contact with any living being, will freeze their blood solid -- you'll need a set of magic stones to repel the effects of touching one.
** ''Literature/LegendOfZagor'' has a one-shot encounter with a supernatural creature called a Skulking Shade, a ghost from an especially spiteful servant of evil who hides in the shadows and could ambush you from the darkness. It's touch is so chilling that you lose two STAMINA points even before you can fight it.
** ''Literature/{{Bloodbones}}'' has another minor enemy, the Chiller, a ghost inhabiting a freezing-cold room who can bring down the temperature of the room it's haunting.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Dimity [[BackupFromOtherworld uses this cold as one of her weapons against an unwanted visitor]] in ''[[Literature/AuntDimity Aunt Dimity's Death]]''.
* In ''Literature/BonesOfFaerie'', ghosts are the shadows of the dead give off a cold aura.
* A recurring theme experienced by [[HauntedHeroine the heroine]] in ''Literature/TheDarkBeneathTheIce'' is numbness, and icy water.
* In J.R. Lowell's ''Daughter of Darkness'', you could always tell when Willie's mother was about to show up. The temperature dropped by a good fifteen degrees.
* Ghosts in ''Literature/FeliksNetAndNika'' can be detected by drop of temperature they cause. It's not much -- 3 degrees at most - but it's enough for main characters to track ghosts with strategically placed thermometers with Bluetooth.
* ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear: Ghost of the Jedi'' has the presence of the titular ghost cause a chill in the air.
* Ghosts in ''Literature/HarryPotter'' are intangible heat sinks; walking through one is like taking a cold shower. Dementors also fit, freezing the environment around them.
* Played with in ''Literature/{{Hurog}}'': the haunted castle Hurog is so cold that the protagonist needs a fire even in summer (though that might be TruthInTelevision -- the protagonist spent his whole life there, so of course to him it's normal). On the other hand, the [[AFateWorseThanDeath soul that is bound]] to the castle can manifest a human body that is surprisingly warm and unghostly.
* One of a few signs of ghostly activity in ''Literature/LockwoodAndCo''. Agents assigned to investigate and fight ghosts carry thermometers as part of their toolkits and regularly take temperature readings when in a haunted area.
* At the end of ''Literature/MakingMoney'', [[spoiler:the professor's ghost is installed]] into a front-row seat in a strip club. From then on, no patron who sits in it manages to stay for more than a few seconds.
* In ''Literature/TheSecretOfCrickleyHall'', ghosts may drain atmospheres of energy, resulting in tiredness, darkness, and cold -- sometimes strongly enough to nearly put out a fire, or freeze bathwater.
* In ''Literature/ShamanBlues'', people sensitive to supernatural, such as Konstancja or Witkacy, can feel ghost's presence as sudden drop in temperature.
* In ''[[Literature/SmokeAndShadows Smoke and Mirrors]]'', ghosts function exactly as specified in this trope. They draw on ambient heat in order to physically manifest, and contact with them chills living people.
* In the ''Literature/TowersTrilogy'', ghosts are invisible to most people, but can be felt as a ghostly chill when touched.
* In ''{{Literature/The Traveling Triple-C Incorporeal Circus}}'', how much chill a person feels is dependent on how inherently receptive they are. Some people ignore a ghost passing through them entirely, while others may feel it so strongly that they stop in place.
* In the ''Literature/{{Ultramarines}}'' novel ''The Killing Ground'', an atrocity's [[{{Revenge}} vengeful]] ghosts are "glacial cold."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'':
** In "[[Recap/AngelS01E05RmWAVu RmWAVu]]", Cordelia is unimpressed when a ghost sends cold winds rushing through her apartment.
--->'''Cordelia:''' Uh, cold wind, scary! What are you going to do? Chap me to death?
** Inverted when Spike turns up as a ghost in Season Five. Fred notes that, while most ghosts absorb heat, he's radiating it. [[spoiler:Because he's being slowly pulled into Hell, it turns out.]]
--->'''Spike:''' [[VampiresAreSexGods Think I'm hot]], do you?\\
'''Fred:''' Hmm. Lukewarm. Just above room temperature.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** Referenced in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E11OutOfMindOutOfSight Out of Mind, Out of Sight]]". The fact that Buffy ''didn't'' experience this is a clue that they're dealing with [[{{Invisibility}} something else]].
** In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E18WhereTheWildThingsAre Where the Wild Things Are]]", Graham and Forrest complain how cold the haunted frat house is.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E3TheUnquietDead The Unquiet Dead]]", the morgue is the place in the undertaker's house where the most "ghostly" activity has been seen, and when the Gelth (who are not ''technically'' ghosts) appear, it cools way down.
* ''Series/GhostAdventures'': They crew have pointed out themselves with goosebumps as well carrying meters that read temperature, all the more noticeable whenever the locations they're locked down are either during the summer or it's usually warm/hot.
* Occurs occasionally in ''Series/GhostHunters'', usually followed by the explanation that "cold spots" may or may not be ghosts depending on the specific circumstances of the spot itself. Always discounted by the investigators as it's not conclusive evidence of anything, and a lot of cold spots can be faked.
* In ''Series/TheMastersSun'', Kang Woo shudders when running past the piano player's wife. She's been kept in a deep freeze since her death, so that may be part of it.
* In ''Series/RoseRed'', Cathy wanders into a room, unknown to her that a ghost is present, and she remarks about how freezing cold the room is.
* Used a lot in ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' to signify that a ghost is lurking somewhere nearby. Usually noted by the character's breath fogging up suddenly in a room.
* ''Series/TruthSeekers'': Room 2 at the Portland Beacon is haunted, freezing and affected by electrical anomalies. The management interpret this as heating and wiring problems, and closed the room to visitors.
* Si-ohn's second ghostly vision in ''Series/WhoAreYou'' is the ghost of a young woman who brings a Ghostly Chill along with her, making the environment cold whenever she appears. This applies even to people who don't have Si-ohn's ISeeDeadPeople knack, like the woman on the bus who shivers and puts on a sweater when the ghost manifests herself.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* Music/StarsCanadianBand: "I Died So I Can Haunt You" describes the air growing cold as a ghost encounters what is implied to be her ex.
-->Knock, knock on the door of the house that he knew\\
The air grows cold around me and you, and it's cold\\
You know that he's there
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
* In Myth/InuitMythology, the ice ghost is Silla.
* In Myth/JapaneseMythology, the ice ghost is the {{Yukionna}}.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Roleplay]]
* In ''Roleplay/TheGamersAlliance'', ghosts and other entities from the Land of the Dead tend to chill the air around them when they interact with the Land of the Living, alerting knowledgeable people to their presence.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Anathema|2011}}'', one of the few ways for a human to detect a shroud is by a sudden chill in the air.
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': The Chill Touch spell grabs the target with a ghostly hand, leaving them damaged (though by necrotic rather than cold-type damage) and unable to heal until the caster's next turn.
* The Yncarne from ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' is the physical incarnation of the god of the dead and as such is surrounded by a frigid aura of death that leaves a trail of hoarfrost as it crosses the battlefield.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* ''Theatre/ThePianoLesson'': Sutter's ghost, which is gathering strength, casts a chill on the house when it appears in the last scene.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* A good sign that you're entering a crypt or other haunted place in ''VideoGame/{{Avernum}}'' is the sudden chill in the air.
* All types of spiritual entities encountered in ''VideoGame/ConradStevensonsParanormalPI'' will cause unnatural temperature drops, as they're believed to siphon off thermal energy from their environment. Detecting those cold spots with a thermometer is required for a perfect score investigation.
* In ''VideoGame/CursedTreasure'', a skill in the Undead skill tree gives all undead Crypts a chance to cause freezing when they attack an opponent.
* Many ghosts in ''VideoGame/{{Dominions}}'' have a cold aura that chills those nearby.
* Ghosts encountered in ''VideoGame/{{Dubloon}}'' breath ice as their main attack and are weak to fire to boot, except on Bowish Island where they are fire-elemental.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
** Played straight in that numerous characters throughout the series, including the PlayerCharacter in some instances, mention a "chill" whenever they're dealing with something spiritual.
** Inverted when it comes to spirits who are summoned to the mortal world. According to multiple sources, including the in-game book "Ancestors and the Dunmer", spirits who are summoned to the mortal world feel it to be "cold, bitter, and full of pain."
** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', in Sandas Ancestral Tomb you'll find the skeletons of 2 noble guards, you'll find a key on one of the skeletons and a key on a pillar next to the other skeleton which lead to a room and a cursed chest respectively, if you open this chest you'll receive a message saying "You suddenly feel quite cold...". The skeletons become alive and will attack you.
* It's also used in the ''VideoGame/{{Geneforge}}'' series to signify hauntings. Shades, which seem to spontaneously generate in areas of high ambient magic, don't have the same effect.
* In ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'' Luigi's breath is always visible in rooms that have not yet been cleared of ghosts.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Phasmophobia}}'', a ghost's presence can be detected by a sudden drop in temperature compared to surrounding rooms. Whether or not a ghost drops the temperature below freezing (as opposed to just "colder than normal") is important evidence in determining what type of ghost is present.
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** Several [[OurGhostsAreDifferent Ghost-type]] mons cause this, referred to as draining the energy from their surroundings.
** Special mention goes to [[AnIcePerson Froslass]] which is based on the {{Yukionna}} and comes from a line of Ice-types.
* Referenced in the opening cinematic for ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' when one of the Spanish police officers escorting Leon to the village in search of Ashley complains it's gotten so cold all over a sudden. Shortly afterwards, Leon finds the entire village has been turned into [[OurZombiesAreDifferent Ganados]].
* Ghosts in ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' are stated to be so cold that contact with the specters can cause frostbite. In an official manga, the main characters take to [[MundaneUtility sticking ghosts in jars and using them to cool down their houses]].
* Taken to a logical extreme in ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III'', in which the element of cold belongs to TheUndead.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* An early hint in ''VisualNovel/HatofulBoyfriend'' of supernatural elements [[spoiler:in Nageki's route]] is when the heroine complains about the cold and wonders who turned on the air conditioner -- the air conditioner is broken.
* ''VisualNovel/SpiritHunterNG'' is set in the middle of summer, but Akira notes that an unusually cold wind stirs up during his meetings with the mysterious Kakuya spirit.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/MoonCrest24'', from Claudia and her "ghostly hugs".
* In ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', the Duh-mentors, like the Dementors in ''Literature/HarryPotter'', can be [[http://beta.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=080405 deathly cold]].
* In ''Webcomic/UndeadFriend'', a human can physically touch the ghost they have partnered with, and they have been described as being very cold to the touch.
* Ghosts in ''Webcomic/WildeLife'' seem to have a bit of a chill about them. Oscar described FriendlyGhost Sylvia's touch as [[http://www.wildelifecomic.com/comic/30 "All I feel is cold."]] Later, slightly less friendly ghost Danielle [[http://www.wildelifecomic.com/comic/131 lowered Oscar's body temperature to the point of brief unconsciousness.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Videos]]
* In ''WebVideo/MarbleHornets'', Jay in Entry 17 complains of being cold. Considering [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos who]] is [[RightBehindMe watching him]], that's not surprising. In another entry, Tim asks "Why is it so cold in June?" The... creature in question doesn't actually appear in that entry, but its presence is definitely felt.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''Franchise/Ben10'':
** [[WesternAnimation/Ben10 The original series]] plays this straight with Ghostfreak... once, and only when he passes physically though people. All later instances of Ghostfreak passing into people have [[spoiler:DemonicPossession written all over them]].
** This trope is probably why Big Chill of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' has both {{intangibility}} and [[AnIcePerson freezing powers]].
* The eponymous character in ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' has the ability to sense ghosts, which manifests as a sudden chill and mist coming out of Danny's mouth. Later in the show, this was expanded into full-on [[AnIcePerson freezing powers]].
* Damien Darkblood in ''WesternAnimation/Invincible2021'', a CaptainErsatz of ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}, causes this when he appears in [[BewareTheSuperman Omni-Man]]'s house to question his wife with the temperature change being severe enough to brick her laptop.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E8AHearthsWarmingTail A Hearth's Warming Tail]]", when the Spirit of Hearth's Warming Past walks through Snowfall Frost, the latter shivers violently.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': In "[[Recap/TheOwlHouseS2E16HollowMind Hollow Mind]]", while viewing one of Belos' memories, Hunter's past self runs straight through him, causing him to gasp and shiver while clutching his torso.
* Inverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'' when the ghost of Starscream complains that ''he's'' getting cold without a body to occupy via possession.
[[/folder]]
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