History Literature / SometimesTheyComeBack

* FauxAffablyEvil: The greasers in the first film and original short story and the satanists in the sequel as they have appearances of charming bad boys with goofy LaughablyEvil and EvilIsHammy quirks, however, this shows how sadistic they can be in tormenting their preys.

* InnerCitySchool: Jim's first teaching placement, described as "garden spot of the city."
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Chip Conway initially appeared to be a JerkJock who carried a vendetta against his teacher Jim for flunking him, but he eventually reveals to have cared for his classmates, realized the greasers who appeared to be new students [[EveryoneHasStandards are much worse then him]] and tries to warn Jim about them.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: In the 1991 movie Mueller, the surviving gang member who undergone a HeelFaceTurn over the years following the horrific deaths of his ex-friends and playing a part in Wayne's death that wrecked him with guilt, sacrificed himself to bring Wayne back for a BigDamnHeroes moment, send the greasers back to Hell and save Jim and his family.

"Sometimes They Come Back" is a story by Creator/StephenKing, published in ''Cavalier'' magazine in 1974 and later part of his ''Literature/NightShift'' collection of short stories. The story was [[TheFilmOfTheBook adapted]] into a TV Movie in 1991, and two Direct-to-Video sequels were released later.

* UnfinishedBusiness: The reason the three antagonists come back. Notable in that Jim did them no wrong at all: they did HIM the wrong, as they murdered his older brother (who was twelve) and then crashed their car later resulting in their deaths (a crash Jim also had nothing to do with). In essence, they are such vile souls that they came back from the dead simply because Jim got away from them before they could murder him too and they want to finish the job. Note that just for added vileness, Jim was a nine year-old child at the time.
* WriteWhatYouKnow: King was working as a teacher when the story was published. Stratford, Connecticut is also one of King's childhood home towns.

* UnfinishedBusiness: The reason the three antagonists come back; notable in that Jim did them no wrong at all: they did HIM the wrong, as they murdered his older brother (who was twelve) and then crashed their car later resulting in their deaths (a crash Jim also had nothing to do with). In essence, they are such vile souls that they came back from the dead simply because Jim got away from them before they could murder him too and they want to finish the job. Note that just for added vileness, Jim was a nine year-old child at the time.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Mueller, the surviving gang member who undergone a HeelFaceTurn over the years following the horrific deaths of his ex-friends and playing a part in Wayne's death that wrecked him with guilt, sacrificed himself to bring Wayne back for a BigDamnHeroes moment, send the greasers back to Hell and save Jim and his family.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Mueller, the surviving gang member who undergone a HeelFaceTurn over the years following the horrific deaths of his ex-friends and playing a part in Wayne's death that wrecked him with guilt, sacrificed himself to send the greasers back to Hell and save Jim and his family.

* FauxAffablyEvil: The greasers in the first film and original short story and the satanists in the sequel as they have appearances of charming bad boys with goofy LaughablyEvil quirks, however, this shows how sadistic they can be in tormenting their preys.

* TheSeventies: Some descriptions of the fashions and cars hint at this, although the story has stood up well over time.

* HeelFaceDoorSlam: Chip Conway, the JerkJock who was at odds with Jim in his class, but then tries to warn him and eventually relents to go to the police with Jim to inform them of the demonic greasers rather then pull a ScrewThisImOuttaHere, gets kidnapped and dismembered by the greasers.

* FauxAffablyEvil: The greasers in the first film and original short story and the satanists in the sequel as they have appearances of charming bad boys with goofy quirks, however, this shows how sadistic they can be in tormenting their preys.

* FauxAffablyEvil: The greasers in the film film and original short story and the satanists in the sequel as they have appearances of charming bad boys with goofy quirks, however, this shows how sadistic they can be in tormenting their preys.

* EerieArcticResearchStation: In ''Sometimes They ComeBack... for More'', an Antarctic base engaged in illegal mining activities unearths an immortal Satanist who begins killing and resurrecting everyone as zombies while he works to summon the Devil.

* {{Delinquents}}: Most of the kids in Jim's "Living With Lit" class, mixed in with a few JerkJock types.

Some tropes associated with the story include:

* BackFromTheDead : The antagonists of the story, much to Jim's horror.
* BewareTheNiceOnes : While not quite a BadassTeacher, Jim overcomes his difficulties with both his past victimhood and the school bullies by [[spoiler: raising a demon to drag them to hell.]]
* BreakTheCutie : Poor Sally.
* CoolCar : The hot rod with "Snake Eyes" written on it. Also something of a ChekhovsGun.
* DarkAndTroubledPast : And how. Jim's brother Wayne was murdered in front of him when Jim was nine years old, his fiancée was hurt in a hit and run [[spoiler: and they come back to murder her in the present]], he had a nervous breakdown at his first teaching job, and it's implied that his mother died somewhere along the way. Now he's being stalked by delinquent ghosts.
* DealWithTheDevil : In this case, Jim [[spoiler: cuts off both index fingers as a sacrifice to a demon]].
* {{Delinquents}} : Most of the kids in Jim's "Living With Lit" cljass, mixed in with a few JerkJock types.

* InnerCitySchool : Jim's first teaching placement, described as "garden spot of the city."
* TheSeventies : Some descriptions of the fashions and cars hint at this, although the story has stood up well over time.
* UnfinishedBusiness : The reason the three antagonists come back.
** Notable in that Jim did them no wrong at all: they did HIM the wrong, as they murdered his older brother (who was 12) and then crashed their car later resulting in their deaths (a crash Jim also had nothing to do with). In essence, they are such vile souls that they came back from the dead simply because Jim got away from them before they could murder him too and they want to finish the job. Note that just for added vileness, Jim was a 9 year old child at the time.
* WriteWhatYouKnow : King was working as a teacher when the story was published. Stratford, Connecticut is also one of King's childhood home towns.

** Notable in that Jim did them no wrong at all: they did HIM the wrong, as they murdered his older brother (who was 12) and then crashed their car later resulting in their deaths (a crash Jim also had nothing to do with). In essence, [[CompleteMonster they are such vile souls that they came back from the dead simply because Jim got away from them before they could murder him too and they want to finish the job. Note that just for added vileness, Jim was a 9 year old child at the time.]]

** Notable in that Jim did them no wrong at all: they did HIM the wrong, as they murdered his younger brother and then crashed their car later resulting in their deaths (a crash Jim also had nothing to do with). In essence, [[CompleteMonster they are such vile souls that they came back from the dead simply because Jim got away from them before they could murder him too and they want to finish the job.]]

* DealWithTheDevil : In this case, Jim [[spoiler: cuts off both pinky fingers as a sacrifice to a demon]].
* {{Delinquents}} : Most of the kids in Jim's "Living With Lit" class, mixed in with a few JerkJock types.

* WriteWhatYouKnow : King was working as a teacher when the story was published. Stratford, Connecticut is also one of King's childhood home towns.

* DarkAndTroubledPast : And how. Jim's brother was murdered in front of him when Jim was nine years old, his fiancée was hurt in a hit and run [[spoiler: and they come back to murder her in the present]], he had a nervous breakdown at his first teaching job, and it's implied that his mother died somewhere along the way. Now he's being stalked by delinquent ghosts.

* CoolCar : The hot rod with "Snake Eyes" written on it. Also something of a ChekovsGun.