History Main / GameFace

* ''ComicBook/XMen'': In ''ComicBook/{{Excalibure|MarvelComics}}'', ComicBook/RachelSummers ([[LamarckWasRight avatar of the]] [[BattleAura Phoenix Force]]) gets scary-looking lines on her face when she gets serious. They're actually scars that are always there, and she uses her telepathy to make others see an undamaged face. When she has to use her full power for butt-kicking, she can't spare any for the illusion and lets it drop. Or sometimes she's just too [[HotBlooded pissed off]] to concentrate on it.

* The mages in ''ComicBook/{{Birthright}}'' usually assume a more monstrous and inhuman form when using their magical powers, for example [[KnightTemplar Kylen]] looks like a Caucasian man with blonde hair, but his "mage" form is a bearded, horned demon with purple skin.
* Bernie of ''ComicBook/DeathVigil'' has one, with her appearance becoming much more skeletal.
* In ''ComicBook/ExcaliburMarvelComics'', [[FieryRedhead Rachel Summers]] ([[LamarckWasRight avatar of the]] [[BattleAura Phoenix Force]]) gets scary-looking lines on her face when she gets serious. They're actually scars that are always there, and she uses her telepathy to make others see an undamaged face. When she has to use her full power for butt-kicking, she can't spare any for the illusion and lets it drop. Or sometimes she's just too [[HotBlooded pissed off]] to concentrate on it.

* Somewhat toned down in ''ComicBook/LesLegendaires'', where villain Abyss, when revealing his true identity [[spoiler: after posing as Professor Kallisto Vangelis]], gets [[RedEyesTakeWarning Red Eyes]], [[EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette pale skin]] and a SlasherSmile, but otherwise remains quite human-like.
* Creator/MarvelComics' nearly-omnipotent pseudo-villain Molecule Man has something (very) similar: a pattern of lightning-shaped scars (caused by the accident which gave him his powers) across his face which seem to appear or disappear when he is either relaxed and mentally balanced, or furious and/or about to break down and cry. As the scars also make his lips appear serrated, it is a pretty creepy game face considering he normally looks rather nerdy.

* GameFace/WesternAnimation

* ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'': Being the princess of Hell, Charlie can take on more than one version of a genuinely demonic appearance with features like flames, red eyes and horns, though being [[WideEyedIdealist Charlie]], she demonstrates this while singing a ridiculously optimistic song about demons becoming nice.
* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'': Though rarely seen, Stolas has a truly terrifying "demon form" where he looks like a massive, shadowy owl with fanged beaks. And so far, he has only shown it when [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes his loved ones]] [[PapaWolf are in danger.]]
* ''Website/FunnyOrDie'': In ''[[{{Music/Gwar}} The Animated Tales of GWAR]]'', Oderus Urungus makes a particularly scary game face when he's injected with dinosaur blood and brought back to his original, objectionable self. [[{{Gorn}} At the expense of a kid's birthday party.]]

* The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_rain_frog desert rain frog]], when frightened, can inflate itself and let out a loud scream. However, due to their diminutive size and comparatively "chibi" proportions, their appearance come off as more adorable than intimidating, and their "war cry" sounds like a squeak-toy.
* Speaking of memetic amphibians, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qwU1LQZA5g this frog]] would be a bit more successful in the "war cry" department if not for the fact that it also serves as the progenitor of [[https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/reeeeeee a meme]], meaning it's no less funny than the DRF.

** Chapter 68 shows a Lysinda Circle vampire magically adopting different appearances, at least in other people's eyes, so perhaps these vampires are using this power to appear normal when pretending to be human.

* [[TabletopGame/UrbanShadows]] has a few playbooks capable of doing this. In particular the [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Wolf]] and the [[DealWiththeDevil Tainted]] start out with the ability to shift into a more powerful monstrous form, at a price.

* [[TabletopGame/Urban Shadows]] has a few playbooks capable of doing this. In particular the [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Wolf]] and the [[DealWiththeDevil Tainted]] start out with the ability to shift into a more powerful monstrous form, at a price.

* ''TabletopGame/Urban Shadows'' has a few playbooks capable of doing this. In particular the [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Wolf]] and the [[DealWiththeDevil Tainted]] start out with the ability to shift into a more powerful monstrous form, at a price.

* Nonvillain example: In ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'', Toothless got his name because [[spoiler:his teeth are retractable, and he only shows them when he's eating or snarling at something]].

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Manga/The100GirlfriendsWhoReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyLoveYou'': If [[EyesAlwaysShut Mei’s]] eyes are open while she’s smiling, you’re in for a bad time.
* Koro-Sensei of ''Manga/AssassinationClassroom'' has a kaleidoscopic array of facial colors to convey his emotions. His game face comes in the form of Pitch Black.
* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', the Vizards can put their Hollow masks on as a definite Game Face.
* In the anime ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'' it is a special case. The faces of the half-human warriornesses change as they use their demonic powers. The more demonic the face of a warrior looks, the more she uses that power, and the stronger she is. However, there is always the possibility that they will lose control of their powers and [[FaceMonsterTurn turn into man-eating monsters]].
* The two [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire queens]] in ''Anime/BloodPlus'' do it too. When they want to fight, their eyes light up. At Saya they are red and at Diva they are blue.
* In the ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'' tie-in manga ''Shikoku no Hana'', Azusa shows Mioka hers while ''casually breaking his shin and asking him if he was showing his''.
-->'''Azusa:''' Is that your game face?
* ''Manga/DeathNote'': Light Yagami does this, having hidden his [[StepfordSmiler true personality]] almost to the very end, he loses what's left of his sanity when he's exposed, and [[EvilLaugh breaks down]] [[MotiveRant and confesses]], as he'd just got done swearing he'd never do. The [[RedOniBlueOni scary red eyes]] are just for us, the audience - but the frightening facial contortions, dramatic gestures, and visible madness? Yeah, they're free for all. What makes it a Game Face is that it liberates him to finally state his case in person. [[ShutUpHannibal Not that it convinces anyone]].
* In ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', Super Saiyans get a lot of use out of this trope but play it closer to its TruthInTelevision version. They do gain spikier hair and begin glowing vibrant colors & in addition to this they get a massive power-up. Some later upgrades even include large muscles, hair, and even eyebrows.
* Parodied in ''Anime/ExcelSaga''. The adorable, teddy-bear like Puchuu's faces resemble ''Manga/Golgo13'' when in pain.
* In ''Manga/FairyTail'', whenever he gets [[UnstoppableRage angry]], Natsu has two veins that bulge in a diagonal slant above his eyebrows, and his eyes change in to pale yellowish color with slit-like pupils.
** A Full-Body Take Over gives Elfman and [[spoiler:Mirajane]] this effect.
* What occasionally happens to Haruko's face in ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'' during fights could be described as this. She gets huge, alien-like eyes and sharp teeth, which may or may not be closer to her original alien appearance.
* In ''[[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood]]'', after [[spoiler:Selim Bradley]] reveals his true identity as Pride, he's consistently drawn with sharper features and more menacing eyes instead of the almost chibi appearance he had before.
** Both incarnations of Greed also had a charming, handsome human face (granted, one had pointed teeth), which in a serious fight would be covered by the demonic, armored face. Being rather vain, Greed ''really'' hated using that form unless he really had to.
* ''Manga/FutureDiary '': Murumuru, Deus's [[spoiler:and first world Yuno's, and second world Yuki's]] right hand... demon... gets this when [[spoiler:her bracelets are removed. She then gains superspeed and wild ferocity along with this]].
* The 2018 version of Neko Musume (the CatGirl) in ''Manga/GegegeNoKitaro'' is a lot more capable of fighting, particularly when her eyes turn more cat-like, her nails lengthen into razor-sharp claws, and her mouth turns into a SlasherSmile complete with MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily.
* A rare heroic case in ''Anime/HumanoidMonsterBem'', where all three heroes keep a third of their power locked while in human form.
* In ''Manga/InuYasha'', it is the eponymous hero who is a [[HalfHumanHybrid half-demon]]. As such, he transforms himself once a month into a human being. But when he is in danger or in great pain, his demonic side gains the upper hand over him, and he gets into [[SuperPoweredEvilSide a wild frenzy]] in which he can no longer distinguish between friends and enemies, and indiscriminately attacks everyone. When he transforms into a pure demon, his eyes turn red, his cheeks give him two violet stripes, and his claws and fangs grow longer.
** It is implied that all naturally-born half-demons have this ability, and also show a similar Game Face in their demonic forms.
* ''Manga/MissKobayashisDragonMaid'': Presented more dramatically in the anime adaptation, when Tohru gets worked up or angry her fingers turn into claws, her eyes become [[HellishPupils even more bestial than usual]], and her teeth turn into fangs. Special mention goes to when she came home to find Kanna clinging to Kobayashi and jumped to the conclusion that the latter was cheating on her.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
** Naruto does this when he's sufficiently enraged - his canines elongate into fangs, the whisker-markings on his cheeks become far more pronounced and his eyes shift from blue to [[RedEyesTakeWarning red]], signifying that the Nine-Tailed Fox is trying to take over.
** Activating the Byakugan causes veins to bulge up around the user's eyes for a rather unsettling effect.
* [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Shalltear Bloodfallen]] in ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'' normally appears as an ElegantGothicLolita, but when she [[BloodBath bathes in blood]], her {{glamour}} breaks and she turns into what can best be described as a humanoid [[LampreyMouth lamprey abomination]]. This trope and OneWingedAngel are apparently common in [[MonsterAdventurers heteromorphic races]], most of which can shapeshift into more humanoid forms, but receive a stat boost in their true forms. At least [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Albedo, Demiurge]] and [[BigCreepyCrawlies Entoma]] are confirmed to have similar transformations. Albedo shifts into something [[FanDisservice hairy and very large]] that is apparently reminiscent of a [[KillerGorilla gorilla]] ([[ViewersAreGeniuses very likely]] a [[https://media-waterdeep.cursecdn.com/avatars/thumbnails/0/261/1000/1000/636252768396688147.jpeg Nalfeshnee]]). Demiurge can shape his head into a froglike one that is likely a holdover from his Imp race and is stated to have another yet unseen form. Entoma is a vaguely humanoid GiantSpider that looks like a human only because her extra legs are hidden in her dress, her face is concealed behind a mask, and even her cute voice is created by a special worm; without it, she has a raspy VoiceOfTheLegion.
* ''Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt'' features Chuck, resident ChewToy that even ''God himself'' abuses (granted those lightning bolts are to send messages to the protagonists, but still). Then Panty gives him permission to put on the Game Face, and [[spoiler:'''''he turns into a NighInvulnerable [[OhCrap giant regenerating hellhound]]''''']].
* ''Manga/{{Parasyte}}'' has the parasites that infest human bodies and then control them. If they want to fight or kill someone, only their heads change into a monstrous grimace, from which [[CombatTentacles several tentacles with long blades protrude]], the rest of the body remains human.
* Inverted and subverted in ''Anime/QueensBlade'' with The Swamp Witch, at least in the anime: [[spoiler:Her ghostly looks is the real face of the spirit who controls Werbellia, a demon princess [[GrandTheftMe she's using]] for doing all her atrocities]].
* ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'': Absolutely everywhere, given that all of the monsters in it can take a perfect human disguise form, and given that a Global {{Masquerade}} is firmly in effect. [[HornyDevils Succubi]], [[AnIcePerson Yuki'onna]] and [[TakenForGranite Gorgons]] are all good examples of slighter changes (hair turning to ice, lengthening nails and ears or hair turning to snakes) while a great many other monsters show much more drastic change to their true forms. Of course, while they are seldom angered enough to do so, the main characters have all shown the ability to pull some very scary game faces despite their good natures.
* In ''Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei'', Chiri Kitsu normally looks [[http://mundonoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/chiri.jpg like this]]. However, when she shows her AxCrazy side, [[http://lh3.ggpht.com/_o8ElMaP74s4/SeoDkl7GfcI/AAAAAAAAEEg/lTqtdATIMts/chirizetsubou110.jpg she looks like this]].
* ''Manga/SukebanDeka'': the villain Remi Mizuchi in the manga and OVA has monochromatic blue eyes when pretending to be a nice girl and changes to vicious looking, predatory eyes when she reveals her true psychopathic self.
* The Ghouls from ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'' look like completely ordinary humans, but when revealing their true nature gain BlackEyesOfCrazy with [[RedEyesTakeWarning red pupils]] and TaintedVeins around their eyes. They can also extend their kagune, a specialized limb/weapon that has different shapes and properties depending on location and type. Most generally resemble some sort of tentacle or insect wings.
* Many Bishokuya from ''Manga/{{Toriko}}'' through their "intimidation", often accompanied by the image of a large terrifying beast.
* ''Anime/YuGiOh'':
** Yugi Muto and Pharaoh [[spoiler:Atem]] dueling.
** In ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'', whenever Yuya gets angry enough to reveal his SuperpoweredEvilSide [[spoiler:Zarc]], his eyes [[RedEyesTakeWarning glow red]], his hair spikes up, and he gains a dark aura.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/TheButcherBird'': Kaneki, and any ghoul by extension, gets a combination of BlackEyesOfCrazy and RedEyesTakeWarning when sufficiently pushed or when using their abilities. [[MadScientist Vinci]], [[spoiler: after implanting himself with the King's Heart]], has his eyes glow [[SupernaturalGoldEyes gold]] whenever he's ticked off.
* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'':
** Heroic example: Harry develops this in the first book with his eyes [[EyeColourChange alternately flashing gold or outright burning gold]], with a [[CompellingVoice compelling]], [[VoiceOfTheLegion echoing voice, like two voices speaking at once]] occasionally thrown in for good measure. However, for all that it isn't a sign of incipient evil, it ''is'' generally noted to be extremely unnerving, something he exploits in the sequel for the intimidation factor.
** The Dark Phoenix [[spoiler:particularly the latest one, Harry,]] goes from looking fairly normal to a HumanoidAbomination with an unnaturally elongated face, a severe case of ThroatLight and GlowingEyesOfDoom.
** Grey Court Vampires get more visibly predatory when wounded or hungry, with elongated fangs, elongated faces, and [[RedEyesTakeWarning glowing red eyes]].
* ''Webcomic/FfreiresNaruFoxAU'': After hearing her teammates remark that they might not be allowed to enjoy a festival due to [[FantasticRacism coming from]] [[LittleBitBeastly animal clans]], Hinata invites them to join her, activating her Byakugan and letting the veins bulge around her eyes as she declares that anyone who complains can take it up with her.
* {{Invoked}} by the Night Guard of ''Fanfic/RainbowDoubleDashsLunaverse''f. In addition to its other functions, their enchanted armor projects a glamor that makes them appear to have slitted eyes, tufted ears, bat wings, and razor-sharp fangs, in order to intimidate enemies.
* [[http://zaifonart.tumblr.com/post/131802014627/i-had-a-thought-what-if-sans-opened-his-teeth This]] spoiler-laden ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' comic shows just how terrifyingly quickly [[spoiler:Sans the skeleton's]] expression can go from 0 to 100.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/{{Beetlejuice}}'': If you ever meet Beetlejuice, [[SchmuckBait be sure to ask him "Can you be scary?"]]
** Barbara and Adam Maitland also learn how to make game faces when they try to remove the Deetzes.
* In ''Film/BloodAndDonuts'', Boya uses his game face to intimidate the gangsters that are harassing him and Earl. Unsurprisingly, it works very well.
* In ''Film/ClashOfTheTitans2010'', [[GorgeousGorgon Medusa]] normally looks [[CuteMonsterGirl very attractive]], but when using her stone gaze, her face becomes demonic and hideous.
* ''Film/CountDracula1977'': Dracula's, the vampire brides', and Lucy's (after she's turned) eyes turn completely red when going full vampire.
* ''Film/CountYorga'': When out in the public, Yorga seems like a normal 40 year-esqe man. But when he vamps out, his skin goes much paler, he gains a row of fangs in his mouth and his look turns downright feral. The same applies to his brides.
* In ''Film/TheDevilsAdvocate'', several characters associated with [[LouCypher John Milton's]] law firm torment Mary Ann Lomax by revealing their [[NightmareFace true faces]].
* ''Film/EmbraceOfTheVampire2013'': When a vampire is about to bite someone, they don't just show fangs but also their skin goes pale showing black TaintedVeins and their eyes become yellow, [[GlowingEyesOfDoom glowing]] with [[HellishPupils slits like a cat's]].
* ''Film/FrightNight1985'': The vampires Jerry Dandridge and Amy Peterson.
* The vampires in the Titty Twister club in ''Film/FromDuskTillDawn'' switch to downright nasty-looking visuals when the time comes to vamp out, but the most prominent example is Creator/SalmaHayek's Santanico Pandemonium, who turns into a bald-headed and very snake-like creature when she vamps out.
* Played for laughs in ''Film/GalaxyQuest'', where the crew encounters some weird baby-looking aliens on a desert planet. One of the cute aliens gets hurt, and the others crowd around it as if to help it get water... only to reveal demonic faces with terrifyingly sharp teeth and devour the thing alive. (The reason it's played for laughs is that [[GenreSavvy Guy]] saw it coming because that's how things work on TV.)
* The Library Ghost's transformation from a sweet little old lady to a skeletal hag provided one of the first and most memorable scares from ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'', and an unused version of her Game Face was recycled for the [[Film/FrightNight1985 next example]] a year later.
* The ghost of the Aldrich Mansion in ''Film/Ghostbusters2016'' counts as well, looking very pretty until, to quote Holtzmann, "she dislocated her jaw and ectoprojected all over [Erin]."
* ''Film/HanselAndGretelWitchHunters'': {{Inverted|Trope}}. Grand Witches can change ''out'' of their monstrous faces and look like regular (and beautiful) women. Crosses back to straight since Muriel spends most of the movie looking pretty and dropping the disguise to affect a straight Game Face.
* ''Film/{{Hellbound}}'': The demonic villain mostly appears disguised as a human, but every time he kills someone he grows claws, gets frog-like pupils, and [[EvilSoundsDeep his voice drops a few octaves]]. When he's defeated, he briefly [[ThisWasHisTrueForm reverts back to his true form]].
* ''Film/KissOfTheDamned'': Vampires' faces grow slightly monstrous looking with their eyes glowing eerie blue when they begin or are about to feed.
* ''Film/TheLostBoys'': Vampires in general can do this, turning their normally-human features demonic and horrific. A seemingly-innocuous character [[spoiler:(Max)]] turns out to be the BigBad and we don't know it until he gets his Game Face -- but the effect may seem doubly disconcerting since actor [[spoiler:Edward Hermann]] was ''chosen'' to look especially nonthreatening. The only vampire who never did this was Star (and she wasn't truly evil).
* In ''Film/{{Nightbreed}}'', Lori and her boyfriend Eric Boone, now a newly-turned member of the Nightbreed, have escaped Midian and are on the run from the police. When the cops marshal an entire force to arrest him he turns around to show Lori his true face.
* In the Brazilian film ''Film/OAutoDaCompadecida'', Satan stops using his human face and goes into a devilish face (as well as a [[EvilSoundsDeep deep voice]]) after the protagonist angers him enough.
* Large Marge illustrating the truck accident [[JumpScare victim's face]], in ''Film/PeeWeesBigAdventure''. As Pee Wee would discover at the restaurant, that was ''her'' face.
* Inverted in ''Film/ScaryMovie3''. Being partly a parody of ''Film/TheRing'', it features a similar StringyHairedGhostGirl. At the climax:
-->'''Tabitha:''' ''(turns into a normal-looking girl)'' Thank you all. Your love has freed my soul. I won't have to kill again.\\
'''Cindy:''' Really?\\
'''Tabitha:''' ''(changes back, pulls a knife)'' I'm just screwin' with ya!
* ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'' made Optimus Prime's trademark faceplate retractable so it could slide into place for combat (or when suitably dramatic), a trait that's creeped into other incarnations. Some of the other Transformers also have some kind of "battle mask", most notable Bumblebee.
* ''Film/{{Vampirella}}'': Vampirella briefly changes her appearance to make a point to Adam Van Helsing, gaining [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]] and [[FangsAreEvil fangs]] in the process.
-->'''Vampirella:''' This is '''what''' I am. ''(changes back)'' And this is '''who''' I am.
* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': "Remember me, Eddie? When I killed your brother, I talked [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Just.]] LIKE. THIIIIIIS!"
** Although it's actually somewhat downplayed as [[spoiler:Doom's face was really [[LatexPerfection a rubber mask]] and when he reveals himself to be a Toon, he's still wearing the mask and we don't see his real face. All we get are his red Toon eyes popping out of the mask's eyeholes]].

[[folder:Literature]]
* A non-evil variant in ''Literature/AkataWitch'' by Creator/NnediOkorafor. In it, all Leopard People (people with special magical abilities) have a "spirit face", that is almost like their true form. Seeing another person's spirit face is seen as almost the same as seeing them naked. However, Sunny plays this straight when she gets in a fight with another student and shows them her spirit face to scare them.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
** Wolfgang's pack that, while they find it convenient to hunt in wolf form, are not above frightening peasants.
** [[TheFairFolk Elves]] without their glamours on are also quite frightening. Especially the queen.
*** Usually the elves seem ''less'' impressive with their glamour off, usually described as small, pathetic, dull, and gray. [[AlienFairFolk There's a deliberate parallel to]] TheGrays there.
** [[TheGrimReaper Death]] himself, in ''Mort'', when out looking for a new job, has to deal with a clerk who is slightly condescending and who not-so-subtly tells Death that he has no useful skills. Death then forcibly overrides the man's WeirdnessCensor for only a fraction of a second, allowing the man to see Death as wizards and cats are able to. Death then has to deal with a customer who had arrived to complain, eventually giving up and bribing her.
** Speaking of Death, Mort and Susan have a version of this (Mort while he was playing Death's role and Susan on a permanent basis on account of being Death's [[LamarckWasRight granddaughter]]. This involves switching from normal speech to doing [[AC: The Voice]] and [[AC: talking like this]] and something frightening happens with their face (probably their skull shows through). It tends to scare most people.
* ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'': Inverted when the hunters see Lucy in the graveyard. With her being described as a feral cat when she's about to feed on a child. When the hunters get her attention, her features suddenly shift and she looks more beautiful to them, nearly bewitching Arthur into letting her bite him until Helsng flashes a cross at her, then the vampire features come back as she hisses at them.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'':
** Red Court vampires are monstrous, bat-winged demons wearing human skins. When things get hairy, the skins come off.
** Harry himself refers to Will and Georgia's shapeshifting into their wolf forms as putting on the game face.
** White Court Vampires look like pale and beautiful humans with silver-grey eyes. When they go to GameFace, they become inhumanly pale, their eyes glow silvery white and their beauty becomes terrifying as well as alluring. During the one occasion a White Court vampire used her full powers, her entire body glowed silver and Harry himself barely resisted throwing himself at her feet, [[MindRape never mind the actual target of her...abilities]].
** Denarians, Nicodemus aside, each have a personal Game Face.
** According to Murphy in ''Aftermath'', Harry is normally this awkward, geeky, weirdly-dressed smartass. When things get dangerous, he becomes a dark, commanding, imperious figure in the center of both figurative and literal firestorms. Badass doesn't begin to cover it.
** It was revealed that if you ever see pale, lovely Mab with her beautiful green eyes and bright, winter-themed dresses get so pissed off her hair, eyes and clothes turn pure black, with black veins crisscrossing her skin, you better start praying to whatever god(s) you believe in that she spares your life- or at least kills you painlessly.
* In ''Literature/TheGirlFromTheWell'', when Okiku is in a calm and contemplative mood, she wears the appearance of the girl she was in life. When she is stalking a victim, however, her appearance becomes that of a drowned and decaying corpse.
* Veela from ''Literature/HarryPotter'' look very beautiful and can charm men into doing or saying anything to impress them, but when pissed off, they go from beautiful women to hideous avian abominations capable throwing handfuls of fire.
-->'''Arthur Weasley:''' And ''that'', boys, is why you shouldn't marry for looks alone.
* In ''Literature/TheHollows'' series, vampires' eyes go completely black when overcome by bloodlust.
* Subverted in ''Literature/TheJenniferMorgue'' by Creator/CharlesStross. The protagonist is working with a [[HornyDevils succubus]] covered by a level-three glamour that makes her look like a gorgeous woman. Eventually, despite her warnings, he insists that she reveal her real face--and instead of the hideous demon he expects, it turns out she's a HalfHumanHybrid that he actually finds rather attractive.
* The vampires in ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'' usually drive their fangs out when they want to fight.
* ''Literature/NeedfulThings'': Leland Gaunt. He looks like a charming and handsome man, but he's actually a demon with claws and a face that is "a horror of eyes and teeth".
* ''Literature/RetiredWitchesMysteries'': By book 3, Olivia's figured out how to use one of these to try and scare people. It even threatens the witchfinder (which is what she intended), though he claims he wasn't scared -- merely retreating to get help in order to protect Molly and Elsie from her.
* El Higgins from ''Literature/TheScholomance'' does not transform physically, but the strength of her talent for TheDarkArts creates an aura about her that sets off the 'EvilSorceress Approaching' [[SupernaturalSensitivity reflexes]] of her [[WizardingSchool fellow students]]. More to the point when she is angry that aura grows stronger to the point of inducing outright terror, especially if there is anything akin to eye contact.
* ''The Literature/SecondApocalypse'':
** Kellhus is a genius with literally no emotions. However, he has complete control over his entire body, including his facial muscles, so he is able to fake emotions without any difficulty. When someone finally figures out [[MagnificentBastard that he's been manipulating everyone the entire time]] and confronts him about it, every muscle in his face goes ''dead'', like turning off a light.
** Skin-spies are shapechanging assassins with faces that are entirely composed of "fingers" that compress together to form any face they can imagine and allow them to impersonate people. When they drop their disguise, their face falls apart into a mass of wiggling fingers around a blank center.
* ''Literature/Sharpe'': Captain William Frederickson of the Royal American Rifles deliberately plays up his scars for intimidating effect, and always removes his wig, false teeth and glass eye before a fight to make his appearance more frightening.
* In ''Literature/SheepsClothing'', the three vampires exhibit a form of this when they're hunting. The two brides show off red eyes and a mouthful of fangs, while their sire, Russeau, turns into a monstrous bat.
* Once the shit has well and truly hit the fan in ''Literature/TheShining'', the Overlook forces Jack Torrence to smash his face in with a croquet mallet, leaving him a faceless meat puppet of the hotel's malevolent spirits.
* Gully Foyle the AntiHero protagonist of ''Literature/TheStarsMyDestination'', a classic sci-fi adaptation of ''Literature/TheCountOfMonteCristo'' by ''Creator/AlfredBester'', had a hideous tiger tattoo across his face. In his more refined state he'd had the tattoo removed. However, it would reappear whenever he became enraged as the blood would pump to his face.
* The trolls from ''Twilight Eyes''. They can switch between horror and looking like ordinary humans at will, and to detect them while they look like humans, you need twilight eyes.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'':
** The vampires. Angel even keeps it [[HilarityEnsues when turned into a muppet]]. One episode states that he gets stronger with his Game Face, but his bloodlust also increases. Vampires' demonic faces become much worse (and the advantages and drawbacks both get amped up) in the dimension of Pylea, due to its unique metaphysical properties causing hybrid species such as vampires to manifest as either fully human ''or'' fully demon. When Angel changes his face during a fight in "[[Recap/AngelS02E21ThroughTheLookingGlass Through the Looking Glass]]", he ends up turning into a ferocious demon called a "Van-Tal", the Pylean name for vampires, with green skin, red eyes, and horns. His strength and durability massively increase, but he can barely control his bloodlust in this form and nearly kills all his friends, and when he finally changes back to his human form, he's horrified. It's explained that in Pylea, the demon fully manifests, which means that's the true form of Angelus.
** Doyle has one too; his demon form has green skin and is covered in {{spikes|OfVillainy}}. He's stronger in demon form, but prefers his human form, but this is because he likes to pass for (relatively) human, not due to bloodlust. Played for humor in that Doyle involuntarily shifts to his demon form (though only for a moment) when he sneezes.
** Jasmine, with her maggoty, revolting true face and her beautiful false one.
* Vampires in ''Series/{{Being Human|UK}}'' ([[Series/BeingHumanUS both versions]]) normally look completely human, but when about to bite people or otherwise get violent, their eyes turn solid black and their fangs come out. They're also able to consciously activate this when they aren't being violent, but still want to scare people.
* Henry Fitzroy in ''Series/BloodTies2007'' extends fangs, and his eyes go black. The eyes also go black during hypnosis.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''
** Vampires have a human face and a demonic face. The demonic face has vaguely bat-like bumps along their foreheads, yellow eyes, and of course, fangs. Some vampires are {{Shapeshifter Mode Lock}}ed into their demon face, such as The Master and Kakistos, presumably because of their extreme age (the Master being identified as the oldest known vampire at the time of his introduction). It's implied that their demon face is stronger, given Buffy told Angel to put his Game Face on during the Season One Finale, and it's confirmed in the spin-off (see above).
** On the flip side, there is {{Dracula}} in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS5E1BuffyVsDracula Buffy vs. Dracula]]", who only has a human face but always has fangs. Spike says it's due to gypsy magic, which is the {{handwave}} used to explain all the ways Dracula differs from other Buffyverse vampires.
** The Anointed One is one of the few recurring vampires to never show his, leaving it ambiguous as to whether or not it would've been NightmareRetardant or just silly.
** Vengeance demons as well.
** Willow has two game faces, her lesser used "Light Willow" look and her more well-known "Dark Willow" persona that comes complete with {{black eyes|OfEvil}}, [[PaintItBlack black hair]], and evil face veins.
* ''Series/Charmed1998'' has half demon-half human hybrids able to do this. Cole has a human form but has to embrace his demon self fully if he wants to tap into his powers. The demon self comes complete with red skin and black tribal markings. One MonsterOfTheWeek has the same appearance in demon form, but with the colors inverted.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E8TheImpossiblePlanet "The Impossible Planet"]]/[[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E9TheSatanPit "The Satan Pit"]]: A person who has been taken over by the alien of the week has red eyes (red eyes only for the Ood) and mysterious writing tattooed on their skin [[IncrediblyLamePun (including their faces)]] as well as an I-will-hurt-you expression in general, complete with narrowed eyes and a mischievous grin.
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E2TheShakespeareCode "The Shakespeare Code"]]: Lilith shows her true Carrionite face after her unfortunate swain in TheTeaser kisses her.
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E6TheVampiresOfVenice "The Vampires of Venice"]]: When the Saturnynians are preparing to feed on someone, their real teeth become visible through their PerceptionFilter. It's explained as would-be victims' survival instincts overriding the mirage.
* ''Series/ForeverKnight'' vampires get golden eyes and their fangs, which are normally not visible, appear in the mouth. If it's dark, the eyes can appear to glow.
* All Wesen in ''Series/{{Grimm}}'' have this, which is how they are recognized by Grimms and each other. Normal (non-Grimm) humans still can't see it unless the Wesen want them to. The latter is called "woging" (pronounced with a "v") from German "woge" meaning "wave". Interestingly, while Grimms don't have a Game Face, their obvious reaction to a Wesen briefly showing theirs is what gives the Grimms away (the Wesen know when they're woging).
** The last part was {{Retcon}}ned into the Grimms having BlackEyesOfEvil that can only be seen by a woged Wesen. The eyes reflect the Wesen's true nature back at it, although sunglasses block the effect.
** An episode deals with the side effects of a Wesen being forced to go "full woge" (i.e. being seen by all) frequently, eventually causing the Wesen to start losing control over his Wesen nature and occasionally going into "full woge" without meaning to and amplifying his aggression.
* ''Franchise/KamenRider''
** In ''Series/KamenRider555'', an Orphnoch will typically show a shadowy version of its transformed state over its face as a way of saying "don't screw with me." This isn't the actual [[OneWingedAngel battle mode]], though (''that'' would be a full transformation into the [[PeopleInRubberSuits rubber suit]], which ''starts'' with the 'game face' appearing.)
** ''Series/KamenRiderKiva'': The red and blue vein-like lines on a Fangire's neck and lower face before transforming.
** ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'': The Phantoms do a combination of both the Orphnochs' and Fangires' Game Faces (a shadowy aura of the monster face over their human forms before turning into their true forms).
** Ironically, ''Series/KamenRiderAgito'' had a heroic variation. Another Agito would proceed his [[FinishingMove Rider Kick]] by retracting his mouthplate to reveal a skeletal mouth underneath.
* In the ''Series/LostInSpace'' episode “The Golden Man” (Season 2, Episode 15), Mr. Keema proposes to Dr. Smith that in exchange for the weapons from the Jupiter 2 to defeat his enemy the frog faced alien, he will transport Doctor Smith back to Earth. Dr. Smith brings the weapons without permission. As he is talking to the handsome alien about extending the hand of friendship, Mr. Keema transforms himself into his twisted ugly self and then tells Smith that after he disposes of the frog alien, he intends to destroy the earthlings.
* Angels and demons in ''Series/{{Lucifer}}'' always appear on Earth in human guise but they can reveal their true form if they wish to.
** Lucifer's face is a bit like a melted Darth Maul and seems to come with a side effect of making people absolutely certain of his identity, which managed to drive one person insane and nearly do the same to another. However, if someone has already been to Hell, his face has absolutely zero effect on that person.
** Maze's true face looks about the same as in the original comic, half skull and half human. Trixie thinks it's awesome.
* ''Series/Moonlight2007'' vampires extend fangs and morph into slightly beastly faces in a split second. When dehydrated, their eyes turn yellow.
* Vampires in ''Series/{{Sanctuary}}'' gain slanted black eyes, long talons on their fingers, a full mouth full of fangs and deeper voices when they shift into vampire mode. Tesla's skin also became grey on the first occasion he shifted, but this was largely ignored during later transformations.
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
** Demons possessing a person's body look exactly the same as a regular human, except when their eyes go [[BlackEyesOfEvil solid black]]. Used quite often as a [[RevealShot dramatic reveal]] on the show.
** Angels' eyes occasionally [[GlowingEyesOfDoom glow bright blue]] when drawing on their powers. Since they clearly don't ''need'' to do this on a regular basis, it's safe to say it's an intimidation tactic.
** The Leviathans, also body-hijackers, would show their true form whenever they devoured people, with their face splitting open to reveal a [[MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily gaping jaw lined with hundreds of teeth]].
** Most of the monsters on the show do this, usually when they're about to feed or about to attack. Vampires and werewolves can disguise themselves as humans perfectly, with only their retractable teeth (and eyes and claws for werewolves) visually distinguishing them from actual humans.
* ''Series/TeenWolf'':
** While werewolves do have a WolfMan form, they can occasionally manifest their powers in a less visible version, which has them grow fangs, claws and [[GlowingEyesOfDoom glowing eyes]] (said eyes being [[RedEyesTakeWarning red]] for [[MonsterLord Alphas]], [[SupernaturalGoldEyes yellow]] for most Beta/Omega, and [[IcyBlueEyes blue]] for non-Alphas who killed someone), but otherwise keep a human appearance.
** The Kamina (AKA [[spoiler:Jackson]]) in season 2 tends to get [[HellishPupils yellow, reptilian eyes with slitted pupils]]) whenever he is still in human form yet being controlled by his master. He can also still manifest his poisonous claws without fully transforming.
** Played with regarding the [[{{Druid}} Darach]] in season 3, who appears as a bald, hideously scarred humanoid on occasion. The twist to this trope is that [[spoiler:this appearance isn't of supernatural origin; it's her real, human face which got disfigured in her backstory, and she is using {{Glamour}} magic to make herself appear as she was before the incident.]]
* ''Series/TheVampireDiaries'':
** Vampires get writhing, black TaintedVeins around their eyes (the whites of which turn [[RedEyesTakeWarning red]]), in addition to growing fangs, when they exhibit bloodlust.
** Werewolves have a slightly more subtle version of this; whenever their werewolf side manifests outside the full moon, the only physical change they go through is [[SupernaturalGoldEyes yellow, wolf-like eyes]]. When the full moon does happen, one of the first signs they are transforming is getting these eyes ''plus'' fangs.
** The season 2 finale and season 3 introduce vampire-werewolf hybrids, whose game faces combine the TaintedVeins and Red Sclera of the former, the yellow irises or the latter, and a double set of fangs from both.
* ''Series/VanHelsing2016'' usually subverts this, as vampires are typically always in monstrous form (the looks of which vary from being inhumanly pale to [[LooksLikeOrlok looking like Orlok]]). However, the most powerful vampires -- [[MonsterLord the Elders]], [[CoDragons the Brides]], and [[MonsterProgenitor the Dark One]] -- are capable of using illusions to make themselves look like normal people, which they tend to drop when getting into a fight.
* ''Series/{{Witchblade}}'': During the climactic fight between Sara and Gallo in the pilot, his face briefly morphs into a demonic grin after he tells her that killing her is NothingPersonal to him. This weird hint that he's NotEvenHuman is then dropped completely, as it's never brought up in later episodes.
%%* Some mutants in ''Series/TheXFiles'' also can change in this way.

[[folder:Mythology]]
* The Irish folk hero Cuchulain had his "warp spasm", which is lovingly and nauseatingly described in Literature/TheCattleRaidOfCooley. You can read the relevant part [[http://benedante.blogspot.com/2011/02/who-or-what-is-cuchulainn.html here.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pinball]]
* In ''Pinball/BramStokersDracula'', whenever you get Bat Mode, Dracula will turn into his bat form. When you get all the castle locks, the brides will show their monstrous faces.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* The Silent One in ''Podcast/DarkDice'' sometimes shapeshifts into members of the party for purposes of infiltration, but reverts into its true monstrous form either right before or right after attacking one of them.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'': The main villain in once his identity is revealed. [[spoiler: With CompressedHair!]]
* Overlapping with MistakenForGranite, Medusa in the first ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaI'' initially looks like a regular stone bust of a woman before revealing her intimidating true form. She would pull this same trick in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''.
* Several of the villains in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' transform into their Lucavi forms for the final confrontation against you. Oddly, the demon forms are often ''easier'' to beat than the human ones, particularly [[spoiler:Elmdore and his Assassins]].
* Several animatronics in the ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' series have differences between their normal appearance and their appearance while stalking or attacking the player, usually that their eyes turn into BlackEyesOfEvil. Second game's Toy Chica takes it even further as her ''beak'' also vanishes when she is on the prowl. [[http://orig04.deviantart.net/afde/f/2014/356/b/e/profile_picture_by_cupcak_es-d8ar1c9.png Here]] is Toy Chica in her normal state. And [[http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20141111101405/freddy-fazbears-pizza/images/7/7c/ToyChicaInTheAirVent.png here]]... is Toy Chica on the hunt...
* One important cutscene in ''Videogame/JakIIRenegade'' shows [[spoiler:Kor, the old friendly guy that was the one of the first contacts with the new world and gave you quests through the game]], with a big grin for a second as he speaks to Jak, showing you that something is off. [[spoiler:He then proceeds to reveal that he is in fact the Metal Head leader and thrashes Praxis and his guards.]]
* Scarfy in the ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' games is a cute little flying critter that changes into a furious, one-eyed ActionBomb.
* ''VideoGame/OdinSphere'':
** All Vulcans have humanoid forms, but their real forms are fire spawned creatures with live fire generated from them. Normal Vulcans turn naked, grow horns, and have their skin covered by magna, hardened, and blackened. Onyx turns into a small Balrog.
** In Ringford, the Myconid boss has three forms. One of them is an adorable little mushroom that can still cause quite a bit of damage. The other two, though...
* The ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' series: Reptile, who usually displays a perfectly normal - if half-masked - human face, momentarily flashes a leering [[ScaledUp reptilian]] expression when he [[EyeScream spits green venom into the eyes of his opponents]] or [[BrainFood eats their head]].
* In the ''Vampires'' ExpansionPack for ''VideoGame/TheSims4'', you can give vampire Sims a unique "vampire form" with various inhuman features of your choosing (or none at all). They put it on when feeding, using their vampire powers, or when they get hungry (which also causes them to start violently attacking others to drink their blood).
* In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', there are the boos - the Normal Boos and the Boom Boos. They start off as seemingly harmless with their black eyes and stitched up mouths, but get close to them or attack them and they will reveal themselves as the Attack Boos which have yellow eyes and sharp-teethed grins (for the Normal Boo, they reveal themselves by {{jump scar|e}}ing a character).
* Discussed in a metaphorical sense by Raynor towards Kerrigan in the single-player campaign of ''VideoGame/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm'' after he and his forces join hers in battle -- specifically, at the start of [[spoiler:the final campaign battle where the player as Kerrigan leads the assault on Korhal and Mengsk's palace. Kerrigan had already willingly re-infested herself in order to be able to unlock the full might of the Zerg Swarm, something which angered Jim as it seemed to throw away all the effort he and his Raiders had gone through to de-infest her throughout the entirety of ''[[VideoGame/StarcraftIIWingsOfLiberty Wings of Liberty]]''; however, he had changed his mind after seeing evidence that this wasn't the same OmnicidalManiac Queen Bitch of the Universe from before.]] Now isn't the time for sentimentality.
-->'''Kerrigan:''' Jim... thank you.\\
'''Raynor:''' Thank me later -- it's time you put your war face on.
* Mimi from ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' is a {{shapeshift|ing}}er, but usually just looks like a cute green-skinned girl with pigtails and an UnlimitedWardrobe. That is, until you [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DxHeXQWAdk#t=3m20s actually fight her]] and she transforms into a monstrosity akin to ''Film/TheThing1982''.
* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'''s Angel has one in the second Tag game. [[GoodIsNotSoft If]] you [[http://images.wikia.com/tekken/en/images/8/8a/Angry_Angel.png see]] it, she's probably about to [[EyeBeams melt]] '''''[[Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk your]]''''' face.
* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'':
** It's subtle but quite startling when facing [[spoiler:Sans on a Genocide Run]] to suddenly see his eyes just disappear with no warning when upset, with the rest of the face unchanged. [[spoiler:As a skeleton this actually gives him a ''more'' eerie and skeletal look, contrary to his [[ExpressiveSkull normally expressive skull face]].]] He actually does this a few times on other kinds of playthroughs, for dramatic effect.
** When facing off against [[BigBad Asgore]], he lowers his head, which hides his eyes and makes his hair and beard look more [[BarbarianLonghair barbarous]]. [[spoiler:In actuality, it's because he can't bear to look you in the eyes.]]
** [[spoiler:[[ManBehindTheMan Flowey]]]] reveals his as early as he's introduced, in his EstablishingCharacterMoment. Whether you avoid his "friendliness pellets" or run into them, he'll let out an EvilLaugh as he prepares to kill you with an unavoidable circle of bullets.
* While all of the ghosts in ''VideoGame/{{Wick}}'' are already creepy to look at (with the exception of Benny and Lillian), they all start sporting rot and mutilations in the ''No Way Out'' DLC. This may be because where the base game is just avoiding them as part of TheBet, the object of NWO is to ''deliberately fuck with these unquiet dead by messing with their stuff''.
* In the latest ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' expansion, the [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Worgen]] shift into animalistic form whenever they enter combat, including a permanent scowl. Interestingly, Worgen can maintain human form while casting healing and buff spells out of combat. Trying to aid an ally currently in combat will trigger the shift, however.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': Marceline has a variety of NightmareFace thanks to her shapeshifting powers. But her usual game face is a humanoid bat-like look when she goes on the attack. Considering the shows simplistic design, it's very effective when she switches between the two forms.
* The Godpidgeon from ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' can make his face horrific and scary if he has to. In one episode, he scared the hiccups out of Squit this way.
* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'': Make Numbuh Three angry enough and she'll put one on with FireballEyeballs and ScaryTeeth, enough to make even ''her allies'' run for cover (to say nothing of the villains).
* ''Lots'' of ghosts in ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' can put on a Game Face (if not an outright OneWingedAngel). A ghost might look harmless (in fact, it might pretty-much ''be'' harmless) but it might be able to make its features horrific to scare humans. (Ghosts like to do that, after all.) Even Slimer was able to do it in one episode.
* Raven from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' is the HalfHumanHybrid daughter of an immensely powerful demon. A word of advice: if you ever see her suddenly sporting four [[GlowingEyesOfDoom glowing]] [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]], ''run''. Not that it'll help much.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'': The Turtles have colored eyes most of the times and get BlankWhiteEyes when they're being particularly ninja-y, as opposed to the black eyes of the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 1987 series]] and the perpetually white eyes seen in most of the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 2003 series]].
* Klarion the Witch Boy of ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'' just looks like a slender, pale-skinned young man with dark hair, but when he's annoyed enough his face changes to look a lot more demonic, [[HumanoidAbomination to remind you that he's not human at all]].
[[/folder]]

* Mimi from ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' is a {{shapeshift|ing}}er, but usually just looks like a cute green-skinned girl with pigtails and an UnlimitedWardrobe. That is, until you [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DxHeXQWAdk#t=3m20s actually fight her]] and she transforms into a monstrosity akin to ''Film/TheThing1982''.
* In the latest ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' expansion, the [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Worgen]] shift into animalistic form whenever they enter combat, including a permanent scowl. Interestingly, Worgen can maintain human form while casting healing and buff spells out of combat. Trying to aid an ally currently in combat will trigger the shift, however.
* Discussed in a metaphorical sense by Raynor towards Kerrigan in the single-player campaign of ''VideoGame/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm'' after he and his forces join hers in battle -- specifically, at the start of [[spoiler:the final campaign battle where the player as Kerrigan leads the assault on Korhal and Mengsk's palace. Kerrigan had already willingly re-infested herself in order to be able to unlock the full might of the Zerg Swarm, something which angered Jim as it seemed to throw away all the effort he and his Raiders had gone through to de-infest her throughout the entirety of ''[[VideoGame/StarcraftIIWingsOfLiberty Wings of Liberty]]''; however, he had changed his mind after seeing evidence that this wasn't the same OmnicidalManiac Queen Bitch of the Universe from before.]] Now isn't the time for sentimentality.
-->'''Kerrigan:''' Jim... thank you.\\
'''Raynor:''' Thank me later -- it's time you put your war face on.

* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'''s Angel has one in the second Tag game. [[GoodIsNotSoft If]] you [[http://images.wikia.com/tekken/en/images/8/8a/Angry_Angel.png see]] it, she's probably about to [[EyeBeams melt]] '''''[[Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk your]]''''' face.
* The ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' series: Reptile, who usually displays a perfectly normal - if half-masked - human face, momentarily flashes a leering [[ScaledUp reptilian]] expression when he [[EyeScream spits green venom into the eyes of his opponents]] or [[BrainFood eats their head.]]
* Several animatronics in the ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' series have differences between their normal appearance and their appearance while stalking or attacking the player, usually that their eyes turn into BlackEyesOfEvil. Second game's Toy Chica takes it even further as her ''beak'' also vanishes when she is on the prowl. [[http://orig04.deviantart.net/afde/f/2014/356/b/e/profile_picture_by_cupcak_es-d8ar1c9.png Here]] is Toy Chica in her normal state. And [[http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20141111101405/freddy-fazbears-pizza/images/7/7c/ToyChicaInTheAirVent.png here]]... is Toy Chica on the hunt...

* Overlapping with MistakenForGranite, Medusa in the first ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaI'' initially looks like a regular stone bust of a woman before revealing her intimidating true form. She would pull this same trick in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''.
* While all of the ghosts in ''VideoGame/{{Wick}}'' are already creepy to look at (with the exception of Benny and Lillian), they all start sporting rot and mutilations in the ''No Way Out'' DLC. This may be because where the base game is just avoiding them as part of TheBet, the object of NWO is to ''deliberately fuck with these unquiet dead by messing with their stuff.''
* One important cutscene in ''Videogame/JakIIRenegade'' shows [[spoiler:Kor, the old friendly guy that was the one of the first contacts with the new world and gave you quests through the game]], with big grin for a second as he speaks to Jak, showing you that something is off. [[spoiler:He then proceeds to reveal that he is in fact the Metal Head leader and thrashes Praxis and his guards]].
* In the ''Vampires'' ExpansionPack for ''VideoGame/TheSims4'', you can give vampire Sims a unique "vampire form" with various inhuman features of your choosing (or none at all). They put it on when feeding, using their vampire powers, or when they get hungry (which also causes them to start violently attacking others to drink their blood).

* ''Webcomic/LookingForGroup'': "And Maikos?...[[http://lfgcomic.com/page/253 This is no time for masks."]]

* Heroic example from ''Webcomic/{{Misfile}}'', when it's time to do the hero stuff the angels break out their Halos and Wings.
* ''Webcomic/HannaIsNotABoysName'': Casimiro turns into some kind of bleach-white skeletal bat-person thing [[http://hanna.aftertorque.com/?p=571 when he's threatening Hanna]], which may be on purpose to intimidate him or just because the guy's a MoodSwinger.

* A thing with vampires in ''Webcomic/TheNightBelongsToUs''. Ada [[http://tnbtu.com/comic/05-13/ is afraid hers will scare Hank.]]
* ''Webcomic/DraculaRulerOfTheNight'': Downplayed example. When not hunting, vampires look normal enough. But when they are, their eyes turn completely red, their fangs come out and their ears grow more pointed. Drac himself is subject to "bump face" when he really turns feral.
* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', some Aberrations such as [[http://egscomics.com/comic/2018-01-05 Scarf]] or [[http://egscomics.com/comic/2018-01-05 the French vampire]] only change their eyes and teeth when they assume their monstrous forms instead of their whole bodies.
* In ''Webcomic/YokokasQuest'', Copycat has game ''facial features'' rather than a game ''face'' per se - he occasionally reveals [[ExtraEyes additional glowing, stylized eyes]], [[EyesDoNotBelongThere which float around him]]. He's shown these when being [[https://yokokasquest.com/comic/chapter-5-page-24/ menacing]], [[https://yokokasquest.com/comic/chapter-7-page-13/ irritated]], or when [[https://yokokasquest.com/comic/chapter-7-page-37/ travelling through shadows]].
* ''WebComic/KillSixBillionDemons'':
** GodEmpress Mottom looks like a youthful beauty in public, but she can also look her age ([[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld which is a lot]], so she barely looks human) when she wants to be intimidating or just let her hair down. In one big battle, it's almost {{inverted}}, as she starts out old-looking and turns beautiful when she really gets serious.
** The angel 6 Juggernaut Star Scours the Universe turns out to have a game face: [[spoiler:It's the form we initially see it in. As long as it remains focused, 6 Juggernaut Star looks like a flaming, spiked skeleton when in its spirit form in the VoidBetweenTheWorlds, but when its attention slips it shows its true form of a BrokenAngel with burned-away wings and a very human-looking face.]]

* There is a {{meme|ticMutation}} named "[[Film/FullMetalJacket Show Me Your War Face]]" that is quite close to this. It became a deadmeme when the faces chosen were just derpy enough to miss the target for over-the-top-hamminess, and people left it alone. There are some good ones, though, usually screencaps of a Game Face. Others just ''are.''

* ''Lots'' of ghosts in ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' can put on a Game Face (if not an outright OneWingedAngel). A ghost might look harmless (in fact, it might pretty-much ''be'' harmless) but it might be able to make its features horrific to scare humans. (Ghosts like to do that, after all.) Even Slimer was able to do it in one episode.
* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'': Make Numbuh Three angry enough and she'll put one on with FireballEyeballs and ScaryTeeth, enough to make even ''her allies'' run for cover (to say nothing of the villains).

* The Godpidgeon from ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' can make his face horrific and scary if he has to. In one episode, he scared the hiccups out of Squit this way.
* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': Marceline has a variety of NightmareFace thanks to her shapeshifting powers. But her usual game face is a humanoid bat-like look when she goes on the attack. Considering the shows simplistic design, it's very effective when she switches between the two forms.

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[[quoteright:350:[[Film/HanselAndGretelWitchHunters https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/famke_janssen_black_witch.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Which witch do you wish to bewitch?]]

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%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1404492079030138900

* In ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', Super Saiyans get a lot of use out of this trope but play it closer to its TruthInTelevision version. They do gain spikier hair and begin glowing vibrant colors & in addition to this they get a massive power-up. Some later upgrades even include large muscles, hair, and even eyebrows.

* In ''[[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood]]'', after [[spoiler: Selim Bradley]] reveals his true identity as Pride, he's consistently drawn with sharper features and more menacing eyes instead of the almost chibi appearance he had before.
** Both incarnations of Greed also had a charming, handsome human face (granted, one had pointed teeth), which in a serious fight would be covered by the demonic, armored face. Being rather vain, Greed ''really'' hated using that form unless he really had to.
* ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'': Absolutely everywhere, given that all of the monsters in it can take a perfect human disguise form, and given that a Global {{Masquerade}} is firmly in effect. [[HornyDevils Succubi]], [[AnIcePerson Yuki'onna]] and [[TakenForGranite Gorgons]] are all good examples of slighter changes (hair turning to ice, lengthening nails and ears or hair turning to snakes) while a great many other monsters show much more drastic change to their true forms. Of course, while they are seldom angered enough to do so, the main characters have all shown the ability to pull some very scary game faces despite their good natures.
* ''Manga/DeathNote'': Light Yagami does this, having hidden his [[StepfordSmiler true personality]] almost to the very end, he loses what's left of his sanity when he's exposed, and [[EvilLaugh breaks down]] [[MotiveRant and confesses]], as he'd just got done swearing he'd never do. The [[RedOniBlueOni scary red eyes]] are just for us, the audience - but the frightening facial contortions, dramatic gestures, and visible madness? Yeah, they're free for all. What makes it a Game Face is that it liberates him to finally state his case in person. [[ShutUpHannibal Not that it convinces anyone]].

* The 2018 version of Neko Musume (the CatGirl) in ''Manga/GegegeNoKitaro'' is a lot more capable of fighting, particularly when her eyes turn more cat-like, her nails lengthen into razor-sharp claws, and her mouth turns into a SlasherSmile complete with MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily.
* In ''Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei'', Chiri Kitsu normally looks [[http://mundonoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/chiri.jpg like this]]. However, when she shows her AxCrazy side, [[http://lh3.ggpht.com/_o8ElMaP74s4/SeoDkl7GfcI/AAAAAAAAEEg/lTqtdATIMts/chirizetsubou110.jpg she looks like this.]]
* A rare heroic case in ''Anime/HumanoidMonsterBem'', where all three heroes keep a third of their power locked while in human form.
* ''Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt'' features Chuck, resident ChewToy that even ''God himself'' abuses (granted those lightning bolts are to send messages to the protagonists, but still). Then Panty gives him permission to put on the Game Face, and [[spoiler:'''''he turns into a NighInvulnerable [[OhCrap giant regenerating hellhound]]''''']].
* What occasionally happens to Haruko's face in ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'' during fights could be described as this. She gets huge, alien-like eyes and sharp teeth, which may or may not be closer to her original alien appearance.

** A Full-Body Take Over gives Elfman and [[spoiler: Mirajane]] this effect.
* ''Anime/YuGiOh'': Yugi Muto and Pharaoh [[spoiler: Atem]] dueling.
** In ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'', whenever Yuya gets angry enough to reveal his SuperpoweredEvilSide [[spoiler: Zarc]], his eyes [[RedEyesTakeWarning glow red]], his hair spikes up, and he gains a dark aura.
* Many Bishokuya from ''Manga/{{Toriko}}'' through their "intimidation", often accompanied by the image of a large terrifying beast.
* Koro-Sensei of ''Manga/AssassinationClassroom'' has a kaleidoscopic array of facial colors to convey his emotions. His game face comes in the form of Pitch Black.
* Inverted and subverted in ''Anime/QueensBlade'' with The Swamp Witch, at least in the anime: [[spoiler:Her ghostly looks is the real face of the spirit who controls Werbellia, a demon princess [[GrandTheftMe she's using]] for doing all her atrocities]].
* The Ghouls from ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'' look like completely ordinary humans, but when revealing their true nature gain BlackEyesOfCrazy with [[RedEyesTakeWarning red pupils]] and TaintedVeins around their eyes. They can also extend their kagune, a specialized limb/weapon that has different shapes and properties depending on location and type. Most generally resemble some sort of tentacle or insect wings.
* ''Manga/FutureDiary '': Murumuru, Deus's [[spoiler: and first world Yuno's, and second world Yuki's]] right hand... demon... gets this when [[spoiler: her bracelets are removed. She then gains superspeed and wild ferocity along with this.]]
* [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Shalltear Bloodfallen]] in ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'' normally appears as an ElegantGothicLolita, but when she [[BloodBath bathes in blood]], her {{glamour}} breaks and she turns into what can best be described as a humanoid [[LampreyMouth lamprey abomination]]. This trope and OneWingedAngel are apparently common in [[MonsterAdventurers heteromorphic races]], most of which can shapeshift into more humanoid forms, but receive a stat boost in their true forms. At least [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Albedo, Demiurge]] and [[BigCreepyCrawlies Entoma]] are confirmed to have similar transformations. Albedo shifts into something [[FanDisservice hairy and very large]] that is apparently reminiscent of a [[KillerGorilla gorilla]] ([[ViewersAreGeniuses very likely]] a [[https://media-waterdeep.cursecdn.com/avatars/thumbnails/0/261/1000/1000/636252768396688147.jpeg Nalfeshnee]]). Demiurge can shape his head into a froglike one that is likely a holdover from his Imp race and is stated to have another yet unseen form. Entoma is a vaguely humanoid GiantSpider that looks like a human only because her extra legs are hidden in her dress, her face is concealed behind a mask, and even her cute voice is created by a special worm; without it, she has a raspy VoiceOfTheLegion.

* The two [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire queens]] in ''Anime/BloodPlus'' do it too. When they want to fight, their eyes light up. At Saya they are red and at Diva they are blue.
* In the anime ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'' it is a special case. The faces of the half-human warriornesses change as they use their demonic powers. The more demonic the face of a warrior looks, the more she uses that power, and the stronger she is. However, there is always the possibility that they will lose control of their powers and [[FaceMonsterTurn turn into man-eating monsters]].
* In ''Manga/InuYasha'', it is the eponymous hero who is a [[HalfHumanHybrid half-demon]]. As such, he transforms himself once a month into a human being. But when he is in danger or in great pain, his demonic side gains the upper hand over him, and he gets into [[SuperPoweredEvilSide a wild frenzy]] in which he can no longer distinguish between friends and enemies, and indiscriminately attacks everyone. When he transforms into a pure demon, his eyes turn red, his cheeks give him two violet stripes, and his claws and fangs grow longer.
** It is implied that all naturally-born half-demons have this ability, and also show a similar Game Face in their demonic forms.

* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' Naruto does this when he's sufficiently enraged - his canines elongate into fangs, the whisker-markings on his cheeks become far more pronounced and his eyes shift from blue to [[RedEyesTakeWarning red]], signifying that the Nine-Tailed Fox is trying to take over.

* Somewhat toned down in ''ComicBook/LesLegendaires'', where villain Abyss, when revealing his true identity [[spoiler: after posing as Professor Kallisto Vangelis]], gets [[RedEyesTakeWarning Red Eyes]], [[EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette pale skin]] and a SlasherSmile, but otherwise remains quite human-like.
* Bernie of ''ComicBook/DeathVigil'' has one, with her appearance becoming much more skeletal.
* The mages in ''ComicBook/{{Birthright}}'' usually assume a more monstrous and inhuman form when using their magical powers, for example [[KnightTemplar Kylen]] looks like a Caucasian man with blonde hair, but his "mage" form is a bearded, horned demon with purple skin.
* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'': While [[DemonicPossession possessing a human host]] in "Dark Justice", Judge Death is disturbed in his work by one of his host's colleagues. He shuts the door and gives the man a brief flash of his skull-face before murdering him.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}''

** The Dark Phoenix [[spoiler: particularly the latest one, Harry,]] goes from looking fairly normal to a HumanoidAbomination with an unnaturally elongated face, a severe case of ThroatLight and GlowingEyesOfDoom.

** His daughter, Mavis, can also do this [[spoiler: as can his grandson, Little Dennis]].

* The Library Ghost's transformation from a sweet little old lady to a skeletal hag provided one of the first and most memorable scares from ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'', and an unused version of her Game Face was recycled for the [[Film/FrightNight1985 next example]] a year later.
* The ghost of the Aldrich Mansion in ''Film/Ghostbusters2016'' counts as well, looking very pretty until, to quote Holtzmann, "she dislocated her jaw and ectoprojected all over [Erin]."
* ''Film/FrightNight1985'': The vampires Jerry Dandridge and Amy Peterson.
* The vampires in the Titty Twister club in ''Film/FromDuskTillDawn'' switch to downright nasty-looking visuals when the time comes to vamp out, but the most prominent example is Creator/SalmaHayek's Santanico Pandemonium, who turns into a bald-headed and very snake-like creature when she vamps out.
* In ''Film/TheDevilsAdvocate'', several characters associated with [[LouCypher John Milton's]] law firm torment Mary Ann Lomax by revealing their [[NightmareFace true faces]].
* In the Brazilian film ''Film/OAutoDaCompadecida'', Satan stops using his human face and goes into a devilish face (as well as a [[EvilSoundsDeep deep voice]]) after the protagonist angers him enough.
* ''Film/TheLostBoys'': Vampires in general can do this, turning their normally-human features demonic and horrific. A seemingly-innocuous character [[spoiler: (Max)]] turns out to be the BigBad and we don't know it until he gets his Game Face -- but the effect may seem doubly disconcerting since actor [[spoiler: Edward Hermann]] was ''chosen'' to look especially nonthreatening. The only vampire who never did this was Star (and she wasn't truly evil).

* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': "Remember me, Eddie? When I killed your brother, I talked [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Just.]] LIKE. THIIIIIIS!"
** Although it's actually somewhat downplayed as [[spoiler: Doom's face was really [[LatexPerfection a rubber mask]] and when he reveals himself to be a Toon, he's still wearing the mask and we don't see his real face. All we get are his red Toon eyes popping out of the mask's eyeholes]].

* Played for laughs in ''Film/GalaxyQuest'', where the crew encounters some weird baby-looking aliens on a desert planet. One of the cute aliens gets hurt, and the others crowd around it as if to help it get water... only to reveal demonic faces with terrifyingly sharp teeth and devour the thing alive. (The reason it's played for laughs is that [[GenreSavvy Guy]] saw it coming because that's how things work on TV)
* In ''Film/BloodAndDonuts'', Boya uses his game face to intimidate the gangsters that are harassing him and Earl. Unsurprisingly, it works very well.
* In ''Film/{{Nightbreed}}'', Lori and her boyfriend Eric Boone, now a newly-turned member of the Nightbreed, have escaped Midian and are on the run from the police. When the cops marshal an entire force to arrest him he turns around to show Lori his true face.
* ''Film/{{Hellbound}}'': The demonic villain mostly appears disguised as a human, but every time he kills someone he grows claws, gets frog-like pupils, and [[EvilSoundsDeep his voice drops a few octaves]]. When he's defeated, he briefly [[ThisWasHisTrueForm reverts back to his true form]].
* ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'' made Optimus Prime's trademark faceplate retractable so it could slide into place for combat (or when suitably dramatic), a trait that's creeped into other incarnations. Some of the other Transformers also have some kind of "battle mask", most notable Bumblebee.
* Large Marge illustrating the truck accident [[JumpScare victim's face]], in ''Film/PeeWeesBigAdventure''. As Pee Wee would discover at the restaurant, that was ''her'' face.
* ''Film/{{Vampirella}}'': Vampirella briefly changes her appearance to make a point to Adam Van Helsing, gaining [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]] and [[FangsAreEvil fangs]] in the process.
-->'''Vampirella:''' This is '''what''' I am. ''[changes back]'' And this is '''who''' I am.

* Inverted in ''Film/ScaryMovie3''. Being partly a parody of ''Film/TheRing'', it features a similar StringyHairedGhostGirl. At the climax:
-->'''Tabitha:''' ''[turns into a normal-looking girl]'' Thank you all. Your love has freed my soul. I won't have to kill again.\\
'''Cindy:''' Really?\\
'''Tabitha:''' ''[changes back, pulls a knife]'' I'm just screwin' with ya!

* ''Film/EmbraceOfTheVampire2013'': When a vampire is about to bite someone, they don't just show fangs but also their skin goes pale showing black TaintedVeins and their eyes become yellow, [[GlowingEyesOfDoom glowing]] with [[HellishPupils slits like a cat's]].

* Veela from ''Literature/HarryPotter'' look very beautiful and can charm men into doing or saying anything to impress them, but when pissed off, they go from beautiful women to hideous avian abominations capable throwing handfuls of fire.
-->'''Arthur Weasley:''' And ''that'', boys, is why you shouldn't marry for looks alone.
* ''Literature/NeedfulThings'': Leland Gaunt. He looks like a charming and handsome man, but he's actually a demon with claws and a face that is "a horror of eyes and teeth".
* The trolls from ''Twilight Eyes''. They can switch between horror and looking like ordinary humans at will, and to detect them while they look like humans, you need twilight eyes.
* In ''Literature/TheHollows'' series, vampires' eyes go completely black when overcome by bloodlust.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''
** Red Court vampires are monstrous, bat-winged demons wearing human skins. When things get hairy, the skins come off.
** Harry himself refers to Will and Georgia's shapeshifting into their wolf forms as putting on the game face.
** White Court Vampires look like pale and beautiful humans with silver-grey eyes. When they go to GameFace, they become inhumanly pale, their eyes glow silvery white and their beauty becomes terrifying as well as alluring. During the one occasion a White Court vampire used her full powers, her entire body glowed silver and Harry himself barely resisted throwing himself at her feet, [[MindRape never mind the actual target of her...abilities]].
** Denarians, Nicodemus aside, each have a personal Game Face.
** According to Murphy in ''Aftermath'', Harry is normally this awkward, geeky, weirdly-dressed smartass. When things get dangerous, he becomes a dark, commanding, imperious figure in the center of both figurative and literal firestorms. Badass doesn't begin to cover it.
** It was revealed that if you ever see pale, lovely Mab with her beautiful green eyes and bright, winter-themed dresses get so pissed off her hair, eyes and clothes turn pure black, with black veins crisscrossing her skin, you better start praying to whatever god(s) you believe in that she spares your life- or at least kills you painlessly.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''

* ''The Literature/SecondApocalypse''
** Kellhus is a genius with literally no emotions. However, he has complete control over his entire body, including his facial muscles, so he is able to fake emotions without any difficulty. When someone finally figures out [[MagnificentBastard that he's been manipulating everyone the entire time]] and confronts him about it, every muscle in his face goes ''dead'', like turning off a light.
** Skin-spies are shapechanging assassins with faces that are entirely composed of "fingers" that compress together to form any face they can imagine and allow them to impersonate people. When they drop their disguise, their face falls apart into a mass of wiggling fingers around a blank center.
* Subverted in ''Literature/TheJenniferMorgue'' by Creator/CharlesStross. The protagonist is working with a [[HornyDevils succubus]] covered by a level-three glamour that makes her look like a gorgeous woman. Eventually, despite her warnings, he insists that she reveal her real face--and instead of the hideous demon he expects, it turns out she's a HalfHumanHybrid that he actually finds rather attractive.
* A non-evil variant in ''Literature/AkataWitch'' by Creator/NnediOkorafor. In it, all Leopard People (people with special magical abilities) have a "spirit face", that is almost like their true form. Seeing another person's spirit face is seen as almost the same as seeing them naked. However, Sunny plays this straight when she gets in a fight with another student and shows them her spirit face to scare them.
* Once the shit has well and truly hit the fan in ''Literature/TheShining'', the Overlook forces Jack Torrence to smash his face in with a croquet mallet, leaving him a faceless meat puppet of the hotel's malevolent spirits.
* Gully Foyle the AntiHero protagonist of ''Literature/TheStarsMyDestination'', a classic sci-fi adaptation of ''Literature/TheCountOfMonteCristo'' by ''Creator/AlfredBester'', had a hideous tiger tattoo across his face. In his more refined state he'd had the tattoo removed. However, it would reappear whenever he became enraged as the blood would pump to his face.
* In ''Literature/SheepsClothing'', the three vampires exhibit a form of this when they're hunting. The two brides show off red eyes and a mouthful of fangs, while their sire, Russeau, turns into a monstrous bat.
* In ''Literature/TheGirlFromTheWell'', when Okiku is in a calm and contemplative mood, she wears the appearance of the girl she was in life. When she is stalking a victim, however, her appearance becomes that of a drowned and decaying corpse.
* ''Literature/Sharpe'': Captain William Frederickson of the Royal American Rifles deliberately plays up his scars for intimidating effect, and always removes his wig, false teeth and glass eye before a fight to make his appearance more frightening.
* The vampires in ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'' usually drive their fangs out when they want to fight.

* ''Series/{{Angel}}''

* ''TabletopGame/FengShui'''s monsters all have a horrific appearance, and monsters (both [=PCs=] and bad guys) can choose to take a Creature Power called "Brain Shredder", which basically provides one of these and weaponizes it to cause damage through fear.
* TabletopGame/{{Scion}} actually has an Appearance knack called Game Face. This is when a beautiful Scion (ugly Scions have their own knack) has decided they have had enough of their enemy's BS and flash their best [[SlasherSmile I'm-going-to-kill-you grin]] or [[TranquilFury grit their teeth in stony determination.]] Most {{Mooks}} flee on sight and those who don't have to struggle to hold their ground.
* The Dawn Caste Solar anima power in ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' includes an effect of this sort. It causes the Solar to appear larger, more glorious, and terrifying with GlowingEyesOfDoom and a fully active BattleAura. Interestingly, this particular Game Face can be both activated deliberately or go off on its own simply through expending enough power in combat.
** The Dusk Caste Abyssals and Slayer Caste Infernals, as counterparts to the Dawns, have a similar power.
* ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons Dungeons & Dragons 3.5th Edition]]'' had Pale Night, an ancient demon/EldritchAbomination. She's apparently so evil that ''reality itself has to shield itself from her.'' Evil enough that her strongest attack is to show her face, instantly killing all but the strongest-willed, and even those that survive do so by not comprehending her true form.
** Shifters, from the ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'' campaign setting, have a small touch of lycanthrope heritage. For a brief time each day, they can "shift" into a slightly bestial but physically more powerful form.
** D&D also has a monster called a Krenshar that looks like a type of great cat, but it has very loose skin around its face. Thus, when it wants to scare off predators, is ''turns its face inside out''.
* The... the ''[[CrapsackWorld everything]]'' in ''TabletopGame/{{KULT}}''. {{Justified|Trope}}, as reality is a lie and literally everything isn't what they seem to be.
* Lahmian- and Von Carstein-clan Vampires in ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'' are often said to be extremely beautiful and/or handsome. You would [[InformedAttribute never tell this]] by the models. however, because they're always sculpted with their Game Faces on.

* ''Film/TheLostBoys'': Vampires in general can do this, turning their normally-human features demonic and horrific. A seemingly-innocuous character [[spoiler: (Max)]] turns out to be the BigBad and we don't know it until he gets his Game Face -- but the effect may seem doubly disconcerting since actor [[spoiler: Edward Hermann]] was ''chosen'' to look especially nonthreatening. [[spoiler: James Spader]] in ''Wolf'' is similar. The only vampire who never did this was Star (and she wasn't truly evil).

* ''Webcomic/ReisNaruFoxAU'': After hearing her teammates remark that they might not be allowed to enjoy a festival due to [[FantasticRacism coming from]] [[LittleBitBeastly animal clans]], Hinata invites them to join her, activating her Byakugan and letting the veins bulge around her eyes as she declares that anyone who complains can take it up with her.

* Nonvillain example: In ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'', Toothless got his name because [[spoiler: his teeth are retractable, and he only shows them when he's eating or snarling at something]].

* About halfway through the plot of ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'', when Coraline confronts [[BigBad The Other Mother]], she pulls a [[YoureNotMyFather You're Not My Mother]] and demands to leave The Other World. The Other Mother responds by growing from a copy of Coraline's real mother with black button eyes into an inhumanly tall, skeletally thin woman. [[spoiler: By the end of the movie, The Other Mother's illusions have been completely dispelled. Her true form is essentially the aforementioned GameFace, but her formerly human hands have turned into metallic sewing needles, her face has become [[FacialHorror covered in cracks]], and her legs have become [[SpiderPeople spider's legs]].]]

* The vampires in ''Film/FromDuskTillDawn''.

* All the vampires from ''Film/FromDuskTillDawn'' switch to downright nasty-looking visuals when the time comes to vamp out, but the most prominent example is Creator/SalmaHayek's Santanico Pandemonium, who turns into a bald-headed and very snake-like creature when she vamps out.

** An episode deals with the side effects of a Wesen being forced to go "full woge" (i.e. being seen by all) frequently, eventually causing the Wesen to start losing control over his Wesen nature and occasionally going into "full woge" without meaning to and amping out his aggression UpToEleven.

[[folder: Anime & Manga]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]
* In ''Comicbook/{{Excalibur}}'', [[FieryRedhead Rachel Summers]] ([[LamarckWasRight avatar of the]] [[BattleAura Phoenix Force]]) gets scary-looking lines on her face when she gets serious. They're actually scars that are always there, and she uses her telepathy to make others see an undamaged face. When she has to use her full power for butt-kicking, she can't spare any for the illusion and lets it drop. Or sometimes she's just too [[HotBlooded pissed off]] to concentrate on it.

* Somewhat toned down in ''ComicBook/LesLegendaires,'' where villain Abyss, when revealing his true identity [[spoiler: after posing as Professor Kallisto Vangelis]], gets [[RedEyesTakeWarning Red Eyes]], [[EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette pale skin]] and a SlasherSmile, but otherwise remains quite human-like.

* The mages in ''{{ComicBook/Birthright}}'' usually assume a more monstrous and inhuman form when using their magical powers, for example [[KnightTemplar Kylen]] looks like a Caucasian man with blonde hair, but his "mage" form is a bearded, horned demon with purple skin.

* ''ComicBook/RobinSeries'': After being [[CameBackWrong brought back from the dead]] Darla Aquista can maintain her human appearance most of the time, but if she wants to use her new powers for anything more extensive than a JediMindTrick her appearance shifts to have solid yellow eyes, deathly pale skin, and blood-red lips.

[[folder: Comic Strips]]

[[folder: Fan Works]]

[[folder: Films -- Animated]]

[[folder: Films -- Live-Action]]

* In ''Film/{{Clash of the Titans|2010}}'' (the 2010 version), [[GorgeousGorgon Medusa]] normally looks [[CuteMonsterGirl very attractive]], but, when using her stone gaze, her face becomes demonic and hideous.

-->'''Vampirella:''' This is ''what'' I am. [changes back] And this is ''who'' I am.

-->'''Tabitha''': (''turns into a normal-looking girl'') Thank you all. Your love has freed my soul. I won't have to kill again.
-->'''Cindy''': Really?
-->'''Tabitha''': (''changes back, pulls a knife'') I'm just screwin' with ya!

* ''Film/{{Embrace Of The Vampire|2013}}'': When a vampire is about to bite someone, they don't just show fangs but also their skin goes pale showing black TaintedVeins and their eyes become yellow, [[GlowingEyesOfDoom glowing]] with [[HellishPupils slits like a cat's]].

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

[[folder: Mythology]]

[[folder: Pinball]]

[[folder: Podcasts]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

* In the latest ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' expansion, the [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Worgen]] shift into animalistic form whenever they enter combat, including a permanent scowl.
** Interestingly, Worgen can maintain human form while casting healing and buff spells out of combat. Trying to aid an ally currently in combat will trigger the shift, however.

--->'''Kerrigan:''' Jim...thank you.
--->'''Raynor:''' Thank me later -- it's time you put your war face on.

[[folder: Visual Novels]]

[[folder: Webcomics]]

[[folder: Web Original]]

* There is a meme called "Show Me Your War Face," which is quite close to this. It became deadmeme when the faces chosen were just derpy enough to miss the target for over-the-top-hamminess, and people left it alone. There were some good ones, though, and they were usually screen caps of a Game Face. Others just ''were.''

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* Raven from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' is the HalfHumanHybrid daughter of an immensely powerful demon. A word of advice: if you ever see her suddenly sporting four [[GlowingEyesOfDoom glowing]] [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]], ''run''. Not that it'll help much.

* As opposed to the black eyes of the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 1987 series]] and the BlankWhiteEyes seen in most of the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 2003 series]], the Turtles of [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012 the 2012 series]] have colored eyes most of the times and get the BlankWhiteEyes when they're being particularly ninja-y.

* Klarion the Witch Boy of ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' just looks like a slender, pale-skinned young man with dark hair, but when he's annoyed enough his face changes to look a lot more demonic, [[HumanoidAbomination to remind you he's not human at all.]]

[[folder: Real Life]]

* ''Film/{{Embrace Of The Vampire|2015}}'': When a vampire is about to bite someone, they don't just show fangs but also their skin goes pale showing black TaintedVeins and their eyes become yellow, [[GlowingEyesOfDoom glowing]] with [[HellishPupils slits like a cat's]].

->''"A vampire appears to be a normal person, until the feed is upon them. Only then do they reveal their true demonic visage."''

Sometimes, though, they just want to play with their food. They drop the facade and show their true form, [[EyeColourChange getting scary eyes]], growing {{fangs|AreEvil}}, {{horn|edHumanoid}}s, PointyEars and FemmeFatalons or even claws. The changes can range from the purely cosmetic to the practical. In video games or [=RPGs=], this usually affords attack bonuses or new forms of attack altogether. In film, TV, or literature it usually means any InnocentBystanders nearby just dropped a rung in the food chain.

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', Super Saiyans get a lot of use out of this trope, but play it closer to its TruthInTelevision version. They do gain spikier hair and begin glowing vibrant colors & in addition to this they get a massive power up. Some later upgrades even include large muscles, hair and even eyebrows.

* In ''[[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood]]'', after [[spoiler:Selim Bradley]] reveals his true identity as Pride, he's consistently drawn with sharper features and more menacing eyes instead of the almost chibi appearance he had before.
** Both incarnations of Greed also had a charming, handsome human face (granted, one had pointed teeth), which in a serious fight, would be covered by the demonic, armored face. Being rather vain, Greed ''really'' hated using that form unless he really had to.
* ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'': Absolutely everywhere, given that all of the monsters in it can take a perfect human disguise form, and given that a Global {{Masquerade}} is firmly in effect. [[HornyDevils Succubi]], [[AnIcePerson Yuki'onna]] and [[TakenForGranite Gorgons]] are all good examples of slighter changes (hair turning to ice, lengthening nails and ears or hair turning to snakes) while a great many other monsters show much more drastic change to their true forms. Of course while they are seldom angered enough to do so, the main characters have all shown ability to pull some very scary game faces despite their good natures.
* ''Manga/DeathNote'': Light Yagami does this, having hidden his [[StepfordSmiler true personality]] almost to the very end, he loses what's left of his sanity when he's exposed, and [[EvilLaugh breaks down]] [[MotiveRant and confesses]], as he'd just got done swearing he'd never do. The [[RedOniBlueOni scary red eyes]] are just for us, the audience - but the frightening facial contortions, dramatic gestures and visible madness? Yeah, they're free for all. What makes it a Game Face is that it liberates him to finally state his case in person. [[ShutUpHannibal Not that it convinces anyone]].

* The 2018 version of Neko Musume (the CatGirl) in ''Manga/GegegeNoKitaro'' is a lot more capable of fighting, particuarly when her eyes turn more cat-like, her nails lengthen into razor-sharp claws, and her mouth turns into a SlasherSmile complete with MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily.

* What occasionally happens to Haruko's face in ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'' during fights could be described as this. She gets huge, alien-like eyes and sharp teeth, which may or nay be closer to her original alien appearance.
* In ''Manga/FairyTail'', whenever he gets [[UnstoppableRage angry]], Natsu has two veins that bulge in a diagonal slant above his eyebrows and his eyes change in to pale yellowish color with slit-like pupils.
** A Full-Body Take Over gives Elfman and [[spoiler:Mirajane]] this effect.
* ''Anime/YuGiOh'': Yugi Muto and Pharaoh [[spoiler:Atem]] dueling.
** In ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'', whenever Yuya gets angry enough to reveal his SuperpoweredEvilSide [[spoiler:Zarc]], his eyes [[RedEyesTakeWarning glow red]], his hair spikes up, and he gains a dark aura.

* [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Shalltear Bloodfallen]] in ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'' normally appears as an ElegantGothicLolita, but when she [[BloodBath bathes in blood]], her {{glamour}} breaks and she turns into what can best be described as a humanoid [[LampreyMouth lamprey abomination]]. This trope and OneWingedAngel are apparently common in [[MonsterAdventurers heteromorphic races]], most of which can shapeshift into more humanoid forms, but receive a stat boost in their true forms. At least [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Albedo, Demiurge]] and [[BigCreepyCrawlies Entoma]] are confirmed to have similar transformations. Albedo shifts into something [[FanDisservice hairy and very large]] that is apparently reminiscent of a [[KillerGorilla gorilla]] ([[ViewersAreGeniuses very likely]] a [[https://media-waterdeep.cursecdn.com/avatars/thumbnails/0/261/1000/1000/636252768396688147.jpeg Nalfeshnee]]). Demiurge can shape his head into a froglike one that is likely a holdover from his Imp race, and is stated to have another yet unseen form. Entoma is a vaguely humanoid GiantSpider that looks like a human only because her extra legs are hidden in her dress, her face is concealed behind a mask, and even her cute voice is created by a special worm, without it, she has a raspy VoiceOfTheLegion.

* In ''Manga/InuYasha'' it is the eponymous hero who is a [[HalfHumanHybrid half-demon]]. As such, he transforms himself once a month into a human being. But when he is in danger or in great pain, his demonic side gains the upper hand over him, and he gets into [[SuperPoweredEvilSide a wild frenzy]] in which he can no longer distinguish between friends and enemies, and indiscriminately attacks everyone. When he transforms into a pure demon, his eyes turn red, his cheeks give him two violet stripes, and his claws and fangs grow longer.

[[folder:Comic Books]]

* Somewhat toned down in ''ComicBook/LesLegendaires,'' where villain Abyss, when revealing his true identity [[spoiler:after posing as Professor Kallisto Vangelis]], gets [[RedEyesTakeWarning Red Eyes]], [[EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette pale skin]] and a SlasherSmile, but otherwise remains quite human-like.

* ''ComicBook/RobinSeries'': After being [[CameBackWrong brought back from the dead]] Darla Aquista can maintain her human appearance most of the time, but if she wants to use her new powers for anything more extensive than a JediMindTrick her appearance shifts to have solid yellow eyes, deathly pale skin and blood red lips.

[[folder:Comic Strips]]
* In ''ComicStrip/{{Candorville}}'', [[spoiler:vampires]] have several levels of Game Face. The lowest has CuteLittleFangs. The highest [[spoiler:LooksLikeOrlok]] and has {{red eyes|TakeWarning}}. Incidentally, this seems to differ from one character to another--it may be that the oldest are the ugliest, or that [[spoiler:Saxon's {{Dhampyr}} status is why he gets MilkyWhiteEyes instead of red ones.]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]

** Heroic example: Harry develops this in the first book with his eyes [[EyeColourChange alternately flashing gold, or outright burning gold]], with a [[CompellingVoice compelling]], [[VoiceOfTheLegion echoing voice, like two voices speaking at once]] occasionally thrown in for good measure. However, for all that it isn't a sign of incipient evil, it ''is'' generally noted to be extremely unnerving, something he exploits in the sequel for the intimidation factor.

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* About halfway through the plot of ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'', when Coraline confronts [[BigBad the Other Mother]], she pulls a [[YoureNotMyFather You're Not My Mother]] and demands to leave the Other World. The Other Mother responds by growing from a copy of Coraline's real mother with black button eyes into an inhumanly tall, skeletally thin woman. [[spoiler:By the end of the movie, the Other Mother's illusions have been completely dispelled. Her true form is essentially the aforementioned GameFace, but her formerly human hands have turned into metallic sewing needles, her face has become [[FacialHorror covered in cracks]], and her legs have become [[SpiderPeople spider's legs]].]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania'', {{Dracula}} occasionally gets mad and shows his scary face, which involves RedEyesTakeWarning, his fangs for all to see, and menacing growling.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* The Library Ghost's transformation from sweet little old lady to skeletal hag provided one of the first and most memorable scares from ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'', and an unused version of her Game Face was recycled for the [[Film/FrightNight1985 next example]] a year later.

* Played for laughs in ''Film/GalaxyQuest'', where the crew encounters some weird baby-looking aliens on a desert planet. One of the cute aliens gets hurt, and the others crowd around it as if to help it get water... only to reveal demonic faces with terrifyingly sharp teeth and devour the thing alive. (The reason it's played for laughs is because [[GenreSavvy Guy]] saw it coming because that's how things work on TV)

* ''Film/CountDracula1977'': Both Dracula, the vampire brides and Lucy (after she's turned) eyes turn completely red when going full vampire.

* ''Film/HanselAndGretelWitchHunters'': {{Inverted|Trope}}. Grand Witches can change ''out'' of their monstrous face and look like a regular (and beautiful) woman. Crosses back to straight since Muriel spends most of the movie looking pretty and dropping the disguise to affect a straight Game Face.

[[folder:Literature]]

* ''Literature/NeedfulThings'': Leland Gaunt. He looks like a charming and handsome man, but he's actually a demon with claws, and a face that is "a horror of eyes and teeth".

** White Court Vampires look like pale and beautiful humans with silver-grey eyes. When they go Game Face, they become inhumanly pale, their eyes glow silvery white and their beauty becomes terrifying as well as alluring. During the one occasion a White Court vampire used her full powers, her entire body glowed silver and Harry himself barely resisted throwing himself at her feet, [[MindRape never mind the actual target of her...abilities]].

*** Usually the elves seem ''less'' impressive with their glamour off, usually described as small, pathetic, dull and gray. [[AlienFairFolk There's a deliberate parallel to]] TheGrays there.

** Speaking of Death, Mort and Susan have a version of this (Mort while he was playing Death's role and Susan on a permanent basis on account of being Death's [[LamarckWasRight granddaughter]]. This involves switching from normal speech to doing [[AC:The Voice]] and [[AC:talking like this]] and something frightening happens with their face (probably their skull shows through). It tends to scare most people.

** Kellhus is genius with literally no emotions. However, he has complete control over his entire body, including his facial muscles, so he is able to fake emotions without any difficulty. When someone finally figures out [[MagnificentBastard that he's been manipulating everyone the entire time]] and confronts him about it, every muscle in his face goes ''dead'', like turning off a light.

* Subverted in ''Literature/TheJenniferMorgue'' by Creator/CharlesStross. The protagonist is working with a [[HornyDevils succubus]] covered by a level-three glamour that makes her look like a gorgeous woman. Eventually despite her warnings he insists that she reveal her real face--and instead of the hideous demon he expects, it turns out she's a HalfHumanHybrid that he actually finds rather attractive.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]

** Vampires have a human face, and a demonic face. The demonic face has vaguely bat-like bumps along their foreheads, yellow eyes, and of course, fangs. Some vampires are {{Shapeshifter Mode Lock}}ed into their demon face, such as The Master and Kakistos, presumably because of their extreme age (the Master being identified as the oldest known vampire at the time of his introduction). It's implied that their demon face is stronger, given Buffy told Angel to put his Game Face on during the Season One Finale, and it's confirmed in the spin-off (see above).

[[folder:Mythology]]

[[folder:Pinball]]

[[folder:Podcasts]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]

[[folder:Video Games]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

[[folder:Web Original]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]

[[folder:Real Life]]

** A more subtle version is for people to hold up their heads, puff out their chests, and hold their arms out slightly in a sort of body builder pose. There is a whole stereotype about short people who use this to try and compensate around taller people, to varying degrees of success.

* GodEmpress Mottom in ''WebComic/KillSixBillionDemons'' looks like a youthful beauty in public, but she can also look her age ([[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld which is a lot]], so she barely looks human) when she wants to be intimidating or just let her hair down. In one big battle, it's almost {{inverted}}, as she starts out old-looking and turns beautiful when she really gets serious.

* Nonvillain example: In ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'', Toothless got his name because [[spoiler: his teeth are retractable, and he only shows them when he's eating or snarling at something]].

* Henry Fitzroy in ''Series/BloodTies'' extends fangs, and his eyes go black. The eyes also go black during hypnosis.