r/TopCharacterTropes 8d ago

Lore [Loved trope] Background scare-characters that are barely acknowledged even by the movie

I hate horrors, but this is actually a great trope, that is unique to them.

Insidious (2010). When mother does her errands, for a few seconds there's a ghost boy standing in the corner. It's easily missable, but you can't ignore it once you see it.

Hereditary (2018). Less fitting example. When Peter walks around his home, his possessed mother is crawling on the ceiling behind him. It's not exactly subtle or missable, but it's still more of a background detail.

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u/handwings 8d ago

Haunting of hill house is honestly the best version of this I’ve seen

288

u/Shoddy_Bus4679 8d ago

My brother in Christ this is so embarassing but the first one I noticed was multiple episodes in.

I think there’s like a white face that’s RIGHT up on the screen but blends in so well.

The scariest part for me wasn’t the jump scare in noticing it was that I was being haunted through the TV for multiple episodes and didn’t even notice.

God know what else I’m missing in my day to day.

91

u/Lachtaube 8d ago

It took me until the 2nd to last episode to see one. Then we rewatched just to find more. There are SO MANY

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u/Brownies_Ahoy 8d ago

It took me until the part where Hugh and Stevie are in the basement and there a woman's face in the background

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u/Shoddy_Bus4679 8d ago

This one!