The Mirror Monster Trope in Horror, Explained
Horror stories have a lot of go-to monsters to pull from when assembling the new threat of their nightmares. Despite the theoretically endless options, there are a few standard hallmarks that seem to keep coming back, like, for example, a monster who only exists in the reflection of a mirror.
Jump scares are thought of as the lowest form of horror content, largely because of their formulaic presentation. Certain shots give savvy viewers flashbacks as they brace themselves for the upcoming loud noise. No shot is as obvious as an innocent victim washing their face in the mirror. When they leave the mirror's view, something else will take their reflection's place.
The 'Blank' Trope In Horror, Explained
The Mirror Monster is exactly what it says on the tin. It's a monster, ghost, or demon that appears in the reflection of a mirror or other glass-like surface. The mirror can serve as a window to another realm, or the creature could be somehow bound to it, or it could just be a temporary jump scare to spook whoever's nearby. There's something inherently unpleasant about the reflection, so having it work in a way that isn't natural is immediately disconcerting. People tend to feel unnerved by looking at themselves in the mirror for a number of reasons, but stories about monsters trapped within them are extremely common. Sometimes smashing the mirror will free the beast, sometimes it kills them instantly. Across cultures and generations, the horror within the glass has remained terrifying.
Since at least the early 1900s, mirrors have held a place of prominence in urban legend. School children have played Bloody Mary for generations. The origin of the tale is fuzzy, bringing up references to multiple historical figures from Countess
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