Page 132 - Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained Vol. 3

112 Mysterious Creatures

Lorre, 1904–1964) by a nasty wizard (Boris Making the Connection
Karloff). In The Terror (1963), Nicholson was
a Napoleonic officer who encountered a witch, anthropology The scientific study of the ori-
a mad baron (Karloff), and the vengeful spirit gins, behavior, physical, social, and cultur-
of a young woman. Nicholson walked the thin al aspects of humankind.
line of madness in The Shining (1980) and
erupted on the screen in demonic, axe-wield- bipedal Any animal that has two legs or feet.
ing fury, goaded to violence by the supernatur- From the Latin stem biped, meaning two-
al forces in a mountain resort. In The Witches footed.
of Eastwick (1987), Nicholson got promoted cadaver A dead body that is usually intended
from the demonically insane to an entity that for dissection. From the Latin cadere,
may have been Satan himself—or at least a meaning to fall or to die.
high-ranking demon. Nicholson made an
excellent werewolf in the film Wolf (1994), cryptozoology The study of so-called mythical
skillfully achieving the trauma and terror of an creatures such as Sasquatch or Bigfoot,
ordinary man undergoing supernatural trans- whose existence has not yet been scientifi-
formation. In Mars Attacks! (1996), he was the cally substantiated.
president of the United States attempting to demarcation The process of setting borders,
defeat the bug-eyed invaders from Mars. limits or marking boundaries. From the

Leonard Nimoy (1931– ) was playing Spanish demarcacion, literally meaning,
aliens long before he became Mr. Spock, the marking off.
science officer of the Enterprise on the original
television series Star Trek (1966–69). In In elixir Something that is a mysterious, magical
Satan’s Satellites (also known as Zombies of the substance with curative powers believed to
Stratosphere, 1958), he was an alien soldier heal all ills or to prolong life and preserve
who was part of a squadron determined to youthfulness. From the Arabic al-iksir and
conquer Earth. He also had a small part in The the Greek xerion, meaning dry powder for
Brain Eaters (1958), wherein alien creatures treating wounds.
feasted on human gray matter. hoax An act of deception that is intended to
Donald Sutherland (1934– ) pounded a make people think or believe something is
stake into the heart of his bride in Dr. Terror’s real when it is not.
House of Horrors (1965) when he learned that jinni In Islamic or Muslim legend, a spirit that
she was a vampire. In Invasion of the Body is capable of taking on the shape of
Snatchers (1978), he was a man desperately try- humans or animals in order to perform
ing to destroy pods from outer space that grew mischievous acts or to exercise supernatur-
into human beings, replacing the original per- al power and influence over humans. From
sons with look-alike alien creatures. Sutherland the Arabic jinn, which is the plural of jinni.
returned to fighting vampires with a vengeance
as The Chosen One’s mentor in the original Kabbalist/Kabbalah Jewish mystical teachings
film version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992). that are based on hidden meanings in the
Hebrew Scriptures. Can also be spelled
M Delving Deeper Cabala. From the Hebrew qabbalah, mean-
Halliwell, Leslie. Halliwell’s Film Guide. 6th ed. New ing tradition, and from quibbel, to give,
York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1987. receive or accept, ultimately something
Katz, Ephraim. The Film Encyclopedia. New York: Put- that is handed down.
nam Publishing, 1982.
lupinomanis Having the excessive character-
Skal, David J. The Monster Show: A Cultural History of
istics of a wolf, such as being greedy or rav-
Horror. New York: Boulevard, 1997.
enously hungry.
Stanley, John. Creature Features: The Science Fiction,
Fantasy, and Horror Movie Guide. New York: lycanthropy The magical ability in legends
Boulevard, 1997. and horror stories of a person who is able

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