Succubus: The Seductive Female Demon Who Proves Sex Can Kill, Even In Your Dreams

Few creatures are as seductive and deadly as the succubus in the shadowy depths of myth and nightmare. This demonic temptress has haunted dreams and preyed on desire for centuries, whispering promises of ecstasy while draining the very life (or even the sperm) from her victims. But where did the succubus come from, and why does she still linger in our stories, nightmares, and screens?

In the following article, we’ll decipher the succubus myth, including its ancient origins, the evil way the demon operates, and its appearances in modern popular culture, focusing surely on horror movies.

What Is A Succubus?

A succubus is a dangerous female demon, or should we say supernatural entity, who has become one of the most recognizable symbols of erotic horror in Western culture. The term comes from the Latin word “Succubare,” meaning “to lie beneath.” The English word “Succubus” dates back to the late 14th century, when the succubus was also nicknamed “The Earth Wanderer.”

The succubus’ meaning, in any case, indicates the seductive nature of the female demon, or if you like: her favorite sexual position while seducing her male victims. This is in contrast to the figure of the “incubus,” the male equivalent, who usually lies on top of her female victims.

According to the accepted myth, a succubus seduces men – especially monks, but certainly not only – in their dreams, moments when men are at their most vulnerable. She has sex with them for rather gruesome reasons. The succubus drains the energy or soul out of the men, causing them to become exhausted so that the victims wake up exhausted, weak, or even not awake at all. Men who wake up may feel deep remorse, perhaps reminiscent of betrayal, or at least having sex with a freaking scary demon.

What Does A Succubus Do? (Or: The Sperm Robber Is Alive)

What’s even worse is that according to some myths, Succubi also steal sperm from men. The first reason is that succubi need sperm to survive. In addition, succubi steal sperm from men to transfer them to their male counterpart, the incubus, who is essentially a male demon who seduces women into sex or even rapes them during sleep. Such terrible acts can also end in exhaustion and death.

The witches’ fetish speaks of a collaboration between the two demons; that is, the succubus transfers the sperm of the man she slept with to the incubus, who uses it to impregnate other women. Incidentally, some traditions exist in which the succubus and the incubus are the same demonic entity, capable of changing their gender as needed.

The main goal is to create evil offspring, only partially human, who will serve the forces of evil. This is how demons, who, according to traditional belief, cannot reproduce in a “normal” way, can bring children into the world. Children born from this mating may be deformed or at least particularly susceptible to supernatural influences.

We can argue that, unlike some familiar mythological characters or monsters, the threat of the succubus is a little more sophisticated. This character offers extreme pleasure because there are few things more pleasurable for a man (a single man, right?) than having sex with an attractive woman, but this pleasure comes at a price that is not easy at all.

What does A Succubus Look Like?

It is important to note that, like demons and other mythological characters, a succubus does not have a clear-cut description. The common denominator in the succubus’s descriptions is that they are demonic women with breathtaking beauty (sometimes literally), to whom it is difficult for men to say no. The most successful evidence is that Megan Fox once played a succubus, as shown below.

In most cases, a succubus has inhuman, demonic, or even animal characteristics, such as:

• Demon wings, which may resemble a bat
• Small horns, which the succubus can hide in the hair
• Glowing eyes or in non-human colors
• A tail
• Sharp nails or claws

However, the inhuman characteristics of the succubus tend to be relatively subtle, sometimes even hidden. The main image is a seductive woman of unimaginable beauty, and not necessarily a terrifying demon, aiming to seduce men and not scare them. In some folklore, by the way, a succubus has an appearance that is very reminiscent of a siren, whose frightening sides we have already addressed in a separate article on the site.

The Origins Of The Succubus Myth

Although we identify the succubus myth primarily with medieval European culture and Christianity, the roots of the seductive monster lie deeper in human history. Succubus-like figures appear in various mythologies throughout the ancient world.

In the Talmud, the Midrash, Kabbalistic literature, and Jewish folk tales, for example, we encounter Lilith, who, like the succubus, lurks and tempts men. The goal, you guessed it, is to make them sin and steal their seed, using it to create evil demons. According to descriptions in medieval Jewish mystical and literary sources, Lilith is considered Adam’s first wife, even before Eve. She abandoned the Garden of Eden after having intercourse with the angel Samael and became a seductive sorceress (Succubus).

In ancient Arabian legends, we encounter “Qarînah,” a female spirit who seduces men at night, similar to the succubus. The qarînah is invisible, but people with “second sight,” “sixth sense,” or whatever you call it, may see her, usually as a cat, dog, or other household animal. In Greek mythology, “Empusa” was a shape-shifting female monster who seduced and bedded men before devouring them.

The most familiar version of the succubus probably emerged in medieval Europe as part of the Catholic Church’s attempt to combat what it saw as illicit sexuality or even incest. During this period, a religious-social narrative developed against illicit sexuality, sin, and, of course, “dangerous” women. The Church viewed expressions of unbridled sexuality as a real spiritual danger, and the succubus served as a demonic explanation for phenomena such as wet dreams, masturbation, or fantasies. Wet dreams or sexual fantasies were often attributed to attacks by sexual demons.

One of the most famous documents dealing with the succubus is the “Malleus Maleficarum,” also known as “Hammer of Witches.” This Malleus Maleficarum is a 15th-century work by the German churchman and inquisitor Heinrich Kramer, which deals, among other things, with the characteristics of witches and their hunting. The book served as a guide for witch hunters and other demons, describing their dangers and how they chose their victims while offering ways to deal with them, from defense to trial. The book contains detailed descriptions of succubi and incubus, including their cooperation.

Let’s move the ball to the psychological playing field. Some see the myth of the succubus as a particular expression of the phenomenon of sleep paralysis, a condition in which a person supposedly wakes up from sleep but is unable to move. During sleep paralysis, they may experience sensory hallucinations, including encounters with demons and monsters, which, in this case, could also be a succubus.

Femininity Kills: Horror Movies About Succubus

The succubus represents one of humanity’s deepest fears – a dangerous combination of sexual desire and death. Throughout human history, she has served as an explanation for nightmares, forbidden sexual sensations, and various physiological phenomena, some of which have not received a proper “scientific” answer. How modern culture has embraced the image of the succubus, especially in horror films, reflects the ongoing fear of intense and unrestrained female sexuality.

There are not many masterpiece horror movies about succubus, but they can be fun, sexy (the movies deal with sexuality, meaning many have multiple sex scenes and objectification of women), and, of course, violent and bloody. Please note we are dealing here with horror, so some weird succubi films and TV series – like “Meru the Succubus,” which, if I got it right, is an adult animation series – will not make it to our article. There is a difference between horror movies and some scary succubus porn, if we can call it that way.

Here are some famous horror films about scary succubus, sometimes in parallel with other mythological demons:

Jennifer’s Body (2009)

Perhaps the most well-known representation of the succubus in horror culture. “Jennifer’s Body,” directed by Karyn Kusama from a script by Diablo Cody (“Juno,” “Lisa Frankenstein,” “Tully”), failed at the box office at the time and received very mixed reviews, but over the years has become a cult film.

Megan Fox, whose role perhaps made her a horror icon, plays a popular cheerleader who is sacrificed in a satanic ritual by members of a rock band. Since she is not a virgin, the ritual goes wrong and turns her into a succubus who sleeps with men, killing them in the process. Although Jennifer’s character is not fed on the semen of men but mainly on their flesh, which allows them to continue living and maintain her attractive appearance, it has many characteristics of a succubus. Her good friend and slightly nerdy Needy (Amanda Seyfried) tries to stop her, but she is overcome by her charms at some point.

Beyond the fact that it is a delightful horror film, with several scenes that have become cult and witty dialogues, “Jennifer’s Body” is also a significant film in the feminist sense. You can see it as a satire or even a criticism of horror films and gender, including, of course, the myth of monstrous femininity.

Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

“” takes place four years after “The Exorcist,” which is widely considered one of the masterpieces of horror cinema. It follows young Reagan McNeil (Linda Blair), who is trying to recover from the traumatic events of the previous film. The film refers to the famous exorcism case in flashbacks and presents another exorcism; this time, the victim is a young African boy.

The bottom line is that in the film, we meet the demon Pazuzu, who at one point is revealed to be an ancient entity that can penetrate dreams and control sexuality: in other words, with distinct characteristics of a succubus. The problem is that “Exorcist II: The Heretic” is, by and large, terrible. The film received negative reviews from critics and the general public (on IMDB, to put it mildly, its score is 3.8 out of 10) and was not very successful at the box office, with revenues of about $30 million against a budget of about $14 million.

Many define it as one of the worst sequels in cinema because there was an attempt to create a complex film with philosophical and spiritual aspects, when the actual result was confusing and not scary.

V/H/S (2012)

We continue with the ontological horror film “V/H/S” from 2012, which started a reasonably successful franchise with seven films, a mini-series, and two spin-off films so far. One of the most successful episodes in the first film is David Buckner’s “Amateur Night,” which centers on three friends who rent a motel room to attract women to star in an amateur porn film.

They meet a mysterious woman named Lily (Hannah Fierman, “Delirium,” “St. Agatha”), who later turns out to be someone not quite human, and getting into bed with her is a hazardous idea. Despite the name, Lily has clear characteristics of a succubus, even if combined with other mythological figures.

Siren (2016)

The short film “Amateur Night” gave birth to a sequel (or rather a spin-off) four years later, further developing the character of Lilith, the Succubus – yes, even though the name of the film refers to a siren. In fact, you can see a confusion between several mythological figures here, probably intentionally.

The film by Gregg Bishop (“Dance of the Dead,” “V/H/S: Viral”) transfers the events to a bachelor party. Jonah (Chase Williamson, “John Dies at the End,” “The Guest,” “Victor Crowly,” “Scare Package”) is a groom who stumbles upon a nightclub the same night. After they are disappointed with a strip club, someone directs them to a secret, and rather shady club, where they see Lilith behind glass. Jonah and his friends help Lilith escape, thinking she works in the sex industry, and soon regret it. Lilith chases after some of the guys, kills others, and has malicious plans for him as well.

Porno (2019)

We continue with a horror comedy with the obligatory name “Porno,” which Shudder released in 2019. The film, directed by Keola Racela (who previously only made short films), takes place in the 1990s and follows a group of teenagers who work at a religious movie theater in a small Christian town. One day, they discover a film hidden in the basement, turn it on, and accidentally release a seductive sex demon, which, according to the rather general plot description, “gives them a sex education… written in blood.”

You won’t find any big-name names in the cast here, but from our impressions, this is a silly but fun film with lots of sex, blood, and violence, with a retro atmosphere that is also reflected in its visual aspect. “Porno” is far from being memorable or unforgettable, but it does the job for those looking for a succubus film to pass a few hours.

Otrazhenie Tmy / Succubus (2024)

In recent years, we have heard about several successful Russian horror films. Apparently, the Russian horror film “Succubus”, or “The Demobess” (originally: “Otrazhenie Tmy”) is not one of them. At the center of the plot, a group of young people arrive in a remote village and accidentally release, you guessed it, a succubus, which this time can take on a human form. As you can tell from the film’s poster and trailer, this human form is also particularly sexy.

We haven’t seen the film yet, but its reviews are very negative (a score of 3.5 on IMDB). Some critics point out, for example, the fact that there is “too much” nudity and sex. In general, this shouldn’t be a problem, certainly in succubus films that are inherently sexual, but here it seems to come at the expense of the plot. The film looks slow, messy, and far from scary. On the other hand, not everyone comes to succubus films looking for these things.

Succubus (2024)

We continue with another film with the original title, “Succubus.” The twist here is that the film, written and directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna, takes the playing field to the world of technology, especially dating apps (a subgenre I love).

Brendan Bradley is Chris, a new father who, on the advice of his friend, joins a dating app to “see what’s out there.” He matches up with a sexy girl named Adara (Rachel Cook, “Kill Shot”) but discovers she has a mysterious past and a less frightening present. What starts as online sexual encounters turns into something that puts Chris in great danger and ruins his life.

“Succubus” is not a masterpiece, but another film that tends to be messy and not very consistent in its level. Still, you can find some familiar supporting actors here (like Ron Perlman of “Hellboy,” “Blade 2,” and “Alien: Resurrection”) as a doctor who knows what’s behind the sexy girl or the attractive Olivia Grace Applegate (“Blood Fest,” “Follow”) as Chris’s estranged wife, who at one point tries to save her ex.

Note that horror films have also featured other versions of a mysterious and not-quite-human woman who seduces men for various purposes, whether alien (“Species” with Natasha Henstridge, “Under the Skin” starring Sarkelt Johansson or Tob Hopper’s “Life Force”), a vampire (“Byzantium”), characters from children’s fairy tales (for example, “The Little Mermaid”) and also cross-genre films, such as “The Devil’s Advocate” in which Connie Nielsen plays the handmaiden of the devil (Al Pacino), with some succubus characteristics.

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