Welcome, foolish mortals. Is this your first time in the Haunted Castle? Or have you heard of it before you came here?
Don't mind the silly critics. They lost their wonder over the thrill of experiencing haunted castles, especially writing such places in works of fiction. But you are very fortunate. Your hosts would be delighted to share the secrets of writing a haunted castle in any given media. The Horror Tropes are at your disposal, and you're free to explore every subcategory of horror during your stay.
However, be sure to See the Index before you begin your exploration, if only to catch yourself up on how to write a story in general. You don't want to get lost in Sturgeon's Law, now, don't you?
About the Haunted Castle
It would be tempting to say the haunted castle is Exactly What It Says on the Tin, but that wouldn't be sufficient.A location such as this has always been a fascinating subject in real life just as much as fiction. However, it wasn't until the 18th century that the Haunted Castle became a choice for setting when Horace Walpole wrote The Castle of Otranto in 1764. Since then, other writers took liberties to interpret the setting as they saw fit, leading into the mainstay of Gothic Horror, which we'll discuss soon enough.
Though literature has come to include or focus on the simple Haunted House nowadays, that's not to say castles can't be done still. With a rich lore on castles, any trope can be applied to bring about the haunted effect just as much as a haunted house can.
Necessary Tropes
The Haunted Castle is an absolute must, as this setting is the focal point.As for what to expect in a castle with spooks and thrills, you'll want to make sure the castle is in a Closed Circle with perhaps an Ominous Fog or dense forests to make it harder to escape it...or at the very least, past a small town full of superstitious residents.
Decorating the castle comes in many flavors: some can be covered in Cobweb of Disuse or be an Extremely Dusty Home.
Choices, Choices
Genre choices for the Haunted Castle
Now then, if you're at all comfortable, allow me to conduct you on a tour through the genres at your disposal. I must warn you beforehand to not get too nosy, for there are hazards scattered about the place. I would rather not be held responsible for any...potential accidents. Shall we go?If there's one genre that loves to implement haunted castles, it's unquestionably the horror genre.
Of the types of horror genres, the most recognizable that used the Haunted Castle trope is Gothic Horror. Since the emergence of Romanticism in literature, it has been the staple location to use to thrill and chill audiences. Often accompanied by an Always Night sky in a Closed Circle landscape, there is an air of mystery that surrounds the place, and the audience follows the cast as they try to solve it before a terrible fate befalls them. Some succeed, some don't, and some survive at a cost.
Of course, that's not to say only horror can have fun with the trope. Other genres can have a haunted castle with stories of their own.
Fantasy, especially Dark Fantasy, isn't shy about including a haunted castle in a world of fantastic - and sometimes disturbing - residents. Perhaps the castle of the fantasy world has legends about a generational Curse, or perhaps what was once a beautiful place turned into a hotbed for hordes of undead.
Then again, a little humor doesn't hurt to balance out the spooky elements. What is it they say - "Horror and comedy make strangely good bedfellows"? By all means, the castle can be haunted, but there's always an opportunity to have something behave comically while still maintaining the horror.
Characters
A haunted castle would be dull without a cast of characters to interact with it. Heroes and villains can bring levity or tension throughout their time in such an isolated environment. Or perhaps to balance out the list, supporting characters can be added to either help or hinder either the hero or villain.The protagonist(s)
Individual:
- Lovable Coward: Who doesn't love a coward, especially one that has to face the terrors alone or with a friend? In some cases, this person can offer levity to offset the frights as we watch how they attempt to escape what scares them. Perhaps what helps them survive is dumb luck or a petty goal they pursue.
- Occult Detective: A fitting hero to use if one wants to bring in a mix of the modern and the olden days. With the right genres mixed in, this character can play an active role in solving a lingering mystery that haunts the castle they visit, whether intentional or not.
Groups:
- Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: One of the common choices for groups that show up at the castle is a group of people, be they teenagers or young adults. This group allows them diversity of personality and relationships between them and offers opportunities to decide how many of them survive their stay.
The residents
Individual:
- Crusty Caretaker: A tried and true castle resident, the caretaker always varied in both morality and alignment. When meeting such an elder who oversees the place, they can either be your worst fear at every turn, or they can be a crucial ally who turns on their masters the moment a life is in danger.
- Creepy Housekeeper: Another resident, the one who keeps house. Oh? What's there to be afraid of with this servant? Well, she's unquestionably devoted to serving her master. Though, you might want to exercise caution while in her vicinity, because provoking her might have...less than savory consequences.
- The Igor: A perfect companion for the Mad Scientist, and possibly versatile. Many an assistant as this have been loyal to their employer, but oftentimes make a mistake that costs them a chance to survive.
Groups:
- Undead Laborers: Sometimes helpful hands are hard to come by, let alone willing live ones. So, why not raise some dead to be the workers? This is a useful group to command if you have a character that has the power to raise the dead to do their bidding, however trivial.
The antagonist(s)
Individual:
- Mad Scientist: Oh, my, now what is he up to this time around? Castles always seem to draw in scholars of the unethical variety. Man or woman, this scientist has many available resources to indulge their experiments and escape when threatened...assuming their creations don't do them in first.
- The Ghost King: When you have a haunted castle filled with ghosts, it's only fair to show respect to the hauntingly powerful Ghost King. A monarch like this demands your attention in his domain and if you dare cross him, there's no guarantee you can escape him, for he has many ghostly powers at his disposal.
- Vampire Monarch: Be they a king or queen, the ruler of vampires is a force to be reckoned with, especially when they have centuries to plan ways to lure in potential victims. Powerful, dangerous, and with all manner of powers in the palm of their hands...good luck resisting the temptations they try to offer you.
Groups:
- Creepy Family: Sometimes one dangerous villain isn't enough to make staying in an old castle terrifying. There's always a chance the biggest threat is a family united in a common villainous goal. Imagine being threatened by not just the master and mistress, but also their children, who are just as malicious as their parents.
- Monster Mash: When one monster to contend with isn't enough, there's always opportunity to challenge the visitors with a cast of monsters. With each of their unique abilities, tactics, and dangers, they can make an already frightening experience all the more terrifying.
Mind you, the preceding examples don't have to be played straight, nor do they have to be used. Just be smart on what your cast of characters are and how they interact with the haunted castle.
Pitfalls
...Oh, dear. It seems someone didn't listen when I said there are hazards.Hmm? Ah, well, I suppose I should've gone into more details about the matter. Perhaps it might make having more live guests easier for us. Why don't we take a seat someplace safer before we discuss the matter?
Yes, even a classic trope like the Haunted Castle can be subjected to problems if used poorly.
Among other things, one of the most egregious excuses to use this trope is the Jump Scare. Scaring the reader and audience is all well and good, but short scares used too much can be aggravating after a while. It's best to use this sparingly and use other methods to invoke the horror.
Potential Subversions
Now, then, is everybody comfortable? Let's take our minds off the terrors for now and discuss something else.This castle is no stranger to changing up familiar territories, mostly to avoid falling into the same trap as previous writers who used haunted castles... Ah, sorry. Does it make you shudder at the mention of the word? No worries. Fear is a natural reaction for the aspiring creator.
So, how about we consider what can be done to change up expectations of this abode?
Like the Haunted House, the Haunted Castle is a wellspring of possibilities for bringing the ancient abode to life, be it in a notebook or on camera. So, there are ample opportunities to flip the expectations of the audience on their heads so as to not be repetitive with the familiar contents.
- Alternative Genres: Given that horror can potentially blend into nearly any other genres, why not consider applying the Haunted Castle elsewhere?
- Cosmic Horror can use haunted castles by tricking the viewer into believing they're entering the same old genre, but then build on showing more eldritch elements before introducing the real master of incomprehensible power.
- The Punk Punk genre, be it Gothic Punk or Steampunk also offers avenues that can be explored, especially with the right choice of characters and aesthetics. Either offer a clash of past and present (at least by the story's standards) or apply the technology to the castle and determine whether the owner or the castle itself is the threat for the guests.
- Alternative Locations: While the Überwald and Ruritania are the frequent visting locations for haunted castles, there is no wrong in mixing up where to set up a castle full of spooks.
- Since Europe is a gold mine for castles to haunt, stories can take the trope in a whole different location. There's always the possibility to take the castle to the Grim Up North in Scandanavian lands. Or perhaps you want to take the castle to the British Isles, where Campbell Country is ripe for the picking when it comes to haunts and folklore unique to this country.
- Perhaps you want to scout out haunted castles on the other side of the globe. Maybe you want to put a darker take on Middle Eastern lands in "Arabian Nights" Days. Perhaps you want to sneak in darker elements in Mystical India, what with the variety of monsters and myths to look into. Or perhaps you want to explore the Far East, be it China or Japan, and investigate a plethora of mythic beings you can put a horror take on.
Writer's Lounge
Now that we've covered the general lore of the Haunted Castle, the rest of the rooms are yours to explore as you please.You'll find many examples to help you fill in the nitty gritty details for your intended creation. I'd be delighted to know how much effort you've put in to make this trope your own to toy with, hopefully without abandoning it to cause trouble like one doctor I know of or leaving it be like a lunatic in someone's attic.
Just...let me advise you not to go looking for Epic Fails. They're truly not worth your time. There's nothing to see there at all. If you do so anyway...well, I warned you.
Suggested Themes and Aesops
Haunted Castles have always been a hot spot for themes and morals to teach, some still teachable even as technology and art changes.Potential Motifs
Suggested Plots
Departments
Set Designer/Location Scout
Obviously, one must have a castle as this is the trope being discussed.Obvious choices to place a Haunted Castle would be Überwald or Ruritania, settled somewhere in Central or Eastern Europe containing rich folklore and literature icons to play around with.
Props Department
Costume Designer
Costumes to fit the Haunted Castle setting are a gold mine to indulge your imagination with.If the setting is within a specific time period, any Gorgeous Period Dress can establish the identity and positions of the cast involved with the castle and its surroundings.
On the other hand, Frozen Fashion Sense can be a reliable method of cluing in the viewers/readers that there is something jarring about the residents of the castle compared to the unlucky visitors. Or, if there's ghosts, present them in Jacob Marley Apparel to serve as a viable hint to the audience.
Casting Director
Stunt Department
Nobody said navigating a haunted castle would be a walk in the park.
Extra Credit
- The Castle of Otranto: One of the earliest examples of the Haunted Castle, which kickstarted the emergence of the Gothic Horror genre.
- Dracula: Bram Stoker's titular vampire is situated in the remote regions of Romania and is haunted by him and his brides.
- Ravenloft: This Dungeons & Dragons campaign and subsequent reiterations provide a prominent example of a Gothic Horror style Haunted Castle, specifically Castle Ravenloft (the titular location).
Oh...you poor, foolish mortals. You actually went looking where you shouldn't have, haven't you? I warned you, didn't I?
In that case, there are only two options left for you: you can try and escape back to the index from whence you came, or you can stay in the Haunted Castle...forever.
