Demons get a bad rap, don’t you think?
They’re seen creatures in the service of pure evil in the Bible, they’re always depicted
as villains in literature and cinema, and possibly most damning, the word demonic is
always used to describe bad stuff!
Sure, demons have done some less than savoury things in the past, and have been known to
trick and manipulate all sorts of folks, but we can’t just blanket statement the whole
darn demonic race!
There’s a large subset of demons who actually help people to the best of their abilities,
imparting knowledge and granting useful powers.
So today we’re going to flip through some demons that could use a PR makeover.
Hello horror heads, and welcome back to the scariest channel on YouTube: Top5ScaryVideos.
I’m your horror host, Keegan Hughes, and today we’re going to be taking a look at
the Top 5 Scary Demons That Are Actually Good.
Before we get started, make sure to give this video a big thumbs up, and subscribe for more
underworld underestimates.
Perfect, let’s begin.
NUMBER FIVE: THE MIDIANITES Okay, before we get into any Christian, Judaic,
or Gnostic demons, I want to fire some movie demons into the spotlight.
We’ve come so close to talking about this movie so many times, so why not today?
Nightbreed is a cult classic that never fully hit the big times.
Released back in 1990, director Clive Barker didn’t get final cut, and was disappointed
with how it ended up.
Years later, a majority of the unused footage was discovered, and Scream Factory managed
to release a director’s cut.
Based on Barker’s short story, Cabal, this is quite the empathetic take on monsters living
in a graveyard.
At the beginning of the flick, the audience is introduced to some rapid-fire demon craziness,
resulting in the impression that these grotesque monsters are evil troublemakers.
It soon becomes apparent that they are far from evil, and the so-called “good guy”
psychotherapist is the real madman.
The Midianites, even if they have horrid features, are a largely peaceful race of monsters.
They live on their own, beneath the cemetery.
Midian has its own unique culture, customs, and laws, and they have no intention on starting
any trouble with humans.
In fact, humans are the ones who decide they’ve got a problem with them before launching a
full-scale assault, complete with an Albertan militia.
Through some wicked mental gymnastics by Dr. Decker, played by David Cronenberg, folks
are convinced that the Midianities are the last bastion of evil and must be destroyed.
However, once the battle begins, it becomes very clear that all they want to do is live
unimpeded.
In fact, the entire movie proves how good these beings truly are: they accept Boone
into their ranks, and even give him a second chance after he breaks their laws.
They take good care of their children, and do their best to offer all of their citizens
comfort and supplies in order to live.
It just goes to show that humans tend to demonize “the other” in an attempt to simplify
our world, when we should be embracing those differences.
Maybe just letting “the other” live in peace is the answer after all.
Don’t tell the colonies.
NUMBER FOUR: AAMON Alright, now that I’ve done my requisite
movie talk, let’s head into some mythical demons.
We’ll start with Aamon, a Marquis of Hell that governs forty infernal legions.
He’s quite the ugly sucker, which might contribute to his bad reputation.
According to the Johann Weir, who wrote of Aamon in the Pseudomonarchia daemonum: “Amon,
or Aamon, is a great and mighty marques, and cometh abroad in the likeness of a Wolf, having
a serpent's tail, vomiting flames of fire; when he putteth on the shape of a man, he
sheweth out dogs teeth, and a great head like to a mighty nighthawk; he is the strongest
prince of all other, and understandeth of all things past and to come, he procureth
favor, and reconcileth both friends and foes, and rule forthy legions of demons.”
So he’s got a wolf body, a serpernt’s tail, and a raven’s head.
Nice.
Most folks would be afraid of a creature like this, which makes sense.
Chimeras of all types tend to freak folks out.
However, Aamon is a nice guy!
He’s known for reconciling friends and foes, making the world a better place for all involved.
If he were truly evil, he would encourage more discord between people instead of helping
them get past it.
Aamon also procures love for those seeking it, and if that doesn’t warm your cold heart
I don’t know what would.
So if you’re feeling lonely, let Aamon play cupid for you.
Who knows, maybe the demon will come back with info on a hunky hunk or babely babe.
Just pray it’s not a succubus.
NUMBER THREE: LILITH Speaking of succubi who tend to get a bad
rap, let’s talk about Lilith!
Legend says that Lilith was Adam’s first wife.
She lived with him in Eden for a while, but was expelled for refusing to submit to him.
After this, she became a legendary demonic figure, famous for stealing babies and seducing
young men.
Not the best reputation, I know.
Leave it to history to demonize women who didn’t listen to their husbands.
Still, after centuries of bad press, it seems like Lilith has turned a corner.
Modern scholars seem to have found a different way to interpret this famous, sensual seductress.
After being created equal to Adam, she didn’t enjoy being treated as a lesser being.
So she left.
In doing so, she opened herself up to a whole lot of slander from all who felt a need to
put her down.
This created all of the legends involving her bawdy tendencies and succubal urges.
So, while she’s often portrayed as a baby-snatching demon with a huge… personality, it’s more
likely that she is just someone who decided to force her independence before that was
socially acceptable.
No wonder so many witches and feminists look up to her.
NUMBER TWO: GAAP Alright, I’m gonna catch some flak from
our more old-fashioned viewers for this one, but hear me out.
Gaap is a demon prince in human form who incites love.
Classic, love is a great good in the world.
But in some readings he provides further services, which may or may not be interpreted as good
by some in our modern society.
He provides medical care for women, which is fantastic.
Gaap is also known for transforming women to make it easier to get a lover, and also
renders them infertile.
So they can find lovers more easily, and will not have any accidental babies.
Of course, if you planned on having kids this is a bad thing.
But kids?
In THIS economy?
So depending on your position on these topics, Gaap could be really awesome, or less than
fantastic.
But add in his powers of philosophy and liberal arts, and you’ve got a pretty wicked college
professor.
Gaap is known for teaching these topics, making people invisible, stealing familiars from
magicians, making men stupid, and carrying people quickly over long distances.
I’d say those are all top-notch powers, especially the making men stupid part.
I feel like I’d be a whole lot happier if I just didn’t think so goddamn much.
Maybe that’s just me.
To conclude: Gaap, even though he looks like a pretty classic horned, winged demon, isn’t
actually all that terrifying.
NUMBER ONE: BAEL If you ever saw Bael, you’d freak out.
He’s a spideresque creature with the heads of a cat, a frog, and a man all on full display.
Or, at least that’s how he appears in the Dictionnaire Infernal.
Either way, he’s often described as a combination of the three creatures.
This kind of appearance would cause anyone to freeze up, but don’t worry too much.
Bael is able to also make folks invisible, which has plenty of utility.
Of course, being invisible isn’t too useful for doing good deeds, but I suppose that choice
falls upon whoever invoked this odd demon.
A more utilitarian power comes in the form of making people wise, and let’s be honest:
this is a much-needed skill these days.
Both of these powers are stronger in October, too, so you know Bael is a Halloween fiend.
I’m not totally sure if that makes him scarier or less scary, but anyone who loves October
is a friend of mine.
OUTRO Right on, hopefully I opened your eyes to
less terrifying aspects of some well-known demons.
Kinda makes me want to summon a few, but man, I’ve got work in the morning.
It’s tough out here for an amateur demonologist.
So what did you think of the list?
Do you agree with my selections?
Did you know that these demons had a lot to offer?
What is the best worst demon you know?
Make sure you let me know down in the comments.
Speaking of comments, let’s take a look at some of your more plastic ones from the
TOP 5 SCARY COSMIC HORROR CREATURES TO KEEP YOU UP TONIGHT:
Benjamin Shevinky says “Uhm you mean H.R. Giger, I don’t know who this H.G. Giger
is.”
Yup.
Thanks for the correction.
SuccessfullyFailingTV says “HUGE prop for shouting out Tetsuo.
Akira is hands down one of the greatest films ever!
This is why me and the guys always tune in.
you’re that dude, Key!”
Hell yeah my guy.
Shout outs Danny, Xavian, Chris, and Nick!
Keep up the good work.
Brian Galland says “Lovecraft opened the door and stepped through, leaving it open
only a crack for the next true prophet.
This individual has yet to surface, there have been some acolytes: King, Carpenter,
and Gygax for example, however the darkest, purest is yet to come!”
Maybe they’ll bring all the darkness to a new form of media, too.
Cosmic horror in VR?
Maybe some terrifying short-form interactive video?
Loch the Fox says “Beware invoking the name of the pale queen, Keegan.
We don’t want the same thing that happened to Jack to happen to you.
Sure, everyone thinks he moved back to England, but some of us know the truth and the horrors
she inflicted upon him.”
There’s a reason I haven’t returned to the studio yet…
ArkerTheGreat says “Sprite.
Sponsor this man.”
Please, I would love a lifetime supply of Sprite Cranberry.
Or maybe some McDonalds Sprite to keep my camera charged in case of power outage.
And that’s all the time we have for today!
Before I hop on a motorcycle in front of the famous Dr. Adder, make sure to give this video
a big thumbs up, and subscribe for more phlegmy fallacies.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you next time.