Evil laugh
Encyclopedia
Evil laughter or maniacal laughter is a stock manic
laughter
by a villain
in fiction
. In comic books, where supervillain
s utter such laughs, it is variously rendered as mwahahaha, muwhahaha, muahahaha, buahahaha, etc. (Compared to Ho ho ho
). These words are also commonly used on internet Blog
s, Bulletin board system
s, and games. There, they are generally used when some form of victory is attained, or to indicate superiority
over someone else. The words are often used as either interjection
s or less frequently, as nouns. An evil laugh is often entertaining for friends because each one may be unique.
The most recognizable and copied evil laugh is probably the one voiced by the late Vincent Price
, as it has been used or copied in radio, film, music, and television, most notably in the end of the music video Michael Jackson's Thriller.
In films, the evil laugh often fills the soundtrack even though the villain is off-camera. The laugh therefore follows the hero or victim as they try to escape. Examples include Raiders of the Lost Ark
, where Belloq's laugh fills the South American jungle while Indiana Jones attempts to escape from the Hovitos, and Predator
, where the Predator's evil laugh fills the jungle just before his self-destruct mechanism detonates.
Also each character usually has their own unique evil laugh.
Mania
Mania, the presence of which is a criterion for certain psychiatric diagnoses, is a state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood, arousal, and/ or energy levels. In a sense, it is the opposite of depression...
laughter
Laughter
Laughing is a reaction to certain stimuli, fundamentally stress, which serves as an emotional balancing mechanism. Traditionally, it is considered a visual expression of happiness, or an inward feeling of joy. It may ensue from hearing a joke, being tickled, or other stimuli...
by a villain
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
in fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
. In comic books, where supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
s utter such laughs, it is variously rendered as mwahahaha, muwhahaha, muahahaha, buahahaha, etc. (Compared to Ho ho ho
Ho ho ho
"Ho ho ho" is a rendition of a particular type of deep-throated laugh or chuckle which is of Gaelic derivation. It is also used as the laugh of Santa Claus and the Jolly Green Giant.Also as "expressing laughter" is recorded from c...
). These words are also commonly used on internet Blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
s, Bulletin board system
Bulletin board system
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
s, and games. There, they are generally used when some form of victory is attained, or to indicate superiority
Superiority complex
Superiority complex refers to an exaggerated feeling of being superior to others. The term was coined by Alfred Adler , as part of his School of Individual psychology...
over someone else. The words are often used as either interjection
Interjection
In grammar, an interjection or exclamation is a word used to express an emotion or sentiment on the part of the speaker . Filled pauses such as uh, er, um are also considered interjections...
s or less frequently, as nouns. An evil laugh is often entertaining for friends because each one may be unique.
The most recognizable and copied evil laugh is probably the one voiced by the late Vincent Price
Vincent Price
Vincent Leonard Price, Jr. was an American actor, well known for his distinctive voice and serio-comic attitude in a series of horror films made in the latter part of his career.-Early life and career:Price was born in St...
, as it has been used or copied in radio, film, music, and television, most notably in the end of the music video Michael Jackson's Thriller.
In films, the evil laugh often fills the soundtrack even though the villain is off-camera. The laugh therefore follows the hero or victim as they try to escape. Examples include Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by George Lucas, and starring Harrison Ford. It is the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise...
, where Belloq's laugh fills the South American jungle while Indiana Jones attempts to escape from the Hovitos, and Predator
Predator (film)
Predator is a 1987 American science fiction action film directed by John McTiernan, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and Kevin Peter Hall. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox....
, where the Predator's evil laugh fills the jungle just before his self-destruct mechanism detonates.
Also each character usually has their own unique evil laugh.
External links
- Evil Laugh on TV TropesTV TropesTV Tropes is a wiki which collects and expands on various conventions and devices found within creative works. Since its establishment in 2004, the site has gone from covering only television and film tropes to also covering those in a number of other media such as literature, comics, video-games,...
- Examples of Evil Laugh Sound Effects