ghoulishness

Ghoulishness refers to a quality or characteristic associated with ghouls. Ghouls are mythical or folkloric creatures, often depicted as monstrous humanoids or spirits that inhabit graveyards and consume human flesh. Therefore, ghoulishness encompasses traits such as a morbid fascination with death, the macabre, or decay. It can also describe a cruel or unnatural appetite, particularly for things considered repulsive or forbidden.

The term can be used to describe behavior that is sinister, terrifying, or unsettling, often in a way that evokes a sense of dread or horror. This might include actions that are predatory, cannibalistic, or otherwise directly linked to the perceived activities of ghouls. In a broader sense, ghoulishness can also refer to a general atmosphere or aesthetic that is dark, eerie, and suggestive of the supernatural or the grotesque. It is a concept deeply rooted in folklore and horror literature, where it serves to characterize entities and their actions as fundamentally inimical to life and humanity.