Mumbai, Oct. 31 -- There is a big difference between a movie that gives you a quick, sudden scare and a character that stays with you long after the credits roll. Real horror rarely comes from loud noises or CGI monster pop-ups. It comes from characters that tap into something human: our secret greed, our childhood fears, or the grief we try to bury. Over the years, cinema across the globe has given us a few extraordinary figures that didn't just scare audiences in theatres, but walked right out of the screen and into pop culture history. Here are the iconic horror characters that have left a mark on audiences worldwide.

1. Hastar (Tumbbad)

Before Tumbbad was released in 2018, the Indian audience was mostly unaware of world-building bas...