Are There Any Famous Incubus Characters In Movies?

Incubi have slithered their way into pop culture more often than you'd think, though they rarely get the spotlight like vampires or werewolves. One that immediately springs to mind is Lucien from the 1998 cult classic 'The Breed'. Played by Adrian Paul, he’s this seductive, brooding incubus who’s equal parts charming and terrifying. The film leans hard into the erotic horror vibe, and Lucien’s portrayal is a mix of old-school seducer and modern antihero. It’s cheesy by today’s standards, but there’s something undeniably fun about how unabashedly it embraces the mythology.

Then there’s 'Incubus', the 1966 horror flick starring a pre-'Star Trek' William Shatner. The whole movie’s in Esperanto, which already makes it a weird gem, but the titular incubus is this shadowy, manipulative force preying on a village. It’s more atmospheric than explicit, relying on psychological dread rather than jump scares. Fun fact: the film was supposedly cursed—multiple cast members died tragically shortly after filming, which just adds to its eerie legacy.

For a more recent take, 'The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' introduced Dorian Gray (yes, that Dorian Gray) as a pansexual incubus running a supernatural speakeasy. He’s less monstrous and more of a hedonistic charmer, which fits the show’s gothic camp tone. The series plays fast and loose with lore, but his character nails the incubus archetype—charismatic, predatory, and always two steps ahead.

Honestly, incubi in film are usually side characters or metaphors for temptation rather than full-blown protagonists. Maybe it’s because their whole deal is harder to romanticize compared to, say, a tormented vampire. But when they do show up, they’re often the most interesting part of the story—equal parts allure and menace, like a devil whispering in your ear.

In the realm of cult b-movies, 'Incubus' from 1966 is a notable oddity. The entire film is in Esperanto, starring a pre-'Star Trek' William Shatner. It's a stark, black-and-white horror film about a succubus who tries to corrupt a pure man but ends up targeting his sister instead, summoning an incubus. It's a fascinating artifact—poetic, strange, and genuinely eerie in parts. The incubus itself is presented as a shadowy, relentless force. It's not a 'famous' character in the mainstream sense, but it's a legendary curiosity for film and horror buffs, being one of the only films entirely in Esperanto.

I think the most successful 'incubus' characters in film are the ones that aren't literally called that. They're the charismatic antagonists who represent a tempting but dangerous path. The Sheriff of Nottingham in some 'Robin Hood' adaptations, with his greed and corruption. Or even Satan in 'The Devil's Advocate'—the ultimate tempter offering power and success. They serve the same narrative and thematic function: they present an attractive alternative to the right path, one that ultimately consumes the soul. The literal monster is sometimes less interesting than the metaphorical one.

The best examples aren't always labeled. Take 'The Hunger' with David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve. They're vampires, but the aesthetic, the slow seduction, the draining of life and will—it's all there. The film is dripping with gothic, sensual atmosphere. John, played by Bowie, ages rapidly when denied sustenance, which is a potent metaphor for the draining nature of such a relationship. The movie is a style icon, and its portrayal of immortal, beautiful predators is arguably closer to the spirit of the incubus/succubus myth than many literal interpretations. It's all about the aesthetic and emotional consumption.