The Night Crusher

Go to enough dinner parties and the conversation will eventually turn to the strange dream somebody had the night before. Honestly, though, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a dream told quite like this one:

As a college student in 1964, David J. Hufford met the dreaded Night Crusher. Exhausted from a bout of mononucleosis and studying for finals, Hufford retreated one December day to his rented, off-campus room and fell into a deep sleep. An hour later, he awoke with a start to the sound of the bedroom door creaking open—the same door he had locked and bolted before going to bed. Hufford then heard footsteps moving toward his bed and felt an evil presence. Terror gripped the young man, who couldn't move a muscle, his eyes plastered open in fright.

Without warning, the malevolent entity, whatever it was, jumped onto Hufford's chest. An oppressive weight compressed his rib cage. Breathing became difficult, and Hufford felt a pair of hands encircle his neck and start to squeeze. "I thought I was going to die," he says.

This week’s Science News carries a fascinating article about Sleep Paralysis, the phenomenon described above. Apparently, loads of people have dreams like this. "Most cases unfold as follows: A person wakes up paralyzed and perceives an evil presence. A hag or witch then climbs on top of the petrified victim, creating a crushing sensation on his or her chest."

I don’t remember my dreams. After reading this article, I consider myself lucky.

Cover painting: The Nightmare, 1781, Henry Fuseli…pretty damn creepy, if you ask me.