The Terrifying Necromorphs that Haunt the Dead Space Franchise

Highlights

Dead Space's remake brings back the beloved survival horror franchise after a decade, offering a sense of claustrophobic cosmic dread and unsettling body horror.

Necromorphs, the otherworldly alien mutants in Dead Space, are repulsive monstrosities crafted from different lifeless materials, whose aesthetics have played a vital role in the horror ambiance of the franchise.

Among the most chilling adversaries in Dead Space are the Divider, an enduring Necromorph capable of dividing into distinct entities, the Lurker, a cluster of flesh with writhing tentacles, and the Tormentor, a terrifying amalgamation of numerous corpses.

After the success of EA Motive's Dead Space remake earlier this year, the beloved survival horror franchise, which began in 2008, has experienced a revival after a decade without a new installment. Considered a classic by many fans, the remake of Dead Space updates a title that originally combined a feeling of claustrophobic cosmic dread with unsettling body horror. The protagonist, Isaac Clarke, battled against mysterious mutated creatures called Necromorphs.

The Necromorphs, reanimated corpses transformed by an otherworldly alien mutation, serve as the terrifying monsters encountered throughout the Dead Space series. These grotesque abominations are created using various forms of deceased matter, and their designs have always been central to the horror of Dead Space. While the common Slasher is a terrifying distortion of a human body, the most unsettling Necromorphs in the entire series push the concept to its extreme.

Divider

Lurker

Often discussed as one of the most terrifying adversaries in Dead Space, the Divider is a formidable creature that brings to mind the fearsome Regeneradors from Resident Evil 4. With its ability to split into distinct entities, the Divider stands out as a remarkably durable Necromorph. Its elongated and slender frame makes it a truly imposing sight. When its head separates from its body, it transforms into an independent creature known as a Creeper, which relentlessly moves on its own in search of a new host. If the Creeper successfully infiltrates a deceased body and takes over its head, the controlled organism is then referred to as a Shambler.

This Necromorph, often created using the remains of infants and organ bank contents, stands out as one of the most mutated creatures encountered throughout the series. With the ability to traverse walls and ceilings, it attacks its prey using three long tentacles that can launch barbed projectiles. The grotesque nature of its composition adds to its repulsive allure. Notably, a variant of this abomination, formed from a dog, also made its haunting appearance in Dead Space 3.

Tormentor

Crawler

Encountered in select cinematic sequences of Dead Space 2, the boss known as the Tormentor is an unsettling amalgamation of multiple corpses, each contributing to the grotesque formation of its limbs. Regrettably, this nightmarish creature does not engage in direct combat, as its presence is confined to quick time events, diminishing the element of suspense. Nonetheless, fervent fans hold out hope that a potential remake of Dead Space 2 will provide a more immersive and intense confrontation with this relentless adversary. Thus, the Tormentor's relevance may surpass previous manifestations and become even more pronounced in the future.

These horrifying Dead Space creatures, created from the remains of infants, launch their attacks in packs, utilizing the explosive material that swells within their bellies. Moving in an unnaturally contorted posture, they traverse the terrain on all fours, their distended pustules always facing skyward. Although their lack of resilience makes them relatively easy to dispatch with a single shot, their unsettling nature stems from their tendency to approach in groups and their deformed, infant form.

Brethren Moon

Brethren Moons are eldritch entities that embody the final stage of the Necromorph life cycle. Their sole purpose is to corrupt the biomass of new worlds and perpetuate their cycle of reproduction. During Convergence, the deceased remains of numerous Necromorphs gather around a Marker and merge into a massive entity. While they may not instill immediate terror like the creatures one encounters directly, these planet-sized beings dedicated to spreading everlasting death are undoubtedly the epitome of a cursed monster.

Dead Space is currently accessible for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.