boogeyman

Craig said the characters’ frequent misinterpretations took on the role of the “monster,” since this is a horror movie without a true boogeyman.

While neighboring countries often have territorial disputes, he said Mexican governments, particularly those associated with the Institutional Revolutionary Party, made the U.S. the boogeyman in order to drum up domestic support, he said.

"I wasn't satisfied with just imagining this evil boogeyman who had done a horrible thing to me," she explained.

It’s a rhetorical tactic that conservatives wield frequently: create a boogeyman buzzword that conjures up images of white horror.

Liberal California has long served as a boogeyman for conservative leaders, and frequently served as a punching bag during Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.