The origins of The Nightmaretaker are unclear, with various accounts and interpretations emerging over time. Some claim that he was once a mortal man, a sorcerer or occultist who dared to dabble in dark magic and made a pact with a malevolent entity. Others believe that he was born with a twisted soul, chosen by the forces of darkness to serve as their instrument of terror.

Arthur had not expected to be found admirable. His was not a hero’s arc but the arc of many who keep houses and hospitals and old teeth of cities in place: a long accounting punctuated by a few moments of public thanks and a lifetime of private labor. The ledger remained in the cellar when tenants came down to retrieve a stray package or to complain about a draft. They would sometimes run their fingers along its spine and comment on the neatness of the handwriting. They did not always look at the pages.

The narrative typically follows a descent into madness or supernatural servitude. Key story elements include: The Possession

"Not what," the man said. "Who."

They made The Exorcist about faith. They made The Conjuring about family. But The Nightmare Maker (aka The Man Possessed by the Devil ) is about something scarier: willingly becoming a monster .