Most of the enemies encountered in Deadly Premonition are supernatural. These creatures are either humaniod, known as Shadows, or animal-like, known as Mad Animals. Shadows can be found in the Otherworld scenarios or around Greenvale between midnight and 6 a.m. Mad Animals only appear in Greenvale between midnight and 6 a.m.
Shadow[]
The most common enemies are Shadows. They are frequently preceded by purple fog and York telling Zach, "They're here." These enemies are tougher than the average human, able to take multiple rounds without being slowed down, but their overall slow speed allows York to take care of them before they ever get close. Shadows will also sometimes bend over backwards as they move towards York, allowing him to get easier head shots when locked on. They can wield various types of weapons, such as steel pipes, guns, crow bars, etc. In addition, unarmed Shadows will thrust their arms down York's throat and crawl inside of him, resulting in instant death. Shadows can spawn from open sores in walls and floors and can be extremely effective in great numbers at close distances.
For the most part, Shadows just wander aimlessly through the area. Some female Shadows sound as though as they are crying and moaning; the male Shadows often mumble. Once the player has been seen or has shined his/her flashlight towards one, the Shadow will cry out "I saw you" or "I see you". Once York holds his breath or moves out of range, they cry out "Where are you?" or "Can't see..." If a Shadow still has a lock on York, they can teleport closer in a blurred motion to catch him off guard, sometimes crying out "I don't want to die" before or during the teleport. If the player has put a lot of rounds into a Shadow, it will cry out "'Make me die". Sometimes they will say things which may suggest the Shadows are not comprehending what they are even doing, such as "Why?", or "What did I do?"
According to their trading card, Shadows are corpses that have been possessed by evil spirits, and it's possible the corpses are the victims of the original Raincoat Killer. During the Raincoat Killer segments, the people under the control of the purple fog can be seen wearing the same clothes as the Shadows.
Crawling Shadows[]
A mutant form of the Shadows, they are some of the most difficult enemies in the game. They first appear in the art gallery's Otherworld and continue to appear in long, narrow hallways with vents. Crawling Shadows appear from inside these wall vents and their arrival is preceded by an odd buzzing sound. Crawling Shadows assume the form of a thin, naked woman with deathly white skin and long black hair. York is unable to see them immediately, as they appear invisible until he shines a light on them or they are preparing to attack. They can grab him when perched on the ceiling or when their hands are glowing red, and they can shoot projectiles at him from the ground if they are hit enough times. Although they can take a long time to kill, they can be easily dealt with by timing attacks correctly and keeping on the move. Crawling Shadows are the only non-boss enemies York cannot run away from; when one appears, a wall of red ivy seen in the Otherworld blocks York's progress until the Crawling Shadow has been killed.
Mad Wild Dogs and Birds[]
These creatures are shadow forms of animals found during the day. The dogs turn into giant versions of themselves and will manifest in the middle of the town roads, chasing York's car and pushing him off of the pathways. The birds retain their normal sizes but will swoop down and attack York if he runs by them. They are easy to avoid and will only be able to injure York if he stops moving or gets out of his car.
Raincoat Killer[]
The most dangerous enemy in the Otherworld. The legend of the Raincoat Killer has its roots in a real massacre that took place in Greenvale in the 1950s, and York often encounters him when profiling various murder scenes throughout the town. Nearly all of these encounters consist of quick time events and hide-and-seek sequences in which the player must press the correct series of buttons or hide and hold York's breath to avoid detection. It is unclear whether or not the killer is a real person or another one of the shadows for the majority of the game. In one episode of the game, the player even assumes the role of the Raincoat Killer for a short period of time.