Monstrum

Leshy: The Slavic Lord of the Forest

He can grow higher than the trees, or smaller than a blade of grass. Both demon and deity, guardian and antagonist, the

The Dark Origins of Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel is one of the most famous fairy tales of the Western world, and contains one of the most notorious wit

The Crazed Hunt for the Himalayan Yeti

Dr. Zarka examines the yeti’s origins, from Tibetan folklore and religion to the Westernized abominable snowman versio

Jinn: The Ancient Arabian Shapeshifters

Jinn is a popular character in fiction and their origins continue to influence Islamic cultures today. From the Qur’an

Slender Man: How The Internet Created a Monster

Dr. Zarka explains the timeline of this Internet folklore sensation, examining how unlike so many other monster origins

What's In My (Go) Bag?

In this special episode, Dr. Zarka shows you what’s inside her “go bag,” a kit of survival supplies she keeps on h

Jorōgumo: The Deadly Spider Woman from Yokai Lore

Although able to appear as a beautiful young woman, the jorōgumo is really a deadly spider monster in disguise. This ep

Bunyip: Australia’s Mysterious Amphibian Monster

Originating in the stories and beliefs of the southeastern Indigenous peoples of Australia, accounts of the bunyip are w

The Fatal Song of the Sirens

This episode explains how sirens appeared in ancient history, from literature to art, and looks at how the half human ha

Unlocking the Mystery of Loch Ness

While reported sightings of a mysterious creature in Loch Ness go back hundreds of years, it received little global reco

The Original Urban Legend: Spring-Heeled Jack

19th century London and the hunting ground of Spring-Heeled Jack. The fire-breathing, wall-leaping, claw-wielding devil

How Gargoyles Became Monsters

Before these stoney grotesques became monsters they were just water spouts. We still adorn our buildings with the carvin

The Origins of the Zombie, from Haiti to the U.S.

In the first episode of our three-part special series, we explore the complex history of the zombie—from its origins i

Why George Romero Changed Zombies Forever

Modern Zombies: The Rebirth of the Undead

This final episode of our three-part series, brings us to the 21st-century zombie where the monstrous legacy of both the

Nuckelavee: Scotland’s Skinless Evil Monstrosity

This horse-like horror of Scottish folklore emerges from the sea bringing death and disease. With origins in Orcadian fo

Pontianak: The Vampiric Ghost of Southeast Asia

The pontianak, or kuntilanak, has long been a staple of Malay horror. In addition to serving as an allegory for the tens

Kasagonagá: The Cute, Kind Monster We All Need Right Now

A sky deity falling from the sky sounds bad, right? Not if it’s the Kasogonagá! From the mythology of the Toba people

Baba Yaga: The Ancient Origins of the Famous ‘Witch’

One of the most beloved (and feared) figures in Russian and East Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga is more than just a witch. S

Werehyena: The Terrifying Shapeshifters of African Lore

African folklore dictates that unlike other werecreatures this monster is an animal that disguises itself in human form.

Taotie: The Mystery of Chinese Mythology’s Famous Glutton

While its face is scarce in popular culture today, this influential ancient monster from Chinese mythology predates the

Leprechaun: From Gold-Loving Cobbler to Cultural Icon

Leprechauns are associated with St. Patrick’s Day and Irish culture, but do you know why? The jovial, red-haired littl

Will-o’-the-Wisp: Monstrous Flame or Scientific Phenomenon?

These elusive blue flames have been reported globally and inspired a wealth of folklore. But what exactly is a Will-o’

Yara-ma-yha-who: Australia’s Regurgitating, Blood-Sucking Mo

The Australian wilderness is a dangerous place—in part because it’s the rumored hunting ground of a vampiric creatur

Basilisk or Cockatrice? The Mysterious King of Serpents

A venomous snake who can kill with its gaze alone, the basilisk has terrified us for thousands of years. But it also has

Don’t Let Them In! The Urban Legends of Black-Eyed Children

An urban legend that exploits our fears of an obstructed gaze and the deeply unsettling idea that the youngest of our sp

The Macabre Origins of the Grim Reaper

There are fewer images of Death personified than the scythe-wielding skeletal form of the Grim Reaper. But where did it

El Silbón: The Deadly Whistler of the South American Grasslands

El Silbón: The Deadly Whistler of the Grasslands The "Terror of the Plain," this emaciated, whistling devil is cursed t

Fire Cat or Fire Cart? The History of Japan’s Kasha

Swooping down from the heavens on a fire ball, the Kasha drags the bodies of the dead to the underworld for a life of da

Death Worms: Fact or Fiction?

Rumored to roam some of the world’s most desolate places the poisonous, killer death worm can trace its history in fol

The Killer Origins of the Werewolf

The first episode in this two-part series tackles the rise of the werewolf in its myriad of forms, looking at what happe

The Werewolf’s Modern Metamorphosis

The second installment in Monstrum’s werewolf series looks at the evolution of the werewolf through Gothic fantasy, ho

Trolls: Scandinavia’s Malevolent, Magical Outcasts

While modern imagination might have you picturing trolls as ugly, hairy, rather unintelligent creatures their ancient fo

Monster Bugs, Attack! The Origins of ‘Big Bug’ Science Fiction

Insects make up 80 percent of the world’s species, so it's not all that surprising we’ve occasionally made them into

Krampus: Origins of the Yuletide Monster

You better watch out, you better not cry, and you certainly must behave—or else face the brutal beating of the Krampus

The Enchanting Fairies of Celtic Lore

The fairies of Celtic traditions trace their origin back to an ancient race of otherworldly royalty - the Tuatha Dé Dan

Adze: the Shapeshifting Firefly from West Africa

For many of us, the firefly is a mystical, enchanting creature of the twilight. To the people of some West-African cultu

Why the Dragon is Central to Chinese Culture

The Chinese dragon is one of the world’s most globally recognized monsters. Playing a major role throughout Chinese hi

Have Humans Always Feared Sharks?

Despite the extreme rarity of attacks on humans, Sharks have become perhaps the most widely feared animals on the planet

Why Has the Majestic Griffin Been Forgotten?

The Griffin is a half-lion, half-eagle creature that is commonly seen adorning royal crests and perched menacingly atop

Mapinguari: Fearsome Beast and Protector of the Amazon

Deep within the Amazon rainforest lurks a mysterious creature called the Mapinguari. Notoriously elusive, this cave-dwel

Alien Abduction and UFOs: Why Are Grays So Common?

Grey Aliens, sometimes called Zeta Reticulans, Roswell Greys, or just Grays, are defined by their humanoid forms, long l

What Hellhounds Reveal about Humans' Oldest Companion

Hellhounds, the fearsome canine beasts of the underworld who often serve as guardians to the very gates of hell, pop up

Is Siren Head the Ultimate Modern Monster?

Lumbering through the countryside blasting its eerie messages from metal speakers perched atop a forty-foot wooden human

How Cthulhu Transcended its Creator, H.P. Lovecraft

Monster Plants and the Humans who Invent Them

For millennia humans have turned to plants to heal the sick and wounded, to ward against evil, and grant magical powers.

Tikbálang: The Filipino Nightmare Shapeshifter

A malevolent spirit lurks in the shadows of forests and the darkest mountains of the Philippines. Capable of adopting ph

The Golden Age of Movie Monsters

Egyptian Mummies: From Sacred Vessels to Scary Undead

Mummification was a sacred, transformative practice in Ancient Egypt - a ritual process that made one’s body and soul

Can All Monsters Be Traced Back to Tiamat?

Across multiple mythologies, the term “mother of monsters” is used frequently on the likes of women such as Echidna,

Is Yuki-onna the Most Terrifying Snow Monster?

Yuki-Onna, the icy snow maiden of Japanese lore, might steal your heart, or your life. This harsh winter monster is beau

How Bloody Mary Turns Fear Into Fun

Unicorns: Magical Icons or Violent Beasts?

Unicorns are all over the place in popular culture these days - movies, TV shows, toys, clothing and books for children

Why Do Cyborgs Inspire Special Fear in Humans

Advances in technology are always met with some degree of technophobia—and villainization. And cyborgs represent a spe

Hero, Beast, or Both? The Complex Lore of the Centaur

Humans have domesticated animals as beasts of burden for thousands of years and the vital role horses play in the evolut

The Untold Secrets of Pokémon’s Monster Mythology

What inspired Pokémon’s Monster Mythology?

Beyond the Supernatural Horror of the Nishi Daak Ghost

The nocturnal entity called Nishi reflects the complex nature of good vs. evil in Bengali.

The Hidden Origins of Nixie, the Scariest Little Mermaid

Of all the many terrifying monsters haunting the waters of the world the Nixie stands out.

Was Púca the Nightmare Bunny That Inspired Donnie Darko?

The trickster Púca is an animal-spirit that was once dreaded across many lands.

Uncovering the Enigma: Sasquatch Sightings

North America’s most famous cryptid, Sasquatch is a bipedal hairy humanoid with history pre-dating European colonizati

The SCP Foundation: Declassified

Unlocking the Mysteries of SCP: From Secure, Contain, Protect to Unearth, Expose, Fascinate! Dive deep into the shadowy

The Evolution of Creepy Dolls

Maybe it’s the unblinking eyes, staring at you, emotionless, day and night. Or, perhaps it’s their small size acting

What Happened During Our Scary Slumber Party

Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board, Bloody Mary and Ouija are scary and entertaining rites of passage for kids and tee

Creepy Clowns: The Horror Behind the Laughter

When did clowns—the characters who filled our childhoods with juggling and balloons—become so creepy? For centuries,

Mari Lwyd: The Skeleton Horse's Deep Past with Christmas

The coastal villages of Wales around the winter holidays have a unique nighttime visitor. A grim skeletal equine monster

Who Is This Japanese Yōkai That Is Obsessed With Your Butt?

What looks like a reptile-amphibian hybrid, has a dish shaped skull, smells like fish, is child-like and out to steal yo

Where the Wild Things Are and the Darkness of Max's Inner Journey

As a kid, the monsters in Where the Wild Things Are were downright frightening. But thinking about the book as an adult,

Kong Unleashed: The Making of the Original 1933 Film

In this episode, we explore the legacy of the monumental 1933 film, King Kong, its groundbreaking special effects, and t

Is This North American Sea Serpent Real or a Hoax?

Many say that the waters of America’s northern coasts are home to an elusive sea serpent of legend. Named Caddy! Or Ca

Lost in the Backrooms: Exploring the Internet's Creepiest Liminal Space

Ever felt like a place seems real yet oddly unsettling? Welcome to The Backrooms, a digital folklore phenomenon that blu

King Kong pt. 2

Since his 1933 movie debut, King Kong’s impact on our culture has been persistent. For nearly a century, Kong’s stor

La Lechuza: The Shape-Shifting Witch-Owl

You're walking home, a little tipsy, guided only by the moonlight. Suddenly, you sense something watching you: an unnerv

The Mother of Vengeance: Grendel's Mom

The big baddie in Beowulf isn't actually the monster Grendel, but Grendel's Mother. Who maybe isn't a monster at all? Of

The Ancient Terror of the Chinese Hopping Corpse, Jiangshi

Draped in Qing dynasty robes and sporting fanged teeth, long nails and grasping, outstretched arms, the Chinese hopping

Why Manticore Is a Dungeons & Dragons Legend

Featured in tabletop RPGs, card games, books, animated movies and shows, the manticore is a legend. And there’s a lot

The Unspoken Rules of Slasher Movies

The 1974 movies Black Christmas and Texas Chain Saw Massacre gave rise to what would become one of cinema’s most endur

Gremlins: The Myth and the Menace

You think you know Gremlins—but their story is far deeper than just the 1984 movie. Originally mischievous sprites bla

Why Do These Christmas Monsters Want To Destroy the World?

The Greek Christmas monster Kallikantzaros is a mischievous, goblin-like creature that emerges during the 12 days of Chr

Why Did Changelings Terrorize the Victorian Age?

Let’s talk about the unsettling legend of changelings, creatures said to replace humans with eerie, imperfect copies.

How This Thing Became a Modern Bigfoot

A grainy 2007 video from Fresno, California, sparked an internet phenomenon—the Fresno Nightcrawlers. From cryptid lor

Why Are So Many People Seeing The Hat Man?

Countless people claim to have seen the Hat Man—a shadowy figure in a wide-brimmed hat—while experiencing sleep para

Why Does A Ghost Whale Terrorize The Japanese Coast?

Lore of the ghostly whale skeleton, Bake-kujira, brings an ominous twist to stories of the revered marine giants in Japa

Why Did Vampires Become Sexy?

Why do vampires shift from terrifying to seductive and back again? Let's explore the long history of the vampire’s tra

The Terrifying Reign of the Beast of Gevaudan

Between 1764 and 1767, a mysterious creature terrorized the French countryside, leaving over 100 dead. Was it a monstrou

The Most Puzzling UFO Case of the 20th Century

In 1952, a terrifying creature was spotted in Flatwoods, West Virginia — a 10-foot-tall creature with glowing eyes, a

Real Life Monster Hunters Are More Hardcore Than Fiction

How did Van Helsing go from academic in Dracula to action hero icon? This episode explores his evolution from Victorian

The Disturbing Reasons We Invent Monsters

What makes a monster? From folklore to horror films, monsters reveal cultural fears, moral lessons, and human desires. L

These Mythical Monsters Turned Out To Be Real

With zebra legs, a giraffe tongue, and a unicorn’s reputation, the okapi sounds made-up—but it’s very real (and ve

The Cursed Monster Born From Slavery

Ever wake up exhausted, like something drained the life out of you? The Boo Hag—a terrifying figure from Gullah Geeche

The Deep Halloween Lore You Probably Don’t Know

Bats have long been symbols of death and darkness. But why? Their rise as Halloween’s spookiest icon traces back to an

A Monster Expert Breaks Down KPop Demon Hunters

Why isn’t Korea’s most famous monster really all that scary? From mischievous tricksters to modern movie demons, dok

A Monster Expert's Take on Mascot Horror

Mascot horror twists cheerful childhood icons into unsettling threats. Let’s look at how Five Nights at Freddy’s spa

Meet The Pacific Northwest’s Most Mysterious Killer

You never see it—until it’s too late. The 19th-century lumberjack legend of the Hidebehind and other shadowy beings

Why This UFO Sighting Was Different

In 1951, college freshman Carl Hart Jr. captured photos of mysterious lights over Lubbock, Texas—sparking one of Ameri

The Disturbing Case of America’s Most Infamous Haunting

Between 1817 and 1821, the Bell family of rural Tennessee became the center of one of the most chilling and best-documen

The Dominican Republic's Most Infamous Monster Terrified Me

A haunting Dominican legend comes alive: La Ciguapa, a mysterious woman of the mountains said to lure victims to their d