Archive for the ‘anomalies’ category

MonsterQuest, S5 Episode 4 – -“Hunted”

January 25, 2026

I think that the new MonsterQuest series has hit its stride now, with Episode 4 of Season 5 (“Hunted“) giving us features on the Ohio Dogman, Bigfoot, the Skunk Ape, and the Wisconsin Wendigo. It floated my boat, at least…

In Crawford, Ohio in 1985, a high school runner “Shane” was training by running through a cornfield when he felt that something was staring at him; he didn’t think that it was a bear or wolf as they aren’t indigenous to northwest Ohio. Deciding to flee, the young athlete was paced in his flight by the creature who traveled two or three cornrows to his right, stopping when he did as if toying with him. At the end of the cornfield, the student beheld a canid about 6′ tall with the head of a dog, pointed ears, and long arms…he was felt to be absolutely a predator…

At the end of the cornfield, the young man broke off to the left and sprinted to the house of a friend, finding temporary sanctuary at the bottom of a swimming pool before entering that friend’s house where he spent the night, happily surviving his encounter…

Another Dogman encounter in Green City, Ohio in 1972 was described during which a female teenager out with her boyfriend and others was standing outside their car when she perceived something out in the bushes with almond-shaped eyes. She heard rustling, and saw a silhouette of a large, upright animal which gradually came closer. Mesmerized, she couldn’t break eye contact with the creature, but was urged by her friends back into the car, which fled the scene…

Then in 1924, three miners staying in a hunting cabin heard whistling sounds when about 100 yards from their cabin procuring water. One beheld a large, hairy ape-like creature about 7′ tall, and fired at it, missing three times. That night around midnight, the miners heard a thud against their cabin, and later heard footsteps on its roof. Stones were heard thrown against the cabin, and one of three creatures like the one heard earlier apparently threw its weight against the cabin’s door. The walls were shaking as the assault continued, and many shots were attempted through gaps in the walls at the assailants as the battle continued through the night. Venturing out in daylight, the miners again fired at the creatures seen in the distance. Local newspapers referred to the Bigfoot-type creatures as “Mountain Devils.”

The Florida “Skunk Ape” is kind of a wetlands bog-dwelling Bigfoot of which there have been over 350 sightings over time. In Venice, Florida in 2001, a man while fishing with others heard a roar or howl that was described as being a mix of sounds that a tiger or bear might make. They jumped on their four wheelers, and heard cracking sounds from branches as they hastily departed, apparently being stalked by what they had heard. They went to the house of a girl that they knew nearby, and saw from it something black that stood as tall as a shed that was on the property. The creature later came up to the steps of the house, bringing with it a stench described as being a mix of skunk and road kill. They stayed in the house until the sun came up, and on returning to their camp, found it demolished…

Then in Eastern Wisconsin, we were brought a report of the Wendigo, a gray, gaunt creature described as being a “walking corpse” that often is seen as having the skull of a deer in the 70 to 100 sightings of it from the last century. While filming a movie in the forest towards nightfall, a group of young friends in 2022 heard something stirring beyond their campsite. The white shine of its eyes was seen as the creature approached, and they threw sticks at it, receiving in return a gargling hiss when the apparition was apparently hit. The eyes disappeared to then appear 7′ off the ground. Feeling in danger, the filming group fled, later discovering X-shaped stick structures in the nearby woods. Such structures are regarded to be territorial markers. The Wendigo was felt to be an evil presence, and to have a spiritual aspect to it…

“In the darkness, unknown predators may be on the hunt.”- – Ahahahahaha!

(I’m a predator, too. No pizza is safe around me!)

“Active Duty,” MonsterQuest, Season 5, Ep. 2

January 10, 2026

In its current incarnation, MonsterQuest defines “monsters” broadly, ranging from long-reported cryptic creatures like Bigfoot to alien encounters with UFO’s, and even supernatural beings like ghosts or jinn. The second episode of MonsterQuest’s season 5 was unified by all of these encounters being experienced and reported by military personnel.

The first installment of episode 2 took place in post-Saddam Hussein’s Iraq in 2003 where a marine went sweeping for explosives with a buddy in the sub-basement of Hussein’s palace. Behind a foreboding boiler room door, the marines encountered a 6′ tall, black figure that passed through him and his companion, and was described as feeling hateful. They felt a “new type of terror,” as if they had released something. A wooden sculpture seen later supposedly resembled what they had seen…

The second installment concerned the experiences of an American air traffic controller serving in Lakenheath, England in 2002. In the house where he lodged, books were stacked not by he or his wife’s hands in the center of a room. Stair and door sounds were heard in the dwelling, even when the couple was absent to visit the U.S. Fearful, the man’s wife took their baby to live elsewhere, leaving the controller living alone. A Bible was moved, the man felt a hand pressing him down in bed, heard doors banged in the nursery, and saw a figure in the doorway of the bathroom. Other airmen also saw spectral presences. It turned out that the housing had been constructed over an old Anglo-Saxon cemetery where 427 people were buried in a situation similar to that seen in the movie Poltergeist.

The third story drew from the 1980 experiences of an airman sent as a second lieutenant for survival training or “fear school” in remote sections of the Colville National Forest in in Washington, that state having had 700 sightings of Bigfoot going back to the 1920’s. The airmen were to head individually in different directions of the forest all lightly equipped, and basically survive the night there. After setting up a primitive camp, one airman wandered off exploring, falling asleep in a comfortable rotted tree stump to awaken after darkness to see eyes beholding him that were centered 7′ to 8′ above the ground. He found his way back to his camp but was pursued by the creature, and had a sleepless night as the presumed Bigfoot circled his camp, getting to within 2′ to 3′ of his shelter. Fortunately, the creature was gone by daylight, and the airman successfully rejoined his companions.

The fourth installment concerned previously classified information regarding a disc-shaped unidentified flying object seen in Franklin, Kentucky in January 1948. Several Mustang F-51D fighters from the Kentucky National Guard were sent to investigate, one flown by a decorated WWII vet, Captain Mantell, who at 15,000 feet reportedly saw a metallic object of tremendous size. He pushed his aircraft up to over 25,000 feet at which point the fighter nose-dived following a spiral pattern, broke apart, and crashed, killing the pilot. While there was wild speculation following the incident, Project Blue Book contended that the pilot passed out from lack of proper oxygen equipment at that high altitude, and died pursuing a Skyhook weather balloon, which he would not have known about…

Lastly, in 2003 in Iraq, the series reported that a USAF serviceman may have seen a Jinn in a shelter. He initially saw Iraqui soldiers who were seen as ghosts or residual energies when he then saw a muscular, 12′ tall figure with beady eyes that charged and passed through him before passing through a wall. A jinn (or djinn) is a supernatural being from Islamic and Arabic folklore that exists alongside humans and angels in a hidden, unseen world. They possess free will, can choose good or evil, and have abilities like shapeshifting and flight. Some are benevolent spirits while others are malevolent…

While monsters are defined broadly here, as the series tells us these servicemen “confronted an enemy beyond their understanding, and lived to tell the tale.”

“Cops vs. Cryptids” on MonsterQuest, S5 Ep. 1…

January 3, 2026

Well, MonsterQuest is back after a hiatus so long that most fans assumed the show was gone forever, so never say never, right? In the first episode of Season 5 Cops vs. Cryptids airing Jan. 2nd, 2026, we were treated to treatments of essentially four different cryptids, the episodes united by the theme that all had police investigation or involvement with them. The Beast of the Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky was first considered, with people missing or having been found dead in the area by 1980. The Beast was described as walking on two legs, and having glowing eyes. In a wooded area, one hunter, a fireman, paused to tell another turkey hunter, a cop, that he had experienced something circling his camp. The second hunter later heard growling and saw something massive 6′ to 8′ tall at his camp perimeter. He discharged his firearm at it, and heard a scream before the creature withdrew. The camp of the fireman was later found with his body in it. AI technology was used to generate scenes in this and other segments of the show...

The second installment rather stretched the definition of what a cryptid is, which is usually considered to represent an animal whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated. Centering on a “Shadow Person” manifestation seen in Monmouth County, New Jersey, these manifestations are mysterious, dark, humanoid figures reported in paranormal experiences, often seen as fleeting silhouettes described as featureless, black solid shapes, possibly being spirits. An officer was investigating a breaking and entering or home invasion call made by an old man, but didn’t see anything. An identical call came through the following night, and the same officer investigated it, this time finding a 7′-8′ black shadow looming over the resident. The entity disappeared at the end of a hallway. The officer called the sister of the man, who related that she had also experienced the shadow person, and that its presence constituted the reason for her moving from the premises. Spooky, yes…but an unknown animal, no…

Then we came to reports on the Goatman, a massive half-human, half-goat creature that walks on its hind legs. In 2006 a Colorado policeman collided with one on the road, but apparently didn’t damage it or his vehicle, although he could hear it moving around in the brush after the collision. Sturdy beast, that Goatman!

The last police encounters with cryptids were reported from the state of Washington, where numerous “Bigfoot” type creatures have been seen, also known as the “Forest Giant” or the “Wildman.” An 8′ tall Bigfoot supposedly dashed in fromt of a police cruiser in 2010, and 14″ and 17″ footprints were later found in the area…

All in all, it’s great to have MonsterQuest back on the air again, and the second episode will reportedly cover military encounters with cryptids. We may at Foxsylvania report on episodes as they continue to roll out from The History Channel, because inquiring minds want to know…

(Please, gentlemen, I can only listen to one of you at a time! And no, Goatman, you may not play Candy Crush on my tablet!)

“MonsterQuest” Returns!”

December 27, 2025

Wow!– -This is quietly awesome! After a long hiatus following its cancellation in 2010, the show MonsterQuest is coming back with new episodes, beginning January 2, 2026 at 10 p.m. on The History Channel!

In my humble opinion, MonsterQuest was one of the best shows on cryptids, the paranormal, and the unexplained out there. The series had generally good production values, and commentators who were actual researchers and scientists rather than hillbillies with guns running around in the wilderness. I thought that the show was gone forever, but it’s coming back, and soon! Hopefully the quality will be there as well…

The first episode will supposedly cover encounters that law enforcement and others have had with unexplained phenomena, including “classic” creatures. I just wanted to give all readers of this blog a “heads up,” then we all can get “our minds melted!” The available previews as below look good…

In Praise of “Gossamer…”

October 10, 2025

With Halloween coming, our attention turns (more than usual) to monsters, and an underrated cartoon monster is Gossamer, a creation of Chuck Jones who first appeared in the 1946 Warner Bros. cartoon, Hair-Raising Hare. Gossamer has a heart-shaped head and face, and is completely covered in reddish-orange hair, his only clothing a large pair of white or gray-white tennis shoes…

Now Gossamer is a creature of indeterminate species and sex, originally intended as an antagonist to Bugs Bunny, who quickly exploits Gossamer’s attraction to girly-type things like manicures and hair make-overs. Gossamer is also handily defeated even by Porky Pig in his space-cadet identity in service to Daffy Duck, calmly using a monster hair-clipper…of Acme manufacture, of course! And surprise…Porky’s clipper reveals that Gossamer is entirely made of hair!

Gossamer is essentially a paper tiger, so to speak, and while usually a hulking giant seen lurking in Gothic-type castles or even on Mars, he actually has a hidden shy and sensitive nature, and is more scared of people than you are of him. Enjoy the following compilation of Gossamer’s greatest moments that follows, and watch for a cartoon version of Peter Lorre right at the beginning!

“Secrets Declassified” With David Duchovny Is Coming!

March 15, 2025

It’s hard to believe that The X-Files aired thirty years ago, and equally hard to fathom that David Duchovny is now 64 years old. Rejoice at least that the guy who brought Fox Mulder of the FBI to life is hosting and producing a new 10-part documentary show on the History Channel called, “Secrets Declassified” that may at least have something of an X-Files vibe to it…

David Duchovny and mysterious secrets seem to go together, and the series promises to “profile the government’s most secretive, strange and mind-blowing activities that have been declassified throughout history.” Topics will, of course, include Area 51...

Secrets Declassified will premiere on The History Channel April 4th, and I’m on board for it!

The truth is out there” – –Fox Mulder

Look, Godzilla!

June 4, 2024

Of Mummified Alien Corpses…

September 15, 2023

“Viking Wolf,” a Werewolf Movie With Bite…

February 14, 2023

Many will talk about love this Valentine’s Day. Here, we will talk about werewolves! Kissing don’t last, bitemarks do…

I’ll have to admit that I was initially put off this film by its title of Viking Wolf, as well as by its premise that the werewolf in question was a 17-year-old girl. I didn’t want to see some dreadful teenage first date movie, or see my beloved werewolf horror subgenre messed with. Happily, I got around my reservations to find that Viking Wolf was worthy werewolf horror, and bites in a good way…

Now as for the Vikings, it seems Iike in 1050 they raided a monastery, cutting down the hapless monks who implored them not to break into a sealed room wherein resided the hound of hell, embodied as a wolf pup. Vikings like wolves, so they took junior on their ship back with them, which was a big mistake as he slaughtered them all on route, and established the werewolf bloodline in Norway.

Then almost a thousand years later, big city girl Thale transplanted to a small town with her police officer mother goes to a teen party in the woods where the werewolf bloodline member active selects dinner from the partygoers, and Thale gets a shoulder wound in the fracas…uh oh! She becomes increasingly wolfy and out of control, leading to memorable moments like the slaughter of a bus load of passengers when the moon triggers the transformation of Thale riding on the bus. Bless her heart, she wolfs out while still wearing her hoodie!

Well, it takes a grizzled old werewolf hunter missing an arm to get Mom to realize that her daughter is hopelessly a werewolf, and that a silver bullet is the only remedy for the “infection.”- – Talk about tough love!

Some people have called this “the best werewolf movie that they’ve ever seen,” but I wouldn’t go that far although the film is worthy of the traditions it invokes, tweaking them in an innovative way. The film does drag a bit in its earlier parts, and the werewolf design is less humanoid than what I like to see. This is basically a big, mangy wolf. There are missed cinematic opportunities, possibly due to time and budget restraints. We don’t get to see the actual blitz on the bus, for example, but only its aftermath. Still, this is a serious, well-acted and suspenseful film that shows us that the female can be the deadlier of the species…ARROO! RAWRR! 🐺

(…and Happy Valentine’s Day to all you young suckers in love from the resident fox anthro!)

“The Mean One” Grinch Horror Parody…

December 2, 2022

If you’re tired of annually getting Xmas drummed into you from late October through New Year’s, you just might be in the right mood to appreciate The Mean One, a parody of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Xmas. Tag line: “First he stole Xmas…now he’s back for BLOOD!”

Forget the Grinch being redeemed, this is the Dark Grinch, or as Stephen King might say it, “Full dark, no stars.” This is Krampus as opposed to St. Nicholas, the Grinch as horror movie Xmas slasher.

Forget Scrooge, who got all soft and wimped out on us. This Grinch means business. It seems that he killed little Cindy Lou-Hoo’s mother during the daughter’s encounter with him, and now twenty years later, she’s back like Sarah Conner after the Terminator with an accompanying skill set..

The Grinch always did seem to have horror star potential, but hey, as Kermit the Frog famously noted, “It isn’t easy being green.” There are leavening notes of dark humor in the premise and available trailer footage, because after all this is a parody and satirical in nature. Memorable lines by Cindy Lou-Hoo; “It’s time to roast this beast!,” and “You’re a dead one, Mr. Grinch!”

Just color me green with envy for this dark Grinch, with battle scenes against Santa figures reminiscent of Shapeshifters Anonymous! Cindy’s weaponry includes an illuminated Walking Dead “Negan-esque” bat, and some kind of wonderful candy cane shotgun. So let’s all go on a slay-ride, everyone! 🦊