Posted tagged ‘horror’

“Monster Hotspots;” MonsterQuest S5, Ep.7

February 23, 2026

Skinwalker Ranch in Utah has been regarded to be a paranormal hotspot, kind of an interdimensional gateway. MonsterQuest reports that as early as the 17th century, Franciscan priests saw strange lights in the sky here. In 1994, unsettling events such as burn marks on cattle and mutilated cattle were seen. A Skinwalker often manifests as a large wolf, possibly as a curse activated during a Navajo and Ute war. Firearms discharged at such creatures have seemingly had no effect, and their footprints simply vanish after a short distance...

Domestic incursions of skinwalkers have been reported as shadowy creatures or “dark entities,” with TV and radio sets turning themselves on and off. In 1995, a series of tragedies including orange orbs that seemed to scan the area were reported by owners of the ranch, who later sold the property at a loss…

Now the Mothman of Point Pleasant, West Virginia has been an icon of paranormal interest, with over 100 sightings reported since 1966-1967. Standing 7′ to 9′ tall, the Mothman has feathery wings, red eyes, and a terrifying cry. In 1966, an incident was reported where the creature came up on a porch of a home, and followed a car, even though the vehicle was fleeing him at a speed of 100 to 110 mph!

In 1967, the Silver Bridge in Point Pleasant collapsed, killing 46 people. A menacing winged creature was seen before the bridge collapse, which some have seen as perhaps an omen or a warning…

MonsterQuest then shifted to coverage of the Texas Dogman, of which indigenous Native American tribes had long told tales. A man in 2021 was found dead in the woods of neck injuries from an animal attack attributed to the Dogman. The same creature was seen in 2013 by a woman driving near Dallas who saw something moving close to the ground that bounded or hopped. It was described as having a hump on the back of its neck like a hyena. The woman sped away terrified, fearing pursuit. “Wolf-like” prowlers have also been reported elsewhere.

All of this raises the question of whether a Dogman can be his own best friend…

(RIP, John Candy…)

Northern California has long been a hotspot for Bigfoot, with the Patterson-Gimlin video supposedly capturing a massive, hair-covered bipedal creature that was muscular and moving upright…

In 1983, three Bigfoot-type figures were reportedly seen by teenagers playing an outdoor game on a field in the Pacific Northwest. One of the figures was seen to have leaped over a 10′ high fence…

Lastly, MonsterQuest in a final inconsistent example presented Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as being a hotspot of demonic possession stemming back to a massacre of Native Americans in the late 1700’s. A case was cited where an exorcism was performed on a woman whose eyes turned black, made guttural noises, and smelled “like rotten meat and death.” Religious symbols were used to dispel the entity from the afflicted woman…

MonsterQuest S5, Ep. 6 – -“Domestic Disturbance”

February 15, 2026

The Ohio Grassman was kind of featured in Episode 6 of Season 5 of MonsterQuest, which also touched upon some similar Bigfoot subspecies, and padded the hour out with paranormal stories about Amityville and even “time slips.”

Now the Grassman who had previously been covered during Season 2, Episode 4 of MonsterQuest has been previously reported since the 19th century, and is said to make large dens of grass and sticks from which his name is derived. Standing seven to ten feet tall, the Grassman weighs between 300 to 1,000 lbs…

In Galena, Ohio in 2017, a man went walking his Doberman near dusk when a black thing jumped from a ridge to a bush, throwing a rock and then a tree branch at him. Other branches followed, and the man walked through a creek to retreat back to his house. The creature or creatures followed, knocking over his pool furniture, deforming a chain link fence, and knocking underneath a deck that he was standing upon. He later found 15″ foot impressions in his mulch bed…

The Spottsville Monster plagued a family at an isolated farm in Kentucky near the banks of the Green River. In 1975, chickens began disappearing from the farm, with strange noises heard in the field. A chained goat was later taken, with the chain broken. A pony and dogs were also killed. While waiting for a school bus, a large 9 to 10 foot tall creature was seen. The property owners decided to dig in, and with friends and neighbors laid in wait upon a rooftop, firing upon creatures heard in the surrounding woods one evening…

In the Amityville, New York site of the infamous slaughter of an entire family in 1974, the killer contended that “voices within the house made me do it.” The subsequent occupant of the house in 1975 reported seeing two red eyes in the boat house of the property, and later a horned figure’s head seen in a fire. A giant white hooded figure was later seen on a staircase, and the front door was torn from its hinges. These accounts were apparently given as illustrations of hostile presences invading domestic places, although the invaders were more demonic than biological entities.

An encounter with the Fouke Monster in Arkansas in May of 1971 was touched upon, described as being a massive, hair-covered beast. It was speculated that the creature may be following rivers that connect the mid-west. In Southern Indiana a girl with her dog in an isolated setting reported locking eyes with a seven-foot tall ape-like creature with tangled, reddish-brown hair. She fled the site, the next day seeing footprints in the mud that convinced her that she had seen the Fouke Monster…

Although it didn’t seem congruent with the other stories, the last segment of the hour touched upon time slips, a reported paranormal phenomenon where a person unexpectedly travels to a different time period. These often fleeting experiences typically involve witnessing or temporarily existing in a past (or even future) era without using technology, often accompanied by a sense of dread or environmental change. At times a personal awareness appears to be gained by the experience. A 1996 case was cited in Liverpool, England where a then-contemporary person time-slipped into the 1950’s, noting the change in vehicles and stores present…

A 1981 case in South Carolina was touched upon where a young woman in a farmhouse was admonished not to go into a front room, but left alone ventured into that room to observe through a window a man on a tractor in a different season hit on the head by a tractor part. Years later, she learned that her great uncle had died from an accident on a tractor in that location…Spooky, but not fitting in well with the other segments…

“Grave Mistakes,” MonsterQuest S5, Ep 5

January 31, 2026

MonsterQuest at times as in the present episode appears conflicted as to whether it wants to be a Monster show, or a Spooky show. As a result, we sometimes are served up a “Monster Mash” of sorts, a mixture of cryptozoology and paranormal recounts. Perhaps though, you like Igor in the novelty song may exclaim, “Mash good!” It’s just that some of these stories you might want to send to Ghostbusters…

Submitted then for your approval is the terrifying tale of two teens in Michigan City in 1997 at kind of an outdoor party by railroad tracks who saw a 7′ shadow person following the passing of a train. They had the sense of something creeping up on them. Leaving, it appeared that something had left with them, with one teen dreaming of the shadow figure. Returning later to the scene of their encounter, one felt that the atmosphere there changed after another train passed, and perceived something pitch black behind him. He challenged the entity to show itself, and later could feel its presence in his dreams, unable to shake its presence. Again challenging the shadow (big mistake!), he felt it jump on his chest, and felt himself levitated before being thrown down. He called out to God at that point, felt a warmth, and heard the shadow entity scream and then depart. His sleep and mental health improved thereafter…

Now in Harrisville, Rhode Island in the early 1970’s, we have a recounting of a story that inspired The Conjuring. A family in 1971 moved into a 200-year-old farmhouse unaware of its dark history. The woman felt a pain in her leg, finding a small wound. Objects were seen to fly across the room, and snarling was heard in the shadows. Well, the Warrens were hired, a paranormal investigation team that held a seance at the house in October of 1973. The woman fell into a deep trance at that seance, and spoke in a foreign language. Paranormal activity spiked after that seance, with the woman feeling her throat squeezed by an invisible hand at one point. By 1980 the family had had enough, and put the farmhouse up for sale. The decision to hold a seance was felt to have intensified spiritual activity…

Now we leave Spooky Town, and go to the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming where in the summer of 1972 , a large hairy primate was seen by 25 people. A wildlife biologist had the misfortune of sleeping in a tent whose previous occupant had spilled bacon grease upon the tent fabric. At 11:30 one night, the biologist heard something outside of the tent which proceeded to lick the bacon grease from outside of the tent! Thinking that the bacon had lured a bear, the plucky biologist bopped the presumed bear on what he thought was its nose from within the tent! This happened twice, but the ‘bear” didn’t retreat far, stood on two legs, and was seen to be taller than the tent. The creature was then determined not to be a bear as it put its hand on the top of the tent, through which an opposable thumb was seen! The top of the tent collapsed under the weight, and the now-presumed Bigfoot creature fell through, apparently on top of the biologist with only tent fabric separating them! Fortunately the Bigfoot was disturbed enough by this experience to simply retreat back to a wooded area…

No physical evidence of the Bigfoot’s presence was found at that time, but upon returning to his supervisor the biologist learned that numerous people had reported a large, hairy primate running around in the area. The biologist did a study, and found a number of hair samples which were sent for analysis. They were found to be primate hair, but of an unknown species

Then in Silver Springs, Florida in the summer of 1976, a mother and daughter were camped out near a swamp area. The daughter went out to practice animal calls, imitating the call of a baby alligator. Later inside their camper, an unbearable smell heralded the appearance of a small hand with black hair at the window. The hand scratched at the window, and then the camper was shoved; the camper doorknob of the camper door was turned. A second adult creature then appeared and screamed, slapping the juvenile animal who cried, and departing with him. Blood and hair were found on the camper’s license plate, and researchers reported other sightings of the Swamp Ape…

The last story concerned teens who celebrated a birthday party in October of 2007 with a ouija board which reportedly moved over a period of 1-1/2 hours. Three months later, they went to deliver a gift in an isolated section of mountains, experiencing feelings of dread and seeing something 8-1/2′ tall with red eyes and long fingers clawing up the side of a mountain. Standing up, it pursued them, but they were able to escape in a parent’s vehicle. Posting of their experience many years later on social media, other people reported having seen such a creature, which they felt was summoned by the spirit board, or at least made aware of their presence by it…

As the episode warned in closing, when we reach into the darkness, we can’t ever control what reaches back… and who ‘ya gonna call?

Breathing New Life into “Frankenstein…”

November 12, 2025

I have to admit that I was not the biggest fan of the earlier video tales of Frankenstein and his monster. The story was old, crafted by Mary Shelley in 1816 as part of a friendly literary competition with her husband, friend Lord Byron, and one other to create a horror story, with hers published in 1818 likely the best and most enduring effort. I just grew tired of the repeated version of the Frankenstein monster as a powerful but lumbering dolt of limited intelligence and expressive capabilities…

That version of the Frankenstein monster was revised in the underrated movie, Van Helsing, with Hugh Jackman portraying a younger, dynamic version of the great monster hunter. The Frankenstein monster in that film was still appearance-impaired but quite articulate…the dude read poetry, for cripe’s sake! This was a thinking man’s Frankenstein

Now enter Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstine! This monster is distinctly easier on the eyes, almost to the point of being ruggedly handsome. The creature can move, and as a muscular big guy (played by a 6’5″ actor), when we first encounter him basically naked he reminded me in appearance of the Engineer species in the Alien movie franchise..

This “monster” is more sinned against than sinning, and is underestimated grossly by his arrogant and egotistical creator, who tries to destroy his creation with fire. Fortunately, the “monster” proves both resourceful and resilient, and appears to have a “healing factor” capability at least as good as Marvel’s “Wolverine,” with bullets only slowing him down temporarily, and even explosions incapable of destroying him. Pursuing his creator into the arctic, this juggernaut in his cowl even projects kind of a “Phantom of the Opera” appearance at times, evolving into an articulate but tormented being who struggles against his own nature. You’ll find yourself rooting for this “monster,” really, even if he could use some cosmetic work!

We do see some classic elements of the original Frankenstein movie touched upon in this version with revisions, such as the blind hermit who befriends “The Monster.” When he returns to the hermit’s abode to find his friend under heavy attack by wolves, Frankenstein’s creation takes on an entire wolf pack by himself, weaponless but able to use his great strength and outrage to devastating effect on the wolves, hurling, crushing, and breaking them like a true avenger. A surviving wolf wisely runs away!

With great atmospherics and mood and attention to detail as well as proper respect shown to the source material, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a masterpiece, and may be seen on Netflix…

“Penny Dreadful” is Dreadfully Good!

July 1, 2014

penny-dreadful

If you have a taste for horror that’s complex, intelligently written, and well-acted you might find Showtime’s series “Penny Dreadful” a real gem! The title of the series hails from sensational serialized British literary entertainment of the 19th century that was pitched to working-class males, each installment of which cost a penny.

Now before your eyes glaze over, this framework unites classic literary horror characters of the 19th century, such as Victor Frankenstein, Van Helsing, Dorian Grey, and others all updated and re-imagined in refreshing ways. Victor Frankenstein, for example (pictured), is portrayed as a young man, vital, intellectual, and with knowledge and capabilities light years ahead of the Victorian times.  His creations (yes, there is more than one “monster”) are not mute, shuffling brutes, but rather agile and articulate if socially impaired creatures who read and learn, grow, and suffer angst; they wander about London.  We are really starting to like the second-generation “Proteus” when the first-born unexpectedly appears to rip him apart.  Characters not presented in classic literature are also introduced, such as the dark and formidable Vanessa Ives, an at times demonically possessed medium and clairvoyant who reminds me of Wednesday Addams as she might have been in adulthood; a seance scene featuring her is absolutely incredible. Timothy Dalton, who has taken a turn as James Bond, portrays Sir Malcom, the leader of a group of Victorian-era “ghostbusters” including Dr. Frankenstein who are trying to retrieve his one daughter from a particularly nasty group of vampires.  Each team member has a unique skill set; these characters could do Mountain Monsters, and actually catch and subdue something!

It’s all wild stuff played seriously, and the series isn’t for the squeamish or the young as there is violence, blood, occasional nudity, and adult themes. The Victorian setting is recreated lavishly and with attention to detail; this is upper-level television, even if death and the supernatural as art. – – What furry elements are there is all of this? Well, in the last episode of the first season that has just concluded, one character when his back is hard pressed to the wall by bounty hunters about to drag him off in chains is revealed to be a werewolf!  I won’t reveal which character so as not to spoil the surprise for those who have yet to view the series or the episode, each of which has a dramatic twist of some kind you probably won’t see coming.  

With a dynamite ensemble cast and an underlying idea that hasn’t been visited since The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, this series is great for those who like psychological thrillers and dark horror.  Catch it on Showtime, or view it on Xfinity On Demand…

The Zombie? – – Of Corpse!

November 2, 2013

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– – On this Dia de Los Muertos following hard on the heels of Halloween, the mind runs more naturally to a consideration of supernatural, creepy, and scary considerations.  Zombies are much in vogue, having developed as a horror sub-genre through the work of George Romero among others and more recently, well-written and acted shows such as The Walking Dead.

In our modern age, death is kind of a final taboo, and the dead are swiftly and antiseptically spirited away so our delicate sensitivities are not offended by them, and we can postpone dealing with our own mortality.  Such was not the case in earlier times, when people would have been well-acquainted with both the sight of the dying and dead bodies.  In ancient times especially during plague years, dead bodies could be seen in public places in varying stages of decomposition, their numbers at times overwhelming burial details. As zombies are essentially animated corpses, their presence in film and literature may hark back to a kind of revulsion and fear in the collective unconscious over events that transpired earlier in human history…