Festival Of Fear: Day 18: Roots Of Horror: The Blood Countess

~by Marie Robinson

You have probably heard the legend of Elizabeth Báthory hundreds of times though you may not know her name. She has been referred to as the Blood Countess and rumored to be a vampire. This monstrous woman has made her place in history and folklore and appeared in hundreds of forms through film and literature, all because of her gruesome crimes.

With a possible 650 victims she is the most allegedly the most prolific female serial killer, though the number varies. Countess Elizabeth Báthory (born August 7th, 1560) came from a well-respected Hungarian family and married Ferenc Nádasdy when she was just fifteen years old. She was often left alone in her castle, Čachtice, in Slovakia, while her husband was traveling; it was in his absence that she enacted her crimes. Báthory, with the help of several accomplices (two old woman and a disfigured boy), began luring local girls to her castle with the prospect of a job where she would then torture them to death.

 The various ways included beating them with clubs and barbed whips, stabbing them with needles and daggers, burning them with hot irons, pouring water on them while they lay naked in the snow, and biting and tearing the flesh from their living bodies. Her claim to fame, however, were her supposed “bloodbaths”, where she would soak in the blood of the young virgin to preserve her beauty and absorb their youthfulness.

Although much of the Countess’ ghoulish exploits were probably exaggerated, or even completely falsified, this terrifying figure definitely had an effect on hundreds of artists. To this day people are still influenced by the ghastly Mrs. Báthory; her likeness has appeared in many different films, books, art and even video games.

Dozens of women have portrayed Elizabeth Báthory (or characters inspired by her) in film. For example, Julie Delphy directs and stars as the noblewoman in her 2009 film, The Countess. In American Horror Story: Coven Kathy Bates plays the cruel and wealthy Delphine LaLaurie, who would torture and murder her slaves and then lather their blood on her skin. Báthory also appears in Stay Alive (2006), The Brothers Grimm (2005), Fright Night 2: New Blood (2013), Countess Dracula (1971) and many others.
There have been several bands named after the Blood Countess—the most popular being the Swedish metal band, Bathory—and even more songs written for her. She has appeared in comics, novels, documentaries, and stage productions.

Kathy Bates as Delphine LaLaurie on AHS:Coven

The belief that Elizabeth Báthory was an actual vampire started with the rumors of her bathing in blood, but was perpetuated by 18th century Europe’s fascination and fear with the bloodsuckers of lore. This almost certainly falsified addition to the Countess’ crimes became so popular over time that one cannot mention Elizabeth Báthory without talking of her apparent bloodlust. There have been ties drawn between her and Vlad the Impaler as well as Bram Stoker, the later possibly being influenced to write Dracula with her in mind.

While the truth may be stretched, there is no doubt that Elizabeth Báthory was a terrible woman. Sadistic, psychotic, but undeniably fascinating. She has captured the interest of countless human beings, and undoubtedly will continue to do so as long as her name is kept alive.

Festival Of Fear: Day 4 ~ Roots Of Horror: The Seven Gates Of Hell

'The Gates of Hell' by Auguste Rodin

~by Marie Robinson

Have you ever wondered if the entrance to Hell could exist on Earth? If so, where would it be, and what would it look like? In this edition of Roots of Horror, I take you through the Seven Gates of Hell…

There are quite a few alleged portals to the underworld; tales are told of mysterious staircases, caves, and volcanoes, but my favorite is that of the Seven Gates.

There are several different legends, but the most popular is set in Hellam Township, Pennsylvania. The story goes that an asylum was hidden deep in the woods, allegedly along Toad Road, or in some cases Trout Run Road, and burnt down in the 19th century. Due to its seclusion, firefighters were not able to get to the scene of the fire until it was too late. Many patients burned to death, while they rest fled into the surrounding woods only to be captured and beaten by the vicious search party. Supposedly, seven barriers were set up leading to the site of the old institution, and have since become known as the Seven Gates of Hell.

This corner of the woods is home to all kinds of superstition—apparitions, strange noises, and occult activity—but at the core are the gates. Legend goes that only one is visible during the day, and that the remaining six appear only at night. It is also said that no one has ever made it past five, but if you happen to cross through the seventh gate, you’ll find yourself in the realm of eternal damnation.

Jason Banker incorporated the legend into his 2012 film, Toad Road, obviously taking the name of the fabled road as the title. Toad Road doesn’t actually exist, but Trout Run does, and if you are in the middle of the woods there you might find a few twisted, overgrown iron gates, but if you do, do you dare pass through?

My hometown, the Gateway to the Midwest, could nearly double as the Gateway to the Underworld. Less than an hour away from St. Louis across the great Mississippi is Collinsville, Illinois. A small town quickly becomes a series of twisted roads dotted with isolated farmhouses; running over these dark roads are seven old, overgrown train bridges that are said to open the entrance to Hell is passed through sequentially.

'The Twin Gates'

My friends and I went “legend tripping” one night and took on the diabolical challenge, following instructions I found online (http://nightfallunlimited.com/?p=6). Some of the gates have their own individual legends, such as the second gate, which is apparently haunted by a hanged man, whose silhouette can be seen swinging from the bridge. The third and fourth gates, known as, “the Twins” because of their proximity to each other, are shrouded in rumors of occult activity and the sixth gate is allegedly haunted by a spectral car, the result of a car crash involving two teenagers on acid.

Gustave Dore woodcut

When we drove through the gates we only ended up in Troy, IL—which could very possibly be Hell—but it could have been that we didn’t complete the challenge at the proper time, which, according to the legend, is midnight. We did, however, have a very good time driving along the secluded winding roads, passing through the ominous, spray-paint covered bridges while I narrated the legends. If nothing else, it was a creepy, fun time, perfect for the upcoming Halloween
season.

One thing I wondered about this reoccurring legend is: why seven? In Dante’s Inferno there are nine circles of Hell. However, while in the first circle, Limbo, Dante sees a castle with seven gates, each one representing one of the seven heavenly virtues. The seven virtues are, of course, in opposition to the seven deadly sins.

Whatever the significance, the Seven Gates of Hell makes for a great legend, and whether or not the doorway to Hell really exists in Illinois or Pennsylvania, that’s for you to decide.

ROOTS OF HORROR: The Death Coach And Other Spectral Vehicles

~by Marie Robinson

Imagine you are driving alone late at night on a one-lane, backwoods road. Your headlights graze the trees that hug close to the road, the hum of your tires drones softly under music or talk radio. The monotony of the seemingly endless unraveling road sets your mind to daydream—but your thoughts are interrupted by the twin points of headlights in your rear-view mirror. The car must have just crested some hill, or rounded some turn, because this is the first time you’ve seen anyone else on the road tonight. The car is traveling at an alarming speed, and as they slow down to pull up beside you see it is a strange black car. The window begins to roll down…

If you are unfamiliar with any legends concerning sinister automobiles, then I am here to inform you. They come in several different forms, each one as unsettling as the last.

The Death Coach 

The Death Coach has its strongest roots in Ireland, where it is called the Cóiste Bodhar (koe-shta bower), which translates to “deaf coach” or “silent coach”. The Cóiste Bodhar is a death omen and to see it or hear it means that someone is going to die. The Irish version of the Death Coach is quite sinister looking and is often decorated with candles and human remains.

Even more frightening than the wagon itself is its driver, a fairy called a dullahan. His head, which is carried under one arm, has small, flicking black eyes and a wide, ear-to-ear grin. He carries a whip made from a human spine. If you hear the dullahan call out a name, it is sure that the owner is the next to die. While the Cóiste Bodhar can go through any locked gate, the dullahan is terrified of gold, and having any near will send them away. The Cóiste Bodhar makes an appearance in the 1959 Disney film (a childhood favorite of mine) Darby O’Gill and the Little People.

The revolutionary Swedish special effects film, The Phantom Carriage (1921), concerns a similar legend. In the film, the last person to die before the clock strikes twelve on New Years Eve must take the seat at the front of the Death Coach and collect souls of the dead for the next year.

In Robert W. Chamber’s iconic short story, “The Yellow Sign”, the Death Coach comes through an ominous dream, whose driver is a man with pale, puffy flesh, who reminds the narrator of a, “plump, white grave-worm.”

I, too, have taken inspiration from the legend of the Death Coach, and have written of it in my story, “Crossroad”, published in the 4th issue of Sanitarium Magazine.

The Hearse 

“Don’t you ever laugh as the hearse goes by, for you may be the next to die,” sings “The Hearse Song” as documented in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.  If hearses weren’t ominous enough for you, there are several superstitions attached to the corpse-carrying cars. For example, it is bad luck if a hearse stops in front of someone’s house, as it is a sign that an occupant will soon die; even the sight of a hearse is a possible omen, especially if it is empty, for it means that it is looking to be filled.

The song I aforementioned dates back to World War I, sung by American and British soldiers and popularized as a children’s rhyme. Also frequently called, “The Worms Crawl In, The Worms Crawl Out”, several different versions have been documented—below I’ve written the lyrics to just one.

“Don’t you ever laugh as the hearse goes by,
For you may be the next one to die.
They wrap you in a big white sheet
From your head down to your feet.
They put you in a big black box
And cover you up with dirt and rocks.
All goes well for about a week,
Until your coffin begins to leak.
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
The worms play pinochle on your scalp,
They eat your eyes, they eat your nose,
They eat the jelly between your toes.
A big green worm with rolling eyes
Crawls in your stomach and out your sides.
Your stomach turns a slimy green,
And pus pours out like whipping cream.
You’ll spread it on a slice of bread,
And this is what you eat when you are dead.” 

The Black Volga 

One of my favorite urban legends is that of the Black Volga. This tale became popular in the 60’s in Eastern European; the car, a black Volga, is said to kidnap children and use them for gruesome black market trades. The car of legend has had a myriad of drivers such as nuns, vampires, or the very Devil. Sometimes the car will be driven by no one at all, startling those in the car alongside it so badly that they will swerve off the road.

Author Joe R. Lansdale penned a story called, “The Folding Man” for the urban legend-inspired anthology, Haunted Legends (you can read my review of the book, here.)  His tale, inspired by the legend of the Black Volga, involves a group of teens being tormented on Halloween by a car full of nuns.

The doomful black car also plays a key role in the 2003 film, Dead End, in which a family takes a back road in an attempt of avoiding traffic and find themselves in an evil, haunted place where the only other car is the Black Volga, coming to claim its victims.

So the next time you are on that lonely stretch of road and see another pair of headlights, beware the Black Volga.

Roots of Horror: The Monkey's Paw

Illustration by Walt Sturrock

~by Marie Robinson

Englishman W. W. Jacobs’ literary work was mainly comedic, but he is now known nearly exclusively for his supernatural short story, “The Monkey’s Paw”. Originally published in September of 1902, it has been republished in horror anthologies, adapted for film and stage, and provided inspiration for dozens of other forms of media.

In his classic tale, the White family—which includes Mr., Mrs. and grown son, Herbert—are visited by a friend, military man, Sergeant-Major Morris. He tells the Whites of a mysterious talisman that will grant three wishes, but at a terrible expense. Sergeant-Major Morris throws the talisman, a dried monkey’s paw, into the fire, but Mr. White retrieves it before it is burned, and despite Morris’ warnings, decides to keep it and use it anyway.

Brett Simmons' 2013 film

The story is simple enough, but Jacobs’ dark and haunting delivery had rendered it timeless. Admiration for the tale was instant, and the first adaptation of the tale was in the form of a one-act play staged in London, 1903. The first film version of “The Monkey’s Paw” appeared in 1923, and since then there have been nine more films directly adapting the story—the most recent released by Chiller last year. The story has been the inspiration for a handful of television plots on popular shows such as The X-Files, Buffy, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and The Twilight Zone which have all used the motif of a wish-granting cursed talisman.

This motif has been incorporated in a number of other films, television shows, books, video games, and comics, but perhaps my favorite version of “The Monkey’s Paw” is living legend Christopher Lee’s 2004 recording of the tale, which was done as part of the BBC’s radio series Christopher Lee’s Fireside Tales. Read the full text here (http://americanliterature.com/author/w-w-jacobs/short-story/the-monkeys-paw), or listen below… if you dare.

Roots Of Horror: The Jersey Devil - The Monster Of The Pine Barrens

~by Marie Robinson

These days when you think of New Jersey you probably think of some pretty horrifying images: spray tans, meatheads, awful accents and vocabulary… but believe it or not, a legendary creature far more frightening is said to inhabit the Pine Barrens of the Garden State.

The Pine Barrens are one million acres of thick forest that stretch across seven counties of New Jersey. The region is protected by the state and great care is taken in keeping the region as natural and undisturbed as possible. Almost half of it is public property and is divided into various parks where hiking and camping is available. However, there is something you should be warned about before you decide to spend the night under the canopy of the Pines…

The legend of the fearsome cryptid known as The Jersey Devil dates back about 300 years; the Native American Lenni Lenape tribe were among the first to spin this yarn. In a place now known as “Leeds Point” was a woman named Deborah Leeds, also known as Mother Leeds. Mother Leeds, a poor woman who had twelve children; she was also believed to be a witch, so it wasn’t really too much of surprise when she inexplicably became pregnant with her thirteenth child. She claimed that the unlucky baby would be the Devil, himself, and when she gave birth in 1735 it was to a horrible creature. The monster—which killed the midwife before it escaped, shooting up through the chimney—had a horned goat’s head, a kangaroo-like body, a forked, serpentine tail, cloven hooves and leathery wings.

This diabolical beast has been popular with paranormal investigation reality TV shows; the teams of MonsterQuest, Paranormal State, The Lost Tapes, and Destination Truth have all sought after the Jersey Devil, unsuccessfully. It does make for a creepy concept though, a small group of brave (and naïve) people stumbling around the forest with nothing but flashlights and cameras.

Such was the subject matter of the 1998 found-footage film, The Last Broadcast; set-up in the style of a documentary concerning the murder of a group of men who spent a night in the Pine Barrens. Locus and Stephen were the creators and hosts of a local access television show called Fact or Fiction, the subject matter of which was primarily the mysterious and paranormal. In hopes of boosting their ratings they plan to live broadcast a trip deep into the Pine Barrens in search of the Leeds Devil. They bring along two others, Rein—who specializes in recording EVPs and other paranormal sounds—and Jim—a self-proclaimed psychic. Their trip turns deadly and all of the crew ends up dead or missing, except for Jim - who appears to be the only suspect, unless it was something… unnatural.

Another film that directly references this myth is the 2012 flick, The Barrens. It stars Stephen Moyer (the one and only Bill Compton) as Richard, who decides to take his family on a camping trip to—well, you know. There are plenty of reasons for Richard to be stressed; the disappearance of the family dog, the tension between his teenager daughter and his new wife, and now, the growing number of mutilated bodies found in the woods. As Richard’s fear builds and his sanity wanes, he can’t help recalling the legends of that grotesque beast that is said to inhabit the very forest he is lost in.

The Jersey Devil has made quite a name for itself in fiction. A few television shows have dedicated an episode to the fiend, such as Supernatural and The X-Files. Several authors have penned their own tales inspired by the legend, as well. Horror author F. Paul Wilson has written twice about the Devil, once in short story form and the other in his novel, All the Rage. Although it has never been confirmed, one could speculate that H.P. Lovecraft may have taken inspiration from this myth. A Jersey Devil-like creature is described in The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath and The Dunwich Horror has similarities to the legend of Mother Leeds.

As there is really no sure way to prove the Jersey Devil does not exist, naturally many people believe that it is, in fact, real. “The Devil Hunters” are one such group that are confident in the creature’s existence. They have appeared on several TV shows and have a pretty in-depth website if you are interested in checking it out. You can find countless stories of people’s alleged experiences with the Devil online. Each vary a bit, some are pretty freakin’ creepy, but one signature quirk of the Jersey Devil is a loud, "blood-curdling scream" that it likes to let ring out through the forest.

Roots Of Horror: The Legend And Lore Of The Wendigo In Film

 by Marie Robinson

Welcome back to another long-delayed installment of Roots of Horror! In these articles I explore horror films and the inspiration they take from folklore, urban legends, and parapsychology.

Native Americans have a rich culture that is teeming with fascinating legends. One that proves to be equally sinister and inspirational is the story of the Wendigo. As with any folktale, the specific details of the beast and its habits vary from region and culture, and the North-based legend is no exception. The tale is known to the Algonquin and Ojibwe tribes in the Northern United States and Canada, mainly Ontario.

The Wendigo resides in the frozen, desolate forest of these Northern regions, in the places were men could get lost during hunting or travel and be stranded, left to the mercy of the cruel land. When food supplies are depleted, sometimes people are forced to take desperate—and savage—measures.

That’s right, eating your friends! The Algonquians considered cannibalism a very severe taboo—they believed that even when you have no other options, it is better to resign to death then eat another person. What would you do in that situation?

One film that explores this question, and the legend, as well, is Ravenous. Antonia Bird’s 1999 film stars Guy Pearce (the love of my life) as Boyd, a Civil War veteran who is placed at a fort in Northern California with a handful of quirky characters, including two Native American siblings. When a man stumbles upon the land, bloodied and emaciated, he recounts a harrowing tale where he was forced to cannibalize the members of a group he was traveling with. The Native Americans whisper warnings to Boyd of the Wendigo, and when the group goes out with the man to find the other missing members of his party, he fears the story might be true.

Another aspect of the Wendigo is that its appetite is insatiable; the more it eats, the hungrier it gets, needing always to kill and eat more flesh. The only way to stop it—is death.

Sometimes the Wendigo is said to be manifested as a beast, parts tree, and parts deer. Sometimes it is a giant that leaves bloody footprints that sets loose an awful, wind-like cry. It is a manifestation not only of greed and hunger, but also the desolation that one might find alone in the woods. Interestingly enough, the Germans (God love ‘em) have a word for this specific sensation. Waldeinsamkeit—forest solitude, or the feeling of being alone in the woods.

Another film that invokes the Wendigo is…well, it’s called Wendigo. This 2001 flick directed by Larry Fessenden is about a family who goes to get away from it all in rural Colorado. Unfortunately, they not only have psycho rednecks to deal with, but an ancient, deadly spirit, as well.
It is a great atmospheric and emotional flick that uses the myth creatively and even gives you an eyeful of their depiction of the beast!

 Fessenden was so in love with the legend he went on to direct an episode of Fear, Itself in 2008 called “Skin and Bones”. In my opinion, this is probably the most terrifying episode in the series, about a man who was left for dead in the wilderness, only to stumble home, changed. This is a good example of another physical depiction of the Wendigo, or, rather, a man who is possessed by one: extremely emaciated, with skin taut over bones, like a walking skeleton.

Algernon Blackwood really brought this legend to the mainstream when he penned 1910 short “The Wendigo”. Apparently based on Blackwood’s actual experiences and knowledge of hunting in Canada, this story features a group of men—including two Scotsman, a Native American and a French Canadian—who are moose hunting and find themselves threatened by—well, you know.

Apparently there is a Supernatural episode that also covers the Wendigo, but I’ve never watched that show so I couldn’t tell you if it was any good. Let me know if it though, eh?
Oh, and if you get really hungry—just do us all a favor and open up a pack of Ramen, deal?

WiHM: Five Otherworldly Women In Folklore

 Our final day of Women in Horror brings you some females we don't necessary want to meet anytime soon, but are utterly fascinating nonetheless.  Often depicted in horror films, many of these examples of not-so-friendly women will either terrorize you for all eternity, predict an ominous forthcoming event, or just outright steal your very soul.

THE BANSHEE

In the old language of Gaelic, this Irish spirit was called Bean-sidhe. She is a ghostly woman, dressed in a white shroud, her hair flowing behind her, her hands extended before her like claws. She is usually described as old and ugly, but it isn't her appearance you need to fear, it is her wail.
The banshee is a bad omen, if her hear a long, shrill scream echoing out in the hills, it means someone will soon die. Banshees were usually thought to be attached to old families, but no one is safe from her song.
Banshees really ought to be featured in more horror films, because they are downright creepy. The only movie that I can think of is a silly but beloved Disney movie from my childhood, Darby O'Gill and the Little People, starring a very young and strapping Sean Connery.
These deathly hags are one of my favorite among folklore, I even have a published story about a banshee entitled, "She Comes to Call". You have to purchase the magazine to read it, but I'll provide the link HERE in case you should wish to do so!

LA LLORONA

A very famous legend in South America and Mexico is that of a woman who was so in love with a man who did not return her affections that she drowned her children in the ocean, and then herself.  Because of her crime she cannot cross over into the afterlife, so she weeps eternally at the shore, searching the water for her children. Although it is often used as a cautionary tale for children to stay away from the water, many people actually claimed to have seen her. It is a very spooky idea, and has been used in several films. There are surprisingly more American made films, one from 1933 called The Crying Woman, as well as three from 2007,The Curse of La Llorona, J-ok'el: La Llorona: Curse of the Weeping Woman, and The Cry. There is also a Mexican picture called La Llorona from 1960.

CHUREL

In India, a churel is a woman of low caste who died of childbirth or pregnancy due to negligence of their family members. The return as terrifying ghosts to suck the blood of the men who have wronged them. To lure men in, they appear as beautiful maidens carrying lanterns, but before they attack they show their true form, which is that of a hag with a long, brutish face, sagging breasts, and feet turned backwards. Sometimes they also have a thick, black tongue which I'd imagine would come in handy as they drain the men of their blood, semen, and life force. They roam places associated with death. If you think a woman will become a churel after her death, you can bury a corpse face down.

KIKIMORA

Sometimes from forests and sometimes from swamps, Kikimora is a Russian ghost of an old woman, usually depicted in artwork as being thin as straw with hens feet and a long, thing, beak-like face. She attaches herself to homes, living behind the stove. She can be helpful if treated kindly, but if not she will bang and break dishes and whistle at night. It is said at night she spins thread, and if you see her in her act, you will die. A Kikimora also delights in terrorizing men.

WASHERWOMEN

This time, a Scottish spirit, the bean nighe, or Washer of the Ford is a woman who died in childbirth and is forced to remain on earth until the day she would have died if not in childbirth. To occupy the lonely time of their sentence, they must wash the bloody clothes of those about to die. If you come upon the Washers of the Ford, they will look beautiful and sing to you, luring you to help them ring out the sheets. But do not get too close, for the wet garment will ensnare you, crushing you with your very own shroud.

                                                              

                                                              ~by Marie Robinson

Roots of Horror: You're Entering A Different Dimension

Greetings, all! And welcome to the second installation to my series, Roots of Horror, which explores the inspiration behind our favorite spooky stories and the fantastic phenomena of the spectral world.

Today we travel to a different dimension… a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. Journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination—that’s the signpost up ahead, your next stop, The Twilight Zone. A most beloved series created by Rod Serling, I’m sure all of you are as great of fans as I. Let us inspect a few episodes and the fascinating supernaturality that is rooted in them. (WARNING: Mild spoilers are issued below for those who are not familiar with these episodes)

PHONE CALLS FROM THE DEAD

Two episodes concern the same phenomena that is called simply and aptly, “phone calls from the dead”. Those two are “Long Distance Call” and “Night Call”.

Admittedly, the idea and very name of this particular supernatural occurrence may seem pretty silly to skeptics, but is very highly reported; so common that we see it twice in the original Twilight Zone series.

The first episode to deal with it is “Long Distance Call”, which appears in season two. The story is of a young boy and who is gifted a toy telephone through which he may contact his deceased grandmother. “Night Call” tells of an elderly woman who is plagued by mysterious phone calls in the middle of the night. The line is traced to a local cemetery, and eventually, to the grave of her late husband.

Although the name seems to say it all, there are a few consistent factors that are present in stories and reports of phone calls from the dead. The calls are almost always made by a lost relative or someone who very close to the recipient in life. In some cases the caller is thought to be conveying a message, but often the dead are simply believed to want to make contact, as seems the situation in these two episodes. However, there are a few differences between the episodes, and interesting enough, they both coincide with actual reports of phone calls from the dead!

Most often it seems that the phone calls occur within twenty-four hours of the person’s death, such is the case in “Long Distance Call”, when the little boy starts talking to his grandmother through his toy telephone within a day of her death. Another element that is highly reported is that the phone connection is usually very bad, as it is in “Night Call”. The old woman picks up the phone to hear mostly static on the line, with faint moaning speech breaking through every now and then. Indeed, she cannot even make out the words!

Another thing that is strange, but does not occur in either episodes, is that researchers on the subject have gathered that sometimes the deceased person making the call tell of someone allowing them to do so—a “they”. Any happening of this phenomena is quite mysterious, and it leads one to ponder just how the
 deceased are able to make this particular type of contact, and how difficult or unfavorable it might be.

These days parapsychologists don’t take the idea of phone calls from the dead very seriously, but in the mid-twentieth century reports could be found in newspapers, and two parapsychologists, D. Scott Rogo and Raymond Bayless, were so interested that they published a book in 1979. Simply titled Phone Calls From the Dead, the book became and remains the leading source on the subject.

By the way, anyone remember the movie One Missed Call? That movie was terrible…

PHANTOM HITCHHIKERS

My all-time FAVORITE Twilight Zone episode is from the very first season, and it is called “The Hitch-Hiker”. It follows a young woman, traveling cross-country on her own, who is stalked by the same mysterious hitchhiker the entire journey.

This story plays on the very common urban legend of “phantom hitch-hikers”. Tales of this like have been told all over the world, but most commonly in the United States. There are many variations, but the story usually goes that a person driving on some lonely road stops for a hitchhiker. The hitchhiker is quiet, not saying much, and is dropped off at a residence. Before the driver pulls away, they notice that their passenger has left something behind—a scarf, coat, hairpin, etc. They run quickly up to the house and knock on the door, which is answered by a stranger. The driver explains the situation, but the stranger sadly tells them that the person they are speaking of has died several years ago. The hitchhiker in the stories is usually thumbing up at the spot where they were killed, and often appear there on the anniversary of their death.

The Twilight Zone episode does not take on this structure, but a unique one applying the basic elements of the phantom hitchhiker legend and the result is an extremely unsettling and satisfying story.

Perhaps the most famous “real-life” phantom hitchhiker is that of Resurrection Mary from Chicago, Illinois. In life, she was a young girl in a dress and dancing shoes walking home from the dancing hall one night when she was struck by a car and killed. The driver fled, never to be identified. Now she stalks the road where she was killed, hitching rides and sitting quietly in the car until it passes Resurrection Cemetery, where she either vanishes or is dropped off, only to disappear through the iron gates…

If you have any experiences similar to these phenomena, please feel free to share! Also if you know of any legends, books, or movies that are relevant, let me know!

~MR

Roots Of Horror: Let Your Mind Wander

Article by Marie Robinson

Greetings, dear friends! I must confess to you my two passions: horror, and folklore. Luckily for me, they often go hand-in-hand! One day I dream of becoming a folklore expert, and it would be an honor if you would all allow me to spill my knowledge on the strangest of tales. Yarns that have been remembered through time, through all cultures of the world, and also, through film. Creatures and phenomenon that are so extraordinary, so bizarre... that you can’t help but wonder, “Are they real?”

*ASTRAL PROJECTING*

In the 2010 flick Insidious, a boy named Dalton becomes mysteriously “comatose”. With the help of a psychic his parents determine that the child was actually astral projecting in his sleep and becomes trapped in a realm called “the Further”.

Regardless of whether Insidious was a good movie or not (the film received many mixed reviews), I believe the psychic phenomenon that it is based upon is much more interesting than any element of the movie itself; be it plot, script, acting, what have you.

There are intricate theories based on the idea that humans have different levels of consciousness, and these are often referred to as “bodies”—not to be confused with a physical body. One of the most commonly referenced “bodies” is the astral body. Coming from the Greek word meaning ‘star’, an astral body is an energy-composed duplicate of one’s self, and is thought by Theosophists to be contained in a case of shimmering light and is visible only to a person who is sensitive or psychic.

The astral body can rise out of your physical form and ascend to the astral plane or realm. The act of traveling to the astral plane is called astral projecting, the very same activity our little Dalton gets carried away with in Insidious.

The way Dalton leaves his physical body is the same way many astral projectors do—while sleeping. In fact, you must put your body into a state of rest to free your astral form. Once you have reached the perfect, trance-like state, and you separate your consciousness from your natural body, you may get up, walk around, fly, and explore the astral plane to your desire!

Many astral projectors tell of seeing their sleeping body, even floating over it! You have probably also heard this referred to as an “out of body experience”.

Let’s talk more about the astral plane, shall we? Believe me, it sounds much more fun than “the Further”—no ghost-infested houses and cheesy looking demons to report yet! It is believed to be an alternate reality, or dimension, if you will, that is inhabited by disembodied entities and higher beings. Occults claim that the astral plane is invisible to the naked eye, and can be accessed and viewed only by way of astral projection or physic abilities.

Now, there are of course many skeptics who dash these ideas of astral nonsense away to simple explanations of dreams or madness, but there are also people who hold great belief in it. There is even a man, Robert Monroe, who is such a well-achieved astral projector that he has formed his own establishment (the Monroe Institute) that actually holds classes on how to learn the same art he has mastered. There are many books and websites that contain detailed practices you can do on your own to become an astral traveler.

But I must warn you to be careful, and not to get lost like our dear Dalton, or you could end up trapped in a movie with Patrick Wilson, for the rest of eternity…