December 12, 2021

Watch the Mirror

December 12, 2021/ Guest User

When I was younger, a group of friends wanted to try a spooky game in front of a bathroom mirror. Since we were all gathered together at school, we figured we’d try it there in an old bathroom with flickering lights, creaky stalls and one hell of a cold draft.

The main person who wanted to try this had us all gather in the corner, in the background, while they stepped up in front of the mirror, spun around three times, gazed at their reflection and chanted these words…

“Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary.”

The urban legend of Bloody Mary is quite the famous one. It’s been adapted into many stories, including onscreen, and usually depicts a horror-filled outcome or at least a bloody woman in the mirror. But the original game didn’t start out quite so morbid.

The Bloody Mary game derived from something that was popular during olden days. Unmarried women would walk up a staircase backwards holding a candle in one hand and a mirror in the other. The objective was to glimpse the face of their future husband. But they also risked glimpsing a skeleton, said to be the face of the Grim Reaper himself, which signified that the woman would die before she’d get a chance to wed.

Despite that one origin, there are many other theories or combinations that have led to the haunting version of the Bloody Mary we have today.

I was glad to be huddled with my friends as the room grew colder and colder. And though we stayed like that for a while, nothing really seemed to happen. Things got creepier the longer anticipation built, but children only have a certain length of attention to give, and we soon found ourselves filing out of the creepy bathroom to go where we were supposed to be… on our lunch break.

The problem was, I forgot my lunchbox in the big room attached to that small bathroom. And since none of my friends wanted to trek back with me, I had to take the route by myself, braving the creeps all on my lonesome.

I had just enough time to get to my lunchbox when I heard a very peculiar sound, and not one I’ll soon forget. It was glass shattering. And not just any glass…

It was the Bloody Mary mirror.

PHOTO CREDITS TO @CREATIFRANKENSTEIN ON PIXABAY

The figure Bloody Mary is thought to be based on a couple different people. Not all of them are proven to be true, but one in particular was a real-life person. She was Queen Mary I of England, and she struggled over the course of her married life with getting pregnant despite showing signs that she was carrying a child. This was believed either to be a phantom pregnancy—a pregnancy that occurs when the desire to have a baby is so strong, it convinces the body that a pregnancy is really happening—or endometrial hyperplasia, something that develops before uterine cancer and gives similar symptoms as pregnancy. Since the medical field of her time wouldn’t have been able to truly test the difference, it’s unclear what she was experiencing for sure, or if it was a combination of things.

But the reason she was given the name “Bloody Mary” was because of an act she signed which led to the Marian Persecutions. Mary thought she’d be uniting the people of England—who were strongly divided between Catholics and Protestants at the time—by signing the act. But she didn’t foresee the persecutions that followed, where approximately 300 people were sentenced as Protestants to burn at the stake. Mary believed that God was punishing her through miscarriages and false pregnancies for failing to unite her people.

PHOTO CREDITS TO @SARAHRICHTERART ON PIXABAY

I didn’t wait to investigate when I heard the sound of a mirror shattering from the bathroom. I booked it like my life depended on it, and for all I knew, it did. I never went back to find out what happened. In fact, I think I steered clear of that bathroom for the rest of the school years I spent in that building.

Maybe you don’t believe in Bloody Mary, and maybe you do. Some of you might believe she’s a scary ghost, others may believe she’s fairly friendly. But I didn’t know much about her as a kid. And even if I do now, I won’t be taking any chances. The last thing I need is Bloody Mary paying me another visit to break my mirrors.

For a different and darker take on the origins of Bloody Mary, click here.

Korpse

“Where does time go?” is a question we often ask ourselves, and though Korpse might be an unfamiliar name, he’s no stranger to asking himself the very same question. In fact, he asks that question when he can’t find time to research mythology in its many forms. But fear no more, for Korpse has found a balance in the making, and will share his findings with you about paranormal myths, legends, stories and more.

December 07, 2021

Juicy Takes: His House

December 07, 2021/ Guest User

Welcome to yet another segment (because Juice Demon has a segment-creating addiction) of paranormal horror movie appreciation. This time I’m watching a horror flick for the first time and attempting a thorough and honest review. Today’s pick is the 2020 thriller His House, the directorial debut of British screenwriter Remi Weekes.

His House is intense from its subject matter to its execution. It demands to be felt. The story follows a refugee couple from South Sudan, who are adjusting with fragile hope to their potential new life in Britain after a harrowing and traumatic journey from their war-torn home.

Rial—played by Wunmi Mosaku—is hesitant to embrace their new home as it invites the weight of prejudice and lacks the comforts of her culture, while Bol—played by Sope Dirisu—is desperately clinging to the romantic notions of a new and better life (separate from the horrific tragedy they left behind in South Sudan). As they both attempt to acclimate to their environment with varying degrees of enthusiasm, they are visited separately by a sinister presence lurking in their assigned asylum residence.

Let’s Dive In, Shall We?

First, the cinematography of this movie is absolutely breathtaking. It’s a visual delight from start to finish—even in the spookier scenes where “delight” is the furthest emotion on the spectrum.

Each shot is so beautifully crafted, every colour scheme so dreamily captivating, that I had to force myself to feel the tense grip of fear the scenes intended. This is not to say that the film doesn’t deliver some genuine and original scary moments, because it does.

Though many of the scares in His House are predictable (in the sense that if you’ve watched a good deal of haunted house movies, you won’t be overly shocked by them), there are a few standouts that I appreciated. Weekes makes great use of space in his shots, as well as some nail-biting moments enhanced entirely by the clever use of lighting. Never has a movie evoked such a visceral sense of being swallowed whole by darkness—a feeling I won’t soon forget.

The storytelling is phenomenal. Weekes expertly charts his narrative path; the plot progresses patiently and with purpose. Not a single shot or tremulous moment of quiet emotion goes unappreciated. As the climax rears its monstrous head, there isn’t one second of it that feels unearned.

The horror lore of His House brings its own fascinations. The evil in Bol and Rial’s house is given a name, in fact, Rial recognizes its origins nearly immediately (something that feels fresh in the moment, diverging from the typical “what the fuck is happening in our house” reactiveness of most horror movie protagonists).

Bol and Rial are being haunted by an apeth, or “night witch”. It’s an impressive foe that seems to feed on the sins of those it follows, wreaking psychological havoc (Juice Demon is hyperfixating on Cerebral Killers, this is now an indisputable fact) and maintaining a persistent and dreadful objective.

Defining Characteristics

What makes His House a standout is its delicate handling of the real-life subject of the South Sudan refugee crisis, and the incredibly poignant portrayals of that experience by the film’s two stellar leads.

Mosaku and Dirisu are mesmerizing, both in their individual characterizations and their effortless dynamic. If I could time travel to the 93rd Academy Awards to personally hand them Best Actor and Best Actress, I would do so in a heartbeat. I can’t emphasize enough how enthralled I was with their combined screen presence. The raw and breathless vigor with which they embrace their roles is magnetic, and only intensifies as their characters’ stories unfold.

All these pieces come together seamlessly to pull off a heart-wrenching and devastating plot twist that not only fits perfectly into the established narrative, but had me pouring over its implications in my mind for hours in painstaking detail. If I had seen His House in theatres, I would have all but pounced at the opportunity to pester whoever joined me with questions meant to poke holes in the black-and-white fixtures of humanity.

Those post-watch moments—wherein I’m fit to burst with analytic energy and vibrating with speculative theories—are the ones that cement the viewing experience into my memory. If a movie can inspire that, it’s already established itself in my mind as a new favourite.

If it wasn’t clear already, His House gets a rating of six skulls.

Would I recommend this movie? Vehemently and with razzle dazzle. Would I watch more movies directed by Weekes and starring Mosaku and Dirisu? Without question and with reverence. Will I ever stop obsessing over guilt-grief monster metaphors in paranormal horror films? Odds are: the odds are bad.

If you want to see more of Ghost Writers and their resident fiend of cinematic mayhem, Juice Demon, follow us on social media! Stay tuned for the next ghostly chapter, if you dare…

Juice Demon

Juice Demon is a harbinger of chaos from a dark dimension. She daylights as a student in the Professional Writing Program at Algonquin College. She is an enthusiast of carefully curated horror movie marathons, bonfire cracklings, and imagining the alternate universe in which Willem Dafoe is cast as The Joker.

December 01, 2021

Ouija Boards: Messing With Occultism

December 01, 2021/ Alex Jones

Imagine you’re at a party with a few friends. One of them whips out a Ouija board that was made by Hasbro (ages 5 and up, of course). You take your seat and form a circle, unknowingly about to perform a séance. The planchette glides slowly across the board as your friends ask questions, and then…

You’re summoning a spirit from their resting place. Congratulations, you and your friends are messing with the dead. Surely there are no consequences to that, right?

The Strange and Dark History

“Ouija, the Wonderful Talking Board.” This is one of the few advertisements that made the newspaper back in February 1891 in Pittsburgh. It was listed at the low price of $1.50 and was catered towards children. The Ouija board was promised to give “never-failing amusement.” It could be used to answer your questions, predict the future, and most importantly communicate with the dead. People had a different relationship with death back in the 19th century. It was more of a curiosity than a reality, therefore the Ouija board became popular.

Robert Murch, the world’s foremost collector and historian on Ouija boards, even agreed with how odd the history is. He said, “For such an iconic thing that strikes both fear and wonder in American culture, how can no one know where it came from?”

The Rules of the Board

There are five concrete rules you MUST abide by while using a spirit board.

Never use the Ouija board alone. Even if you’re curious one night and want to take a shot at talking to a spirit, don’t chance it. Using one alone can leave you vulnerable to evil spirits coming from the Other Side.
Never use the Ouija board in a graveyard. The last thing you want to do is bring about spirits you weren’t aware of. Being in a graveyard is bone-chilling enough, there’s no need to start summoning all of the dead from their resting places.
Never ask if God is real. Curiosity killed the cat, and satisfaction won’t bring it back. Asking the dead about higher powers could anger them and cause their negative energy to filter right into you. Some questions are best left unanswered, especially when it comes to risking your own life.
Never use the Ouija board if you are a non-believer. While it’s important that this blog caters to believers as well as non-believers, it’s advised that you think about the potential consequences of using a spirit board.
Never leave the planchette on the board without saying goodbye. It’s only polite! In all seriousness, not saying goodbye after a session with the dead can leave you filled with dread and waking up with night sweats. Say goodbye and thank you, then wait for the planchette to move towards goodbye on the board. If the spirit doesn’t say goodbye back, repeat it, then pass the planchette through the flame of a candle. It helps to cleanse the area (but please, be careful if you do this).

There are other rules that also apply while using an Ouija board. Learn more here: https://thoughtcatalog.com/erin-cossetta/2018/03/21-ouija-board-rules-everyone-needs-to-know-before-they-start-playing/.

“I Can See You Through the Window”

Let’s take a look at a real experience someone had with a Ouija board.

Many people use Ouija boards and have real experiences with them. Having those experiences has become a bonding point for people on social media. User no-springs from Reddit shared an experience ten years ago that they had with the paranormal. “Just kind of scaring ourselves for fun, not taking it very seriously.” According to their story, they were only 12 or 13. “…we got the message ‘I can see you through the window’ and then ‘I can see you through his eyes.’” Incredibly freaky, but it somehow gets worse. This Reddit user then goes on to say that they asked a few questions, to which the board replied with ‘I’m under the car.’ Being curious children they - of course - went outside with some flashlights and checked beneath the vehicle. No spirit was there, but there was a black cat that seemed quite agitated. It hissed at the kids and they ran back inside….

Then the power went out.

A few blood-curdling screams later, the power flickered back on. No-springs says they haven’t touched a Ouija board since.

The Validity of It All

It’s ultimately up to you if you want to get involved with Ouija boards, but I can say for me personally that I’m good not knowing what lies beyond.

Just don’t forget to say goodbye.

Wraith

Wraith is a ghostly soul that enjoys investigating the truth behind paranormal affairs. There are secrets and discoveries to be made within the pages of history, and Wraith intends to find out the chilling truth. From ancient to current practices of communing with the dead, Wraith will use his quick wit and keen determination to investigate the sincerity of paranormal records.

November 26, 2021 November 26, 2021/ Anna Finlayson

“It seems every town has their own ‘spooky house at the end of the street.’”

November 22, 2021

Keep the Doors Locked

November 22, 2021/ Guest User

PHOTO CREDITS TO @charlesdeluvio FROM UNSPLASH

Imagine your entire body suddenly stops obeying your conscious mind. The only things left for you to move are your eyes. And when you see the figure in the hallway across from your room and the bed you’re trying to sleep in, you’re sure you’ve also stopped breathing.

That’s what happened to me the first time I was visited by the Rake.

Stories of the Rake date back to the twelfth century, though many of those documents were lost. The Rake is a territorial urban legend and creepypasta— a horror story shared around the internet— that lives primarily in the northeastern United States.

But that doesn’t mean he won’t pay you a visit too.

His depleted humanoid body, like a twisted hairless and overgrown dog, came closer. But if I thought he’d come right for me, I was wrong.

He stayed behind my door at first, watching with eyes like a cat’s that glinted in the night, glossy and curious.

I wondered if his look had any hunger to it or if he was simply watching.

The Rake is said to stalk his victims, sometimes for years. He’s known as a non-violent creature unless provoked, but sometimes acts out of malice.

That subtle threat of unpredictability is enough to keep me looking over my shoulder.

I knew I couldn’t look at him directly. I knew if I did, that’s the only thing he’d need to tear me apart. But part of me wondered if part of him was innocent.

Did he just want company and didn’t know how to ask for it? Would he be friendly so long as I didn’t look at him? Did any of that even matter if he could and he would kill me should I do something as simple as use my eyes?

I didn’t want to find out.

The Rake was first captured on camera in 2003 and, although a story came with it at the time, all documentation was destroyed, forgotten or lost. This launched investigations into the ancient creature. And one recorded incident came later in 2006.

A woman was woken by her husband in the middle of the night. He seemed confused and terrified as he pointed towards something curled at the foot of their bed. At first they thought it was a wild animal, and then they saw its humanoid shape.

During some accounts of this story, the Rake runs away to injure their daughter.

In others, the husband looks at the Rake directly and gets torn to shreds as a result.

PHOTO CREDITS @MARKUSSPISKE FROM PIXABAY

Eventually the Rake left the space behind my door and approached until he was directly beside me. I could hear his breathing. I could feel it on my face as he slowly moved closer and closer.

I closed my eyes against him, a tear or two leaking out.

“Don’t look.” I told myself inside, “Don’t you dare look.”

The Rake is known as a creature of mixed intellect and feral behaviour. Some people think he’s a Skinwalker with multiple forms. Perhaps that’s how he keeps himself from the limelight.

Maybe he’s watching you right now.

PHOTO CREDITS TO @NerdWithAKeyboard FROM THE COLLECTION: THE RAKE - CREEPYPASTA VILLAINS ON WIKI (see link at the bottom of the page for more)

That’s how he stayed. Hovering, curved over my body like a guardian of unsound-mind. And when I wouldn't acknowledge him, he extended one awful, bony hand to poke my gut for what felt like hours upon hours.

When I finally opened my eyes and he was gone, I hoped to never see him again.

But once he paid that first visit, he never left.

Overall, whether you believe in this paranormal creature or not is entirely up to you. My experiences with him in earlier years suggest I had some pretty bad cases of sleep paralysis. Coincidence? Who knows.

He’s thought to be inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft and if you’d like to read more about this disturbing fellow, click here.

Have you seen him yet?

Korpse

November 20, 2021

Never Trust a Tomato: As Above, So Below

November 20, 2021/ Guest User

Welcome to the segment of second chances, where I give you fresh perspectives on critically underappreciated horror flicks and persuade you to see them in a different light. On the docket today is As Above, So Below—the 2014 found-footage mind trip that explores everything Hell and magic have to offer.

Are We Absolutely Sure What Direction We’re Going?

The film centers on its ridiculously impressive protagonist, Scarlett Marlowe. She’s an Indiana Jones-Lara Croft hybrid, an archaeologist with several degrees who’s fluent in heaps of languages.

Using her deceased father’s research, she intends to locate the notorious and ever-elusive Philosopher’s stone. (No, Harry Potter didn’t invent that).

Collecting strays along the way with varying motivations for joining her, Marlowe leads the rag-tag group underground for a much more sinister tour than they expected.

 Unpacking The Lore

The characters’ experience in the catacombs dips its skeletal fingertips into every paranormal puddle, from ghosts to demons to psychological torment and back again. It’s a delightful mixed bag of mythical treasure, science-magic, theistic afterlife, and real-life historical mysteries.

The Philosopher’s Stone: Probably Not Worth all the Terror

According to alchemical lore, the Philosopher’s stone is a substance that turns any metal into gold and brings people back from the dead. Legend says that it was discovered by 17th-century scribe Nicolas Flamel, who used its power to achieve immortality.

The Catacombs: Not Nearly as Wholesome as Brushing a Cat

The Catacombs of Paris are underground ossuaries—dating back to 1774—that hold the remains of over six million people. The tunnel network was created to help with the city's overflowing cemeteries. The depth and magnitude of this “Empire of Death” is staggering, less than two of its 200 miles is open to the public, though some brave souls choose to explore its uncharted territory. Vacation, anyone?

**Dante’s Inferno: The Levels of Hell in Their Cinematic Glory**

My favourite aspect of As Above, So Below is its connection to Inferno—a section of Dante Alighieri’s 14th century epic poem, Divine Comedy. It explores Dante’s journey through the nine concentric circles of Hell. Through foreshadowing and creative parallels, As Above, So Below honours that concept by mirroring some of those levels as the characters descend further into the catacombs.

Massive props to the screenwriters and director for taking “the devil’s in the details” so literally. Easter eggs and nerdly nuggets of this caliber elevate the experience and leave me devouring all the in-depth analyses I can find.

Take These W’s

As Above, So Below lacks the low-quality shakiness of other found footage due to it canonically being a “documentary.” The setting is captured in glorious high-definition, and most impressively—it was filmed in the ACTUAL catacombs. You can almost feel the thickness in the cave’s air and taste the dust that shoots out from the ancient stones.

Moreover, the scenes in tight spaces do a tremendous job of creating a disturbingly claustrophobic viewing experience. DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE BEFORE EXPLORING A CAVE. Seriously, these white-knuckled moments will derail your entire spelunking mission (or rock collecting, I don’t know you).

Finally, the movie’s biggest selling point I can throw at you is its exploration of psychological torment. (Yikes, 1408 and now this? Juice Demon has a thing for brain torture, alert the media). Rather than having throwaway characters only meant to die gruesome deaths, each member of Marlowe’s troupe has a special significance through their backstory.

All the characters have a “sin” they haven’t atoned for that’s paid for through torment or death. Through each horrific encounter with the evils of the catacombs, the characters and the audience are forced to contemplate the concepts of morality, innocence, guilt and grief. As Above, So Below is a beautifully-crafted parallel of internal and external demons that exposes the painful complexities of humanity, and it deserves your unbiased consideration.

Juice Demon

November 17, 2021

The Legitimacy of Fortune-Telling

November 17, 2021/ Alex Jones

The History

For those who are curious, fortune-telling is a semi-paranormal, cultural way to predict the events of the future. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when this became so popular, but Britannica indicates that the practice started in ancient China, Chaldea, Egypt, and Babylonia as early as 4000 BCE. In addition to being able to predict the future, this practice was also used in ancient religions and medicine.

Fortune-telling comes in various shapes and sizes. This includes numerology, phrenology, palmistry, and astrology. The most common type of fortune-telling would be what’s usually seen at fairs: palmistry, otherwise known as palm reading. This method focuses on interpreting the lines of a person’s palm to reveal their future relationships, career, and mental state. Big words aside, being an oracle, otherwise known as a fortune-teller, is not as welcoming as you may think, despite how many religions and countries interpret fortune-telling.

Paranormal Skepticism

There are more than just a few people who think reading into the future can bring about unwanted attention. Paranormal investigators argue that messing with time can cause anomalies and influence the future to be something else entirely. This article by Professor Margaret Signorella from Pennsylvania State University, argues that “psychic reading[s] provide the same type of vague, general descriptions found in horoscopes.” This is mostly true - though the argument can be made that astrology is, in fact, fortune-telling. According to seers, otherwise known as clairvoyants, the concept of fortune-telling is supposed to be vague in order to give the person receiving the fortune different interpretations.

Okay, enough with the back and forth. Let’s look at some facts.

In 2016, a study on paranormal beliefs was conducted in the United States. 42% of people interviewed believed in extrasensory perception (otherwise known as the “sixth sense”), 31% believed in telepathy, and 28% believed in clairvoyance (psychic powers). As of October 2021, this has changed rather drastically. 46% of Americans believe that “ghosts or spirits of dead people can come back in certain places or situations.”

Is It Accurate?

Well, that’s debatable. As I was doing my research for this blog, I discovered just as many successful palm-readings, as I did disappointing ones. Online psychics often have “for entertainment purposes only” at the forefront of their website, but still want to be taken seriously. Since this is such a varying market, it’s easy to find yourself in the company of a fake seer. The one time I went to a fortune-teller, the woman told me a man in a hat will change my life.

Much like other practices of interacting with the paranormal, fortune-telling can’t be proven or dismissed. It’s been involved in a plethora of cultures for centuries, used in almost every occasion ranging from funerals to future weddings. If you enjoy reading your horoscope or getting your palms read, you likely support fortune-telling. If you’re more of a skeptic who’s uncertain of the paranormal backlash, then you’re likely not a supporter. As author Erin Morgenstern says: “Before you leave, the fortune-teller reminds you that the future is never set in stone.”

I believe that visiting a seer is accurate as long as you want it to be. It’s another topic entirely to debate if we can change our futures, but what we can do is either listen or reject insight. You can take your palm reading with a grain of salt, or you can follow it religiously. It’s accurate based on your beliefs.

As for me, I have hope. If you’re a man in a hat, let me know.

If you’re interested in joining the debate, check out this article by Shondaland: https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a35194467/are-psychics-for-real/.

Wraith

November 12, 2021

Caution All Sailors

November 12, 2021/ Guest User

Outside of my grandfather’s house is the wide-open harbour leading to the Atlantic Ocean. On sunny days, the scenery is peaceful. Birds fly high and low, sinking into the water to get food. The waves glisten like starlight in the daytime, and sea glass washes up amongst the rocks of different colours. But what does this have to do with the paranormal you ask?

Let me tell you what happens when the days aren’t so sunny.

Fog gathers over the rough waters that thrash against the rocks, spitting at anyone who dares to come close. Waves reach into boats, trying to steal fishermen into the big blue unknown. Tides become violent and ripples are turned into a force all on their own.

It’s almost like a warning...

On a day caught between sun and clouds, I armed myself with a jigging line, fisherman’s boots that came up to my knees and splash pants that did as little as any other splash pants would do besides trick you into hoping they won’t fail. I sailed out into the waves with my grandfather, ready for squid season.

I’d never seen a live squid before, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Some were no bigger than my hand, others as large as my arm. Their eyes were so dark, they looked like mirrors in the night. The moment they emerged from the ocean was the moment they began shooting water at us, and if we didn’t put them in the designated squid bucket on time, then they’d start spraying ink.

Though most of their tentacles weren’t as long as my fingers, their grip was stronger than even a hand had any right to be. It took an extreme amount of caution not to let them take control. But it wasn’t the tentacles I had to watch out for most.

“Don’t let your fingers get close to their beak.” My grandfather warned me, “Or you might not get them back.”

Did you know that squids have beaks? Because that was the first time I realized these creatures could do a lot more harm than I even realized. And that’s when I began to understand why fishermen and sea travelers along the North Atlantic feared the Kraken.

If I thought the small squids were a little terrifying, despite their magnificence, I couldn't imagine seeing a giant one up to 50 feet long. The Kraken is thought to be inspired by these colossal squids, and now that you know what the tiny ones are like, perhaps you can see why the tale would keep sea travelers at the ready, on the lookout for this monster.

PHOTO CREDITS @ PANDANNALMAGEN FROM PIXABAY

The Kraken originates from Scandinavian folklore, descending from the old Norse. In some versions of the myth, the Kraken was not a vicious attacker, but a lazy creature spending most of its time sleeping at the bottom of the sea. It would surface when hungry, and the only reason ships were thought to be taken down was if they got in its way.

It was also believed that the Kraken was a smart and even admired hunter. It would eat thousands of fish at a time, but instead of chasing its prey, it would lure them in. After eating, the Kraken would digest the food, leaving behind dark and dirty waters that attracted other fish. So when the Kraken got hungry again, its food was already waiting.

Is the Kraken really just a myth? Or did it adapt and become too smart for us to find? After all, there’s so much uncharted territory down in the deep blue, we never really know what we might find.

Korpse

October 31, 2021

Paranormal Case Files

October 31, 2021/ Alex Jones

Paranoid About the Paranormal

Happy Halloween! If you have a detective costume, now’s the time to put it on! In this blog, we’ll be looking at some real-life, modern-day experiences people had with the paranormal. There are more unresolved case files than people might think, from being possessed to receiving mysteriously uncanny letters. Let’s take a deeper dive into the mysteries of these experiences and see if we can deduce the outcomes, or dispute them, in some cases.

The Exorcism Of “Roland Doe”

You might not have watched the movie The Exorcist directed by William Friedkin, but no doubt you’ve heard of it. Did you know that this movie was based on real-life events that happened in 1949? “Roland Doe,” otherwise known as Ronald Hunkeler, had several exorcisms performed on him throughout his life. Things started to get weird after his spiritual Aunt Harriet died. Ronald would see scratches on his doorframes and hear sharp whispers in the night.

Over the course of a few months, he went from place to place, his condition worsening until April 18th when it became too much to handle. His parents took him to Alexian Brothers Hospital in St. Louis and they watched in pure horror as their son thrashed, screamed, and cursed the priests trying to help him. Finally around 10:45 at night, Ronald became still. Satan had been expelled from his body, and finally, he was able to live again.

Or so the story goes, anyway. The original article by The Washington Post from 1949 left out many details, including the boy’s name and what exactly happened to him. The movie adaptation is likely dramatized for viewing pleasure, but who knows? Perhaps all these details are true, and Satan really did torment this poor boy to the point of insanity.

The Watcher

Imagine you’ve just moved into your dream home with your loving family of four. It’s a quiet community and the people are nice, but the house is decades old and has seen better days. Like the start of most horror movies, Derek and Marie Broaddus began to receive chilling letters on their doorstep. At first, they seemed like a prank, most of the letters saying “I’m watching you,” but that’s still enough to freak anybody out.

Things started to get worse not much later. The letters became more like threats, saying “I know your names” and "bring me your young blood,” indicating that the Watcher wanted their children. Assumed to be a part of the family who purchased the house before them, the Broaddus’ filed a lawsuit. They also fled their newly-purchased home in fear for their lives.

What’s interesting is that this case never went anywhere, it became cold. The family filed a civil complaint and told the court about the Watcher, and police have investigated the small town until they searched every square inch. No charges were filed and the police stopped investigating, leading many to believe that this was a case of the paranormal. A spirit has been watching the home ever since they passed and threatens any who dares to try and live where they once walked.

To learn more, check out this article by The Washington Post.

Are you officially in the spooky spirit for All Hallows Eve? Remember to keep your wits about you when you’re out tonight, you never know when something could happen… no, I’m just teasing. Remember to stay safe and wear a mask, and to also leave some treats out for any spirits who might want a snack. They’re celebrating too, of course!

Wraith

October 20, 2021

Paranormal Cinema: The Awakening

October 20, 2021/ Guest User

image CREATOR: DIANE DIEDERICH | cREDIT: GETTY IMAGES/VETTA

So it begins … my chaotic tribute to cinematic horror, my bloody valentine to the paranormal on film, my last will and testament to the illest thrills and chills.

Here lies Juice Demon, in the realm where entertainment and horror collide.

Since this is a paranormal blog, I must abide by its limitations—meaning there are many films of other horror genres I dare not venture into, so as to avoid endless meta-tangents and philosophizing that could derail our collective theme. But first, the basics.

Here's Horror :D

From the French word “orror”—meaning “to shudder or bristle”— horror in its simplest definition is a condition marked by fear. In an art form, the horror genre should unsettle its audience through the use of narrative, auditory cues and visual elements. Basically, if you’re at a premiere and the theatre doesn’t periodically erupt in pearl-clutching shrieks, then consider the film’s horror card revoked.

Horror films have different origins around the world. These origins range from ancient folklore passed down through various cultures to the local paranormal encounters that gained such notoriety that they were elevated to narrative non-fiction and beyond.

Now of course, there are somewhat-official genres and subgenres of horror … but this is my ship, and I am its captain, so I will be taking some liberties:

Ø  Psychological. Codename: Cerebral killer (Yikes).

Ø  Slasher. Codename: What did you even trip on?!

Ø  Monster. Codename: Stomp and chomp.

Ø  Found Footage. Codename: Heavy breathing.

Ø  Paranormal. Codename: Ghostly realms.

Finally, my chosen genre (and what some would argue to be the original in horror). Paranormal films should include some combination of: ghosts, ghouls, demons, spirits, possessions, powers, the afterlife, witchcraft, and other inexplicable happenings of this nature. They’ll likely have a title that begins with “The Haunting Of” or a rickety house on its poster with an eerie light shining from within. Or it will literally have the word “paranormal” in it, like the massively popular Paranormal Activity franchise. (I gave up after the third one).

From The Cabin in the Woods to The Babadook, you’ll find avid enthusiasts on all levels of intensity and style. So what drives these fanbases? What exactly is so fascinating about being horrified?

I won’t bother trying to come up with a magical, universally-applicable answer. Instead, I’ll dive into some Juice Demon lore. The first paranormal horror movie I can remember seeing was The Grudge. Now this will age me terribly, but I remember watching this on a portable DVD player about half the size of a laptop. When it was over, I was scared to turn off the lights. I can remember vowing never to watch anything like it again.

It was a morbid curiosity that led me to watching the disc’s special features. The reminder of it being fiction renewed my spirits, and from then on I immersed myself in the genre. Over time, my attempt to kill my fear through desensitization turned into a fierce adoration.

So what makes my adoration so persistent? What keeps it alive?

Perhaps the answer is philosophical. The notion that humans exist in a chaotic and purposeless universe is what characterizes absurdism (the belief system I would choose at gunpoint). It is the conflict between searching for inherent meaning in life and accepting that there might not be any to be found. Depressing? Maybe, but I see it as a perpetual state of wonder. To me, the “not knowing” is the fun part of existing. Some even believe that subjectivity—a rejection of a clearly-defined reality—is the basis of the horror genre as a whole.

I love science (abysmal high school grades aside), but what I love even more are the things that manage to remain elusive to its parameters. The paranormal challenges the world we know, and that disruption taps into a curious fascination I’ve always had with absurdity and chaos.

Maybe the obsession comes down to biology, and my brain just loves the adrenaline (dopamine—thanks again, science!)

Or maybe (at the heart of it) there is a dreamy, romantic notion that defines my relationship with paranormal horror. Maybe teetering on the edge of fright and wonder is my favourite reminder that I’m alive and real.

I wouldn’t call myself an executive authority on the genre by any means. I don’t enjoy every niche subgenre, and I’ll admit to a healthy distaste for the over-reliance on jump scares. However, the overarching classification of paranormal horror contains some of my absolute favourite films. Ghost stories are classic, timeless and ever-evolving. And Ghost Writers?

October 10, 2021

Curiosity About Paranormal Mythology

October 10, 2021/ Guest User

What does paranormal mythology mean?

"But I do believe in the paranormal, that there are things our brains just can't understand." ~ Art Bell

When things are dubbed as “paranormal” it often means they’re beyond the current expanse or explanation of science. “Mythology” is an encompassment of stories and beliefs often derived from a group of people who can be large or small. Paranormal mythology, in its simplest form, is a collection of tales and events that have yet to be scientifically explained. Through these stories we either seek to explain them or expose what can possibly never be clarified.

"The fate of the paranormal is to become the normal as our horizons of understanding expand." ~ Michael Shermer

The question about whether mythology is fictitious or not isn’t one I’ll seek to answer here. Instead, when diving into future spooky myths and legends, I’ll focus on their lore rather than myth-busting. Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy something for what it is, so I’ll display that through paranormal mythology. In this way, we can see what people have done with their stories and beliefs as they sought to explain what science hasn’t… or at least hasn’t yet.

What more should I know about paranormal mythology?

"Mysteries once thought to be supernatural or paranormal happenings - such as astronomical or meteorological events - are incorporated into science once their causes are understood." ~ Michael Shermer

Some mythological tales are quite old. This often means there’s been reshaping, retelling and perhaps what started out as paranormal can now be explained, or vice versa.

Though there’s a difference between myths and legends, I think it would be a disservice not to explore both under the context of story-sharing. After all, there’s a certain amount of wiggle-room with paranormal mythology, based on how much we can’t currently explain using science.

"The past is a ghost, the future a dream, and all we ever have is now." ~ Bill Cosby

Perhaps our fear of the unknown is what makes so much count as paranormal. When we stop being able to explain and understand things via science, does that automatically qualify those unknowns as paranormal in our eyes?

I may not be able to answer that question beyond just an opinion piece, but I can tell you about paranormal stories in different areas, so maybe you can decide what you do or don’t believe for yourself.

Did we manifest the paranormal? Or will there always exist that in which we cannot explain?

For more quotes about the paranormal, click here.

PICREW RIGHTS BELONG TO @COZMICCHU, DESIGN BY Korpse

Ghost Writers

“Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary.”

It was the Bloody Mary mirror.

Korpse

If it wasn’t clear already, His House gets a rating of six skulls.

Juice Demon

The Strange and Dark History

The Rules of the Board

“I Can See You Through the Window”

The Validity of It All

Wraith

That’s what happened to me the first time I was visited by the Rake.

But that doesn’t mean he won’t pay you a visit too.

I wondered if his look had any hunger to it or if he was simply watching.

That subtle threat of unpredictability is enough to keep me looking over my shoulder.

I didn’t want to find out.

In others, the husband looks at the Rake directly and gets torn to shreds as a result.

“Don’t look.” I told myself inside, “Don’t you dare look.”

Maybe he’s watching you right now.

But once he paid that first visit, he never left.

Have you seen him yet?

Korpse

The Philosopher’s Stone: Probably Not Worth all the Terror

The Catacombs: Not Nearly as Wholesome as Brushing a Cat

Dante’s Inferno: The Levels of Hell in Their Cinematic Glory

Juice Demon

The History

Paranormal Skepticism

Is It Accurate?

Wraith

Let me tell you what happens when the days aren’t so sunny.

It’s almost like a warning...

“Don’t let your fingers get close to their beak.” My grandfather warned me, “Or you might not get them back.”

Korpse

Paranoid About the Paranormal

The Exorcism Of “Roland Doe”

The Watcher

Wraith

What does paranormal mythology mean?

"But I do believe in the paranormal, that there are things our brains just can't understand." ~ Art Bell

"The fate of the paranormal is to become the normal as our horizons of understanding expand." ~ Michael Shermer

What more should I know about paranormal mythology?

"Mysteries once thought to be supernatural or paranormal happenings - such as astronomical or meteorological events - are incorporated into science once their causes are understood." ~ Michael Shermer

"The past is a ghost, the future a dream, and all we ever have is now." ~ Bill Cosby

Korpse

SPINE ONLINE

Come Find Us

Follow us on social media

Twitter

**Dante’s Inferno: The Levels of Hell in Their Cinematic Glory**