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Five Terrifying Holiday Monsters to Give Krampus a Run for His Money

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Let’s face it, parents will do just about anything to get their children to behave, but few, especially this time of year, are as effective as the threat of no gifts from Santa. However, there have been cultures that took that threat one step further by creating holiday monsters that stalk the night ready to whip, kidnap, and devour naughty children.

Everyone’s heard of Krampus thanks to his resurgence in popularity following the film that was released just a few years ago, but the list below contains holiday monsters far worse than the old Christmas devil.

#1 JÓLAKÖTTURINN

The Icelandic Yule cat, Jólakötturinn, is said to stalk the snowy countryside of the small island nation seeking out those who have not received new clothes as a gift by Christmas Eve night. The only way to receive new clothes was by finishing all of one’s chores!

How’s that for passive aggressive?

Get your work done, or the Yule cat will eat you! That’s right, Jólakötturinn won’t just scare you; he fully intends to eat the lazy kids who don’t obey their parents and do their chores.

#2 Hans Trapp

Leave it to the French to come up with a nightmarish scarecrow!

Legend says that Hans Trapp was a greedy, rich Devil-worshipper who was banished to the forests upon his excommunication from the Catholic Church. He disguised himself as a scarecrow and set about terrifying the local children.

He captured a young boy and was just about to eat him when he was struck by lightning and killed, but that didn’t stop Hans for long.

As Christmas approaches each year, Hans Trapp appears as a Scarecrow and stalks certain regions of France in order to frighten children into good behavior!

#3 Gryla

Gryla is an evil ogress said to live in the mountains of Iceland. She had three different husbands and bore 72 children in all.

Gryla’s legends are far older than modern celebrations of Christmas, and in fact, she only became associated with the holiday sometime in the 17th century. Before that time, she was more commonly associated with Yule, the celebration of the Winter Solstice and the longest night of the year.

Gryla, who by the way is the mistress of the Yule cat Jólakötturinn, has a bad habit of boiling and eating disobedient children, and her name definitely gets thrown around during the holidays to keep Icelandic children in line.

#4 Pere Fouettard

This guy’s name translates to “Father Whipper”. Need we say more?

Another French legend, Pere Fouettard was a butcher who developed a taste for the flesh of children. (What is it with all this cannibalism?!) He once captured three boys, and butchered and salted their flesh to preserve them for later.

When St. Nicholas discovered what he had done, he burst into Fouettard’s shop, resurrected the boys, and took the cannibal as his prisoner.

From that time on, Pere Fouettard worked for St. Nicholas punishing bad children.

Frau Perchta

Frau Perchta is the legendary witch of Germany and Austria who hands out both presents and punishment during the 12 Days of Christmas.

It’s her particular method of punishment that bought her place on this list, however. Upon finding a sinful, disobedient child, she’ll rip out their insides and fill them with garbage!

Gross, right?

You definitely do not want to be on Frau Perchta’s naughty list!

Have you heard of these fascinating holiday monsters before? Have one you think should be on the list? Tell us your stories in the comments below!

Header image is taken from Historycollection.com  

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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