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The Creepiest Urban Legend from Each of the 50 States Part 8

Published

5 years ago

January 4, 2021

Hello, my fellow creepy travelers, and welcome back to part eight of my 10-part series spotlighting the creepiest urban legend in each of the 50 states. We’re down to the final 15, but that doesn’t mean the stories are any less compelling than they were in the beginning!

What will the next state hold? Read on to find out, and don’t forget to let us know your favorites, as well, in the comments below!

Oklahoma: The Hornet Spooklight

When it comes to urban legends, Oklahoma has more than its fair share and I honestly had a hard time choosing one for this article. Cry-baby bridges are rampant across the state, and southeastern Oklahoma has a long history of Bigfoot sightings. Then there are the numerous people who have vanished among the dunes in what is now the state’s panhandle region dating back hundreds of years.

Creepy, right?

Still, there’s another phenomena that drew my attention repeatedly while researching this article. It’s called the Hornet Spooklight, and it has more backstories than you can shake a proverbial stick at.

In many ways, the spooklight, which is often seen along the border between Oklahoma and Missouri, is not unlike other “ghost lights” or “fairy lights” seen in various parts of the globe. Most of these can be explained away with atmospheric electrical charges, gasses, etc. The spooklight, however, has never been fully explained by any of those methods, however.

The earliest mentions of the lights go back to the late 1800s and it has been seen continually ever since, and so naturally, it has sparked numerous urban legend-like explanations. Some say it’s the ghost of a Civil War soldier, and others say they’re the spirit of Native American lovers tragically separated who still search for each other in the dark. My favorite, however, involves a miner who lost was decapitated in an accident and who wanders the hills with his lantern held aloft still looking for his lost head.

In 2014, a college professor and a team of students concluded that the spooklight was actually the reflection of car headlights. This is all fine and good, but someone should probably remind the professor that replication of a phenomenon is not concrete proof. Furthermore, I’m pretty sure that there were no cars and therefore no headlights in 1866.

Either way, if you’re ever in Oklahoma, you should check out the mysterious spooklight for yourself!

Oregon: Witchcraft at Malheur Butte

Malheur Butte is a dead volcano and has been for millions of years. That hasn’t stopped local legends from cropping up about the location.

It is said that witches once used the Butte’s summit as a location for dark rituals and that now, if one should find themselves near the location at night, they should be on the lookout for dark, imp-like creatures that roam the surrounding area. Some say the creatures are demon; others say they’re Fae beings of one sort or another.

Either way, the area is said to give off a peculiar vibe to visitors, and it’s one place I’d definitely like to see for myself!

Pennsylvania: The Bus to Nowhere

urban legend bus to nowhere

I love this urban legend so much for two reasons. First and foremost, it’s genuinely creepy in a tragic sort of way. Second, it seems to have been born only in the last decade but has definitely taken on a life of its own despite its recent emergence.

It is said in Philadelphia that there is a bus that only appears to those who find themselves in the grip of profound grief and depression. The bus will appear out of nowhere to that person and once they climb aboard, they will find themselves surrounded by other lost and despondent people. Perhaps their spouse left them. Perhaps they lost their job and have no prospects for the future. The thing they all have in common is a need for escape.

No matter their circumstances, they now ride the bus until the day they’ve finally dealt with their grief and are ready to move on, at which time they can stand up and pull the cord for the driver to let them off. Once they step off the bus, they don’t remember their ride. In fact, they don’t even remember the bus, though some have ridden it for days, weeks, even years.

As I said before, I love this story. There is something tragic and beautiful about it, though it is undeniably creepy. As for where the story began, it seems to have emerged from a blog written by Nicholas Mirra in 2011, and since that time–much like Slenderman and the Russian Sleep Experiment–it has taken on a life of its own with some locals swearing that it truly exists.

Rhode Island: Dolly Cole

Photo via Flickr

In Foster, Rhode Island, legend says, there was once a woman named Dolly Cole. Depending on which version of the tale you read, Cole was either a natural healer or she was an evil witch, possibly a vampire, and a prostitute. Cole’s legend most likely was wrapped into some of the vampire panic that went on in New England during the 18th and 19th centuries during which time outbreaks of consumption aka Tuberculosis were blamed on vampires slowly draining the life of their victims.

Regardless of which version of the story you read, the outcome was the same.

The townspeople came to distrust Cole and went out in a mob to her house in the woods with intention of being rid of her once and for all. They set fire to the home, not realizing that Cole was not inside but her young daughter was. It’s said that the girl died in the fire and upon discovering this, Cole laid a curse on the land and people of the area.

Since that time, sightings of Cole’s spirit pop up from time to time. It’s said those who find themselves face-to-face with the spirit are left in a terrified, nearly inconsolable state.

South Carolina: The Ghost Hound of Goshen

Legend says that in the 1800s, an innocent man was hanged for a crime he didn’t commit, and he was subsequently buried in Ebenezer Church Cemetery near the township of Goshen.

The man’s dog laid atop his grave, refusing to move until the hound also died.

Since then, a large, ghostly white dog is said to wander old Buncombe Road, a five mile stretch of road that runs from the cemetery to an old plantation house.

Some say no matter how fast you’re driving the dog will run alongside your car. If you stop, he will sit in the road in front of your car and turn its head to sky, howling in his despair. According to legend, seeing the dog is a sure sign that someone you love will soon die.

Of course, it’s only an urban legend….but would you take the chance to find out?

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News

Astrolatry Built a Ten-Foot Practical Penis Scorpion

Published

1 hour ago

April 24, 2026

Luna Gray

A sentient severed penis grows into a ten-foot creature with spiky teeth. Genre cinema is doing fine.

Astrolatry follows Elliot, played by Ethan Daniel Corbett, who is every ingredient for quiet catastrophe assembled in one man. Socially isolated. Physically isolated. Craving dopamine and finding it in the wrong places. The romance guru pipeline, followed to its logical conclusion. Elliot does not just spiral. He loses a piece of himself, literally, and that piece does not cooperate.

Corbett described it as “a horror satire, a trippy mind-fuck roller coaster” and “a modern retelling of Maniac,” both of which are accurate and neither of which adequately prepares you. Director David Gordon is making his feature debut after shooting 14 films as a cinematographer and he is swinging for the fences.

The Creature

The effects company behind the creature has festival circuit work Corbett had already seen before signing on. He knew what they could do but he was not ready. “When I saw it in person it was kind of mind-blowing,” he said. “Everything that you see in this movie is practical. Very, very little else. It was genuinely terrifying to have a ten-foot creature coming at you with a big mouth and spiky teeth.”

A CG creature asks an actor to imagine something. A ten-foot physical creature on a set asks nothing. It just arrives. The fear on Corbett’s face in those scenes is not a performance. It is the normal reaction to a scorpion dick with sharp teeth.

Elliot

Corbett went into the character through the body. “I mainly focus on the physicality of it. Who this character is and who he is wholly. I strive in those kinds of moments as an actor.”

Gordon was explicit about the concept, the “nice guy” archetype and the overtly toxic one are the same problem, both aimed at the same object. That reading lands because Corbett does not play it as a reading. Elliot is not a symbol. He is a person.

Where It Is Going

Astrolatry is heading to the Frontières Buyers Showcase at Cannes on May 16-17. “To be able to get into that kind of room on David’s first feature is incredible,” Corbett said. “To be in front of buyers and to showcase the film and potentially get distribution through that.” Frontières is the correct room. It is full of people who understand that the most extreme premise, executed with precision, is not a punchline. It is an argument.

News

ShoStak Opens the Door for Filmmakers to Build and Own Their Stories

Published

22 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Anthony Pernicka

A new player is stepping into the space, but ShoStak is making one thing clear right away.

It is not trying to be the next Netflix. It is not chasing TikTok.

“Cinema does not need another platform. It needs a new model.”

That idea sits at the core of what ShoStak is building. Not just a place to watch content, but a system where creators and audiences connect in a way that feels very different from what we are used to.

The First 150 Competition Is Already Underway

ShoStak is kicking things off with its First 150 Competition, giving filmmakers a chance to present their story worlds and compete for the opportunity to move into production.

Projects are introduced as series concepts or pilots, then advance through multiple stages. Audience voting plays a role, but it is only part of the process.

Selections are ultimately shaped by a mix of audience engagement, creative execution, and overall project readiness. It is not just about popularity. It is about building something that can actually move forward.

For creators, it is a rare chance to get in front of both an audience and a structured development path at the same time.

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One Platform, Built Around a New Model

Everything now lives under ShoStak.tv, where both creators and audiences come together.

Creators can sign up, develop their projects, and begin building their audience. Viewers can discover new series, follow story worlds, and engage with projects as they evolve.

ShoStak describes this as a cinematic ecosystem. Stories are not treated as disposable content designed to spike and disappear. They are built to grow over time.

And that growth happens in public.

Ownership Without Losing Structure

One of ShoStak’s core ideas is giving creators more control over what they build.

Filmmakers are positioned to:

Retain ownership of their intellectual property
Build direct relationships with their audience
Grow projects based on real engagement

At the same time, this is not a free-for-all.

There is still structure. Projects are evaluated, developed, and refined through a process that blends audience input with creative and strategic decision-making.

Instead of removing the system entirely, ShoStak is reshaping how creators move through it.

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A post shared by @shostak.tv

Development Happens in Public

This is where things start to separate from the traditional model.

Instead of developing behind closed doors, ShoStak allows projects to evolve in front of an audience.

Creators introduce their ideas, build a following, and expand their worlds over time. As engagement grows, so does the project.

It is less about waiting for approval and more about proving momentum.

Over time, that turns the platform into something larger than a development program. It becomes an open ecosystem where creators and audiences push stories forward together.

More Than Just Testing Ideas

Micro-series are a big part of ShoStak’s approach, but they are not just a testing ground.

They can be the final product.

The format allows creators to:

Tell complete stories in shorter form
Build long-term story worlds
Expand into larger projects when it makes sense

It is not about proving an idea and moving on. It is about giving that idea room to grow in whatever direction fits.

Why This Matters for Horror

Horror has always thrived outside the system.

Some of the most memorable films in the genre came from creators taking risks, working with limited resources, and finding their audience without waiting for permission.

ShoStak’s model fits naturally into that mindset.

It gives horror creators a space to:

Build original story worlds
Connect directly with fans
Grow projects without losing control

And with early content like Civilian and Liminal already rolling out, it is clear the platform is aiming for more than just quick-hit content.

A Different Path Forward

ShoStak is not trying to compete by doing the same thing better.

It is trying to change how stories are created, developed, and sustained.

By combining creator ownership, audience engagement, and a structured development path, it offers something that feels closer to a creative ecosystem than a traditional platform.

Whether it works long-term is still unknown.

But for filmmakers looking for a new way in, it is opening a door that has been closed for a long time.

News

The Clayface Teaser Just Made October Feel Very Far Away

Published

1 day ago

April 23, 2026

Luna Gray

Clayface is a character whose face changes. Or rather, he is a man whose body can transform into whatever is required in the moment. He primarily uses this skill to land acting jobs and murder people. Fun Guy.

Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, an actor whose face gets destroyed in a gangster attack. Naomi Ackie is the scientist who hands him something that fixes the problem by making it considerably worse. Bandages. Blood. Then a face that begins to melt. You know where this ends.

Who Made This

The director is James Watkins, who made Speak No Evil in 2024 and before that Eden Lake, which is one of the more quietly devastating horror films of the last twenty years. Watkins does not make comfortable films. He makes films that stay in the room with you after you leave the theater and this one is about a DC villain whose body does not hold its shape anymore.

The script is from Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. Flanagan built the language of prestige horror television with The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass before moving back into features with The Life of Chuck. He writes characters who are being destroyed from the inside and the outside simultaneously.

The October Play

Clayface opens October 23, which puts it squarely in Halloween season and makes it the first DC film that actually belongs there. The project is likely rated R. The trailer confirms why.

There is a face melting off.

Watch the teaser. Then clear your calendar for October 23.