J.A. Hernandez
Bio
J.A. Hernandez enjoys horror, playing with cats, and hiding indoors away from the sun. Also, books. So many books—you wouldn't believe.
He runs a weekly newsletter called Into Horror History and writes fiction.
https://www.jahernandez.com
Stories (113/0)
Legend of the Killer in the Backseat
If you live in the United States or Canada, you may have heard of the urban legend "the killer in the backseat." If you're reading this and you've never heard of this, drop me a line to tell me where you grew up, as I'm curious about which parts of the world don't have this one.
By J.A. Hernandez9 months ago in Horror
- Top Story - August 2023
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)Top Story - August 2023
Streaming services these days are ubiquitous. Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, Disney Plus, Prime Video—the list just goes on and on. It's hard to imagine a world without it, but not that long ago, none of these services existed. You don't even have to go back as far as VHS (or before) days to reach a point where streaming video just wasn't a thing.
By J.A. Hernandez9 months ago in Horror
Haunting of Manchac Swamp in Louisiana
Swamps are a favorite setting for many horror stories, mainly in the vein of backwoods inbred cannibal families. Inbred cannibal trope aside, though, swamps do conjure eerie feelings. Eerie feelings and probably mental images of Spanish moss hanging from cypress trees, dangling over dark, muddy waters.
By J.A. Hernandez9 months ago in Horror
Restless Spirits of St. Michan's Church in Dublin, Ireland
When most people think of mummies, Egypt comes to mind. But there are actually mummies found across the world, and Ireland is no exception. In Dublin, there's a small church with a fascinating history spanning centuries. The history of that small church goes back to the Vikings, and it has created a few legends on its own.
By J.A. Hernandez9 months ago in Horror
The Spooky Bunch (1980)
You know, there's a vast world of horror-related media out there, and there's no way that anyone would ever be able to read, watch, or listen to it all in a single lifetime—and that's in your own native language. What about horror from other cultures, languages, or eras? On top of that, horror hasn't always been as widespread as it is today, and genre-blending, like in the case of horror/comedy, still isn't that big and probably never will be.
By J.A. Hernandez10 months ago in Horror
- Top Story - June 2023
El Coco, El Cucuy: The Child EaterTop Story - June 2023
Not long ago, I wrote about how bogeyman-like legends exist almost all over the world. It's stunning to know that nearly every culture on the planet has one. In many Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries, there are tales of one of these, a mythical monster called El Coco (or El Cucuy). While some details vary from story to story, one thing seems consistent: El Coco eats children.
By J.A. Hernandez10 months ago in Horror
The Donner Party
If you're like me, you've probably heard of the Donner Party or the Donner-Reed Party. Many have only heard of it in passing and remember it for cannibalism. After all, without that piece of history, an act of survival that most people would never consider, the Donner Party might have become a footnote in American pioneer history like so many others that died on the journey West. But precisely what led to the tragic events that befell the Donner Party?
By J.A. Hernandez10 months ago in History
Ulama of Sri Lankan Folklore
Have you ever been out at night and heard a strange sound? It's probably happened a lot throughout your life, but I bet most of the time, you shrug it off and keep going about your business. But what about those times when the sound was just weird enough that you stopped to listen for a moment? Or, maybe you've even heard something so eerie in the dark that your body went into a fight or flight response?
By J.A. Hernandez11 months ago in Horror
Jure Grando of Kringa, Croatia
Belief in vampire-like creatures spans cultures and history throughout the entire world. Everything from the jiangshi of China and the vrykolakas in Greece to the langsuyar of Malaysia or soucouyant in the Caribbean, and, arguably, they could even go as far back as the Goddess Sekhmet of Ancient Egypt who drank blood or the ekimmu of Ancient Mesopotamia. There are even modern sci-fi stories featuring vampires in space.
By J.A. Hernandez11 months ago in Horror
Leannán Sídhe of Irish Folklore
Mention the word "fairy" to almost anyone, and they'll probably think of a tiny human that flits around with translucent wings and a trail of sparkling dust. Most of that image might come from Disney™. But if you look into stories a bit older than Peter Pan, you'll find things aren't nearly as innocent and playful as Tinker Bell.
By J.A. Hernandez11 months ago in Horror
La Llorona of Mexico City
If you follow horror films or grew up hearing scary stories from Mexico or the United States Southwest, you may have already heard of the legend La Llorona, but keep reading because you may find a few surprising things you didn't know. If you've never heard of La Llorona, then let me tell you why wandering the streets at night might get you a close encounter of the ghostly kind.
By J.A. Hernandez11 months ago in Horror