pop culture
Pop culture for horror junkies; all about the famous films, creepypasta tales, trends and tropes that bled from the fringes of fright into the macabre mainstream.
Bride of Chucky vs Seed of Chucky
I had been on a roll writing movie comparison stories, that I decided to delve into the Chucky films, though as I stated in the beginning of this, there are rules. It's only the seven core films that are mentioned, and it will be divided into three parts, because honestly, I believe the films were divided into three phases. The first part was the original Child's Play trilogy, which covered the 1988 original, and the sequels that came out in 1990 and 1991. You can check out that story here . For Part 2, the focus will be on the fourth and fifth films, Bride of Chucky and Seed of Chucky.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout 16 hours ago in Horror
Shadowman in Death's sea
BEWARE THE SHADOWMAN! He is a man who is like a giant hoodie who steals children to hide in his zipper. He used to reside in town, but now that he was found guilty for killing someone causing an endless war, he was cast out to Death's sea. There isn't many children down there, but plenty of undead fish. He zips them up into his giant black hoodie self now.
By Seashell Harpspring about 24 hours ago in Horror
Karak Highway: Malaysia’s Most Haunted Road — The Ghost Stories That Still Terrify Drivers at Night
Then there are the roads where you must take them, and there are roads where you take them but hope to not see anything strange along the way. Karak Highway in Malaysia is just like that. Spanning the landscape of the mountains connecting Kuala Lumpur to Pahang, the road is a vital passage for many motorists who use it daily. Though it may appear serene during daylight hours, due to its scenic surroundings, it becomes something else after midnight. There is a long history of motorists narrating stories of strange cars, apparitions, children appearing by the roadside, and other inexplicable occurrences that have established the highway's reputation as a legend among the country's haunted roads. In turn, the road itself is an ancient one. Built in the 1970s to replace the previous Kuala Lumpur-Karak route due to its dangerous mountain road, the construction of this road started in 1974 and the road itself was finished in the late 1970s. The road had many engineering feats but one of the most impressive was the Genting Sempah Tunnel, which was the first highway tunnel in Malaysia and was opened in January 1978. However, under the surface of this modern road lies a memory of horrible crashes. One of the most tragic accidents on this route took place in 1990. The crash involving a bus, a lorry and several other cars resulted in 17 people's death. And with time stories about car crashes and fatalities started becoming a part of the road's ghostly lore. Next were the tales. Of these, the tale of the mysterious yellow Volkswagen Beetle stands out. A tale has been told by motorists, wherein a yellow Volkswagen comes up unexpectedly on the road in the middle of the night. This car could be driving slowly in front of the car they are driving in, almost as if tempting them to overtake. However, upon doing so, a strange thing happens. Sometimes, the car disappears. At other times, motorists have reported finding no driver inside the vehicle. Such tales have been told so often that this mysterious yellow Volkswagen seems to form part of the legend of Karak Highway. However, there is no independent confirmation of the supernatural nature of this car. There is another terrifying tale involving a young boy. One popular version of this tale has it that while travelling at night, a motorist meets a child by the roadside. He stops his car because he was scared and the boy tells him that he needs help or asks where his mother is. Upon leaving, the tale links the boy to an old incident wherein a mother and her child had died or got separated. It is this particular aspect of the legend about Karak Highway that leaves its mark on some people’s psyche: the idea that one may encounter a kid alone near a dark road where no kid should be present at all. The legends also talk about something similar to Pontianak, moving shadows and eerie noises coming from the roadside. Motorists said that some times they were faced with the appearance of figures in front of them that vanish after only a few seconds. Are these really ghosts? As far as we know, there is no scientifically proven existence of supernatural creatures living in Karak Highway. Most legends remain either an oral tradition or internet rumors whose details vary every time they are retold. And yet legends do not require scientific proof to scare. Karak Highway runs through dark woods and mountains. At night, there can be fog making visibility poor, headlights can only light up a portion of the road, and a car’s sound might sound weirdly distant. Throw in the accidents and ghost stories that have occurred over the years, and your simple ride turns into one scary experience. Maybe that’s why the stories still persist. Since once you’re on Karak Highway at night, in the dark, alone, you might find yourself wondering what’s lurking ahead around the next bend. And if a yellow Volkswagen happens to appear before you… Would you dare to pass it?
By Kyrol Mojikal5 days ago in Horror
The Crossing Wail
Cemetery Road stretched empty ahead of her, the sky washed in a dull, winter‑leaning light that made everything look a little colorless. Sara passed the turnoff toward Beaver Pond without slowing — the trees around it were bare, the water barely visible through the branches, just a flash of dark glass between trunks. She didn’t want to think about the pond today.
By Syl De'Vil5 days ago in Horror
Chiang Mai University Haunted Dormitory: Who Is Walking Upstairs After Midnight?
Over the years, Chiang Mai University has not just been a place to learn. Established in 1964 as the first public university in the north of Thailand, the University has evolved along with the city. The dormitories that exist at Chiang Mai University have played an integral part in the lives of its students, considering the way the university had been structured with a residential setup allowing for living, learning, and forming friendships among students. Today, there are many student residences within the university, which include some of its older male and female dormitories. While the university calls its dormitory system “living, learning and caring,” history of the university is also responsible for giving it another name—one associated with mysterious noises, bizarre events, and ghostly appearances late into the night. One of the most popular legends is attached to Female Dormitory 7. Based on the legend, there was a case of a young female student who was either raped or attacked by an unknown person and subsequently murdered in the dormitory. The circumstances under which the supposed murder took place are different according to the version of the legend and there is no official document confirming the crime as described in the legend. Nonetheless, the legend has been widely adopted by the university community. However, the most horrifying aspect of this legend occurs after midnight. It has been said that, once the dormitory corridors are completely quiet, there may be heard a peculiar rhythmic sound from the staircase. "Pok... Pok... Crued..." The sound has been compared to a person climbing the stairs. Based on the legend, it is the ghost of the murdered student that makes such a sound, supposedly returning to the place of her death. There are versions of the legend which state that the sound starts at the bottom of the staircase and grows louder the closer it gets to the top. These people were warned not to investigate the issue. This legend became so widespread that it found its way into Thai popular culture. The legend of Chiang Mai University ghost was turned into a horror film anthology titled "Haunted Universities" in 2009. However, what about the proof of the presence of a ghost? There is no scientific proof such as any photos, recordings or forensic investigations showing the existence of a supernatural being in this dormitory. The majority of the evidence can be attributed to testimony of students and stories that are handed down from generation to generation by the residents of the dorm. Some students claimed that they heard mysterious sounds, like footsteps in deserted hallways, doors opening and closing without any visible reason and some odd noises from staircases during the night. Moreover, there is an interesting historical fact that makes the ghost stories associated with Chiang Mai University so persistent. In the early days of the university, some areas near its premises remained relatively undeveloped and wooded. University officials confirm that the legends of ghosts and specters had spread among the student population, and that spiritual rituals had been conducted at the university to reassure the terrified students. None of this proves that the dormitories are haunted. Old buildings could be creaky, and wind, plumbing, and animal sounds along with noises made by other tenants could be the cause of such odd sounds. But this might be exactly why the Chiang Mai University dormitory ghost story is so powerful. The buildings are real. The history of the university is real. The students who claim to have heard something are real. What cannot be proved is the identity of the source of the noise. And for the students moving down the empty stairs of the dormitory after midnight, this difference does not matter. Because when the corridor falls quiet and that first “Pok… Pok… Crued…” sounds out of the dark downstairs, the oldest question of Chiang Mai University gets asked again: Was it just a noise… or was there a visitor coming up the stairs?
By Kyrol Mojikal11 days ago in Horror
They Built a Luxury Hotel… Then Abandoned It: The Haunted Phuket Resort
There are a lot of beaches and luxury resorts on the island. Every year millions of tourists come here seeking sun, relaxation, and adventures. However, there are some locations in Phuket which are less known because they have an unusual, dark, and even mysterious atmosphere. One of such places is an abandoned Phuket Peninsula Spa & Resort which is located nearby Nai Yang Beach and is known for paranormal legends and ghost stories. This abandoned resort looks interesting because it was not just an old hotel which was closed after many years of working. This place was supposed to be a luxury development which was never finished and opened for people. The abandoned and unfinished resort was left to nature and to the weather. The resort was supposed to be an upscale development which would be located near Nai Yang Beach and Phuket International Airport. According to reports of the early 2000s, about 56 luxury apartments and seven villas were planned to be constructed. The location was quite attractive because the development was going to be located among tropical landscapes and near Phuket beautiful coast. At first, it seemed as though the project had a promising future ahead of it. The Hyatt Hotel chain had reportedly been involved with ideas of running the development, and Phuket Peninsula Co. had been behind the project. Nonetheless, major issues arose in relation to the development, including whether the area was encroaching onto land linked with the Sirinat National Park. The building was eventually halted and the luxurious resort left unfinished. An odd-looking abandoned building resulted from this venture. While many of the abandoned buildings tend to be completely ruined, portions of the resort had reportedly remained looking as though construction simply stopped. The resort had bathrooms, mirrors and other fitting amenities installed in the rooms and even some remnants of the luxury that it was supposed to provide remained visible. Except for that – nobody came. With time, the area started growing vegetation. The walls of the buildings became weathered, their windows broken and rooms darker than ever before. However, another very strange incident occurred in February 2013 on this property. According to The Phuket News, about 60 to 70 percent of the roof was damaged in the fire. The fire was highly unusual, because it appeared that the electricity supply had been cut off in this property for many years. In this regard, it was impossible that the fire was caused by some electrical malfunction. As a result, the police began investigating the theory that the fire was caused by accidental ignition by those who entered this abandoned place. Thus, another element of mystery was added to this abandoned property. It should be mentioned that all mysterious stories about this abandoned place started appearing when this resort was abandoned. It was reported that the visitors to this place felt very uncomfortable atmosphere and even fear in this resort. In addition, some guests heard strange sounds in empty rooms or hallways. Others felt as if they were being watched during the exploration of this deserted place. Among the most common legends that are related to the resort, one says that the spirits of those who had some connection to the abandoned resort come back at night. It is said that there are some odd figures that can be spotted in the rooms and around the resort as if it was still operational in some parallel world. The legends go even further and say that ghostly guests gather inside the abandoned complex, making use of the rooms and other services, although the resort has not been in use for years. Also, there are legends of some spirit that was tied to the owner or people involved with the construction of the resort. The spirit is supposed to haunt the resort and scare anyone who enters the abandoned buildings or tries to take away anything from the resort. Nevertheless, there is a difference between legend and proof. There is no scientifically proven information about the haunting of the Phuket Peninsula Spa & Resort. There are no scientifically proven pictures, videos, or investigations which prove the existence of any ghosts in the place. The majority of the stories are associated with visitor experiences and some other urban legends. However, there could be many different normal explanations for all the strange stories which have been told by the visitors. Any abandoned buildings have the ability to make weird noises due to the changes in temperatures and the movements of the wind through damaged windows and even animals in empty rooms. Darkness can turn normal things into scary images, while the information about the haunted site can make people overly attentive. However, the absence of any proof has not prevented the resort from becoming part of the list of mysterious abandoned sites of Phuket. Maybe the most intriguing aspect of the Phuket Peninsula Spa & Resort is not really about a ghost at all. It is about an idea of luxury which never materialized. This place was built for vacations, for relaxation, for creating positive memories. Yet, it turned into empty structures, deserted and ignored. Rooms intended to be filled with guests gaze out at the tropical landscape but no one occupies them. This abandoned resort proves how fast things can fade away as soon as plans, finances, and legal issues start clashing with each other. But there will always be people who are interested in the unusual, paranormal. An abandoned luxury resort, incomplete rooms, an incident with a fire, many years of neglect and rumors of unexplained encounters – it is the perfect recipe for creating a modern legend about a haunted place. What is not known yet is whether the weird phenomenon observed by people visiting this place is really a ghost or something else. But if at any time you find yourself close to Nai Yang Beach and start hearing tales about an abandoned hotel hiding behind the bushes, keep in mind that the real story of the Phuket Peninsula Spa & Resort already has enough mystery in it. And after the night covers the ruins of the deserted hotel, it becomes clear why some people are convinced that the hotel was never really empty. Maybe the visitors just left. Or maybe, according to the legend, they never did.
By Kyrol Mojikal13 days ago in Horror
"Child's Play" Triple Threat: Original vs 2 vs 3
Lately I've been making movie comparisons on Vocal; first off, it was the comparisons between Tommy Boy and Black Sheep , and recently, it was Billy Madison vs Happy Gilmore . I had others in mind before this one, but I just can't resist doing this. I've been watching the Chucky films a lot lately, and I've watched them for nearly all my life. I've reached a point where I can pretty much recite them bit-by-bit, line-by-line. So I decided that I'm going to compare the Chucky films, but here are the caveats:
By Clyde E. Dawkins17 days ago in Horror
Superstition: The Forgotten 80s Horror Movie That Really Wanted You Dead
There is something wonderfully nasty about Superstition . Released in 1982, James W. Roberson’s supernatural horror film is the kind of movie that seems to have been assembled from whatever the early 1980s horror boom had lying around. Take the haunted-house atmosphere of The Amityville Horror , throw in the increasingly elaborate body count of the slasher movie, add a little Italian-style gore, and drop the whole thing into a house with a very bad history.
By Movies of the 80s23 days ago in Horror
The Seance and a Ouija Board
The mystical Ouija I have seen many television shows about bad things happening to those who use a Ouija Board. I have also read articles and talked to people who had scary experiences with this item. I owned one as a child and thankfully was protected from what happened to others.
By Cheryl E Prestonabout a month ago in Horror
Inside Japan's Most Gunkanjima Primary and Middle School: The True Story Behind Japan's Most Haunted Abandoned School
The Gunkanjima Primary and Middle School is located on Hashima Island also known as Gunkanjima or "Battleship Island". This school is one of the unsettling ruins in Japan. The island is famous for its history and its eerie concrete skyline.. The deserted school is what people talk about when they share ghost stories and paranormal legends. The empty classrooms, broken windows and silent hallways make it a haunting place.
By Kyrol Mojikal2 months ago in Horror
