Spooky Istanbul No. 2: A "Haunted" Mansion from the Bosphorus – Cemil Molla Mansion
Hello, dear Korku101 readers with a passion for folk horror! Today we’re here to share a brand new urban legend with you. We’re shifting our route from the remote villages of Anatolia to one of the most magnificent spots on the Istanbul Bosphorus. Along the Bosphorus shore, where grand waterfront mansions and historic villas line up one after another, there stands a mansion spoken of in hushed, spine-chilling whispers among locals: Cemil Molla Mansion. Located in Kuzguncuk and bearing the marks of history when viewed from outside, this structure, according to the urban legends that have formed around it, is also the center of certain ghost stories and strange…
Award-Winning Horror Movies from the Academy Awards to Cannes
Academy Awards (Oscars) The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Get Out (2017) Rosemary’s Baby (1968) Black Swan (2010) Cannes Film Festival The Birds (1963) Antichrist (2009) BAFTA Awards Black Swan (2010) The Others (2001) Golden Globe Awards Get Out (2017) The Sixth Sense (1999) Venice Film Festival Don’t Look Now (1973) Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) Repulsion (1965) César Awards The Others (2001) Goya Awards The Orphanage (2007) Sundance Film Festival The Blair Witch Project (1999) Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) The Fly (1986) Horror movies and award ceremonies have a troubled relationship. Horror fans know this all too well. Whenever the topic comes up, we don’t hesitate to…
Horror Films about Clowns
It (1990-2017-2019) Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988) Terrifier 1-2 (2016-2022) Clown (2014) The Clown at Midnight (1998) House of 1000 Corpses (2003) Coulrophobia means fear of clowns. The word “coulro” apparently comes from a Greek word meaning stilt-walker. The first thing that came to my mind was those tall people walking on long wooden stilts at fairs. When I think “tall man,” I’m not scared, but it did kind of kill my vibe. Joking aside, I’ve met people who genuinely suffer from clown phobia. Whether you have the phobia or not, clowns feel unsettling to pretty much all of us. Given that, clowns are indispensable villains in horror…
A Popular Folkloric Horror Tale: The Jinn Wedding
The Jinn Wedding is perhaps one of the most prevalent and enduring folk horror beliefs in Anatolia, passed down through generations for centuries. While there are many different folk beliefs about jinn haunting people and sometimes places, the Jinn Wedding stands apart from similar tales in a notably positive way. Both the widespread presence of memorates about this belief across different regions and its more coherent narrative structure compared to other jinn-possession themed stories make the Jinn Wedding narratives from Anatolia and beyond worthy of examination. What is the Jinn Wedding? Before exploring the belief, it’s worth explaining what the Jinn Wedding is, something you might be familiar with from…
My Favorite Infected Zombie Movies
An epidemic that spread from the island of Haiti to the entire world: The Zombie Phenomenon. Though nowadays when we say “zombie,” Voodoo spells, Haiti, or the Caribbean don’t immediately come to mind. However, the origin of this phenomenon is exactly what I just listed. Anyway, since that’s not our topic, I won’t go on any longer. The thing we call zombies isn’t just one type. We’ve encountered them in many different forms, undead ones, caused by viruses, even fungal ones. So we decided to narrow down the list a bit and I’ve prepared a “Best Infected Zombie Movies” list. Of course, my list ended up consisting of extremely well-known…
Turkish Urban Legends No:8 - The Haunting Echoes of Molla Zeyrek Mosque:
Istanbul’s history-soaked streets harbor intriguing tales that captivate folk horror enthusiasts. Among the city’s most compelling stories is that of Molla Zeyrek Mosque, standing tall in the Zeyrek neighborhood. This ancient structure, bearing traces of the Byzantine era, draws attention with its mysterious past and the fear-filled legends whispered among locals. Historical Background Molla Zeyrek Mosque was originally constructed as the Pantokrator Monastery in the 12th century. Transformed into a mosque over time following the conquest of Istanbul, this building embodies both Byzantine and Ottoman architectural influences. Every corner of the structure is adorned with stories echoing from the past. Legends and Horror Tales The paranormal folklore surrounding Molla Zeyrek…
Horror Movies to Watch on New Year's Eve
While the year’s final days overflow with brightly decorated trees, joyful gatherings, and hopeful wishes, we horror film enthusiasts aren’t sitting idle either. Setting aside heartwarming family films, there’s no shortage of movies that blend Christmas with terror. I’ve prepared this list by excluding the obvious first choices and tried to feature lesser-known films. However, at the end of the list, I’ve also included names of more well-known and classic films. Enjoy reading. The Children (2008) A horror film where children attack their parents during what begins as a lovely Christmas holiday. Yes, you heard that right, the children attack their parents. Two families gathering for the Christmas holiday watch…
Turkish Urban Legends No. 3: The Issız Cuma Cemetery – Where Gravestones Move on Their Own
We continue our exploration of folk horror beliefs from Anatolia with a paranormal urban legend centered around Çanakkale. What we find appealing about this particular story is that it isn’t the product of media sensationalism or a scenario that became an urban legend only after being featured in a horror film—it’s genuinely known among the local population. This article will examine the mysterious history of a cemetery that hosts a folkloric horror-themed urban legend, along with a narrative that can only be described as both haunting and tragic. Let’s uncover the secrets of Issız Cuma Cemetery together. Located in the Yenice district of Çanakkale, Issız Cuma Cemetery (which translates roughly…
Turkish Urban Legends No. 4: Azem: The Haunted Village of Sakarya
Sakarya is one of the richest regions in Turkey when it comes to folk horror narratives. Today’s article focuses on a story we previously covered in an episode of the Kat 3 Daire 5 Podcast: the tale of the cursed village in Sakarya, also known as Azem Village. The legend of Azem Village is a prime example of Anatolian folklore blended with horror elements. This village’s story contains many components of folk beliefs centered on djinn haunting a settlement following a curse. We wanted to briefly touch on these elements before diving into the village’s story. Jinn: In Turkish mythology, jinn or djinn can be summarized as frightening entities that…
Turkish Urban Legends No. 2: Apartment No. 129
According to some sources it happened in Ankara, according to others in Antalya—in the İşçi Blokları (Workers’ Housing) neighborhood, on 1530th Street. Two female university students performed a ritual around 1:00 AM, surrounded by candles and candlesticks. After that night, numerous claims emerged: residents harming themselves, animals being sacrificed, and more. According to those who lived in the building, a violent tremor struck on the night the women died. Furniture was thrown around in every apartment, and windows shattered. The strange part? There’s no record of any earthquake or seismic activity that night. Following this incident, the building’s residents abandoned the place, never to return. Those who eventually mustered the…
