Karakoncolos: The Dark Winter Creature of Anatolian Folklore
Anatolian folklore and pre-Islamic Turkic mythology form a rich tapestry of legends, spirits, and supernatural beings. Among these, few figures are as intriguing or as unsettling as the Karakoncolos. What is Karakoncolos? Karakoncolos is typically depicted as a small, black, hairy creature, sometimes resembling a diminutive devil cloaked in darkness. The entity is almost always described as male. Across various cultures where this belief persists, Karakoncolos is said to emerge from the underworld during the coldest nights of winter, roaming the earth from Christmas through January 6th and in some traditions, even into February. The origins of Karakoncolos are as varied as the cultures that tell its tales. In Greek…
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…
Classic Horror Film Locations: Settings We Never Get Tired Of
If this article were published on another site, it would probably be titled “cliché locations we’re sick of seeing in horror films.” But as we’ve discussed many times on our podcasts, we believe that the right dose of clichés is necessary in horror films. That’s why I felt this title was more appropriate for today’s article. Now I’m going to tell you about those cliché horror film locations that appear in many movies—places where the moment we see them, we know things are about to go sideways. Old Mansions Abandoned Hospitals and Asylums Forests and Isolated Areas: Locations of Loneliness and Uncertainty in Horror Cinema Old Cemeteries: Silent Witnesses…
Horror-themed Music Videos from Turkey and Around the World
Table of Contents Michael Jackson – Thriller Metallica – Until It Sleeps MGMT – Little Dark Age Metallica – Enter Sandman Ozzy Osbourne – Back on Earth Ozzy Osbourne – Bark at the Moon Ramones – Pet Sematary Umay Umay – Düşmedim Daha Pentagram – Anatolia Karnaval – Nezih Ünen To be completely honest, I’m not deeply involved with music. By “deeply involved,” I mean my interest has never extended beyond listening. I’ve never been one to spend hours discussing music theory or dissecting albums. But there’s one music-related topic I could talk about for hours: music videos. I’ve always loved watching music videos. This naturally evolved alongside my passion…
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. 7: The Three Shadows Village
After a long hiatus, we’re back with another urban legend. Today’s subject is the village known as “Üç Çatallı Gölge” (Three-Pronged Shadow) or “Üç Gölge Köyü” (Three Shadows Village)—a place said to be plagued by paranormal events, which also served as the inspiration for the film “Dabbe: Zehr-i Cin.” We’ll be examining the terrifying folkloric narratives that have formed around this village. All of the stories we’ve covered so far—the haunted bathhouse in Eskişehir, Apartment No. 129 in Ankara (or Antalya, according to some accounts), and the haunted building in Antalya—each had their own distinctive characteristics. What sets Three Shadows Village apart from these other narratives is…
The Best Horror Movies of the '90s
Misery (1990) It (1990) Night of the Living Dead (1990) Tremors (1990) The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) Candyman (1992) Interview With the Vampire (1994) In the Mouth of Madness (1994) From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) Scream (1996) Event Horizon (1997) The Blair Witch Project (1999) The People Under the Stairs (1991) Cronos (1993) The Sixth Sense (1999) Ringu (1998) Wolf (1994) Sleepy Hollow (1999) Jacob’s Ladder (1990) BONUS: Army of Darkness (1992) While the 90s are synonymous with excellent science fiction films for me, they also produced great horror films, and some even combined these two genres. Since that’s the case, I decided to…
Memorable Food Scenes in Horror Films
When we think of elements that frequently appear in horror films, I think mirrors are the first thing that comes to mind for many people. Along with mirrors, we also think of dolls and figurines, animals like spiders or crows. But there’s another element that appears frequently in horror films yet doesn’t get as much attention as the ones I just mentioned—food. Sometimes this element presents itself through characters eating in strange and nauseating ways, and sometimes in quite appetizing, well-attended scenes that somehow still convey an underlying sense of unease. As someone who loves both food and horror films, as you know, I felt it was my duty to…
