Happy Wendigo Wednesday, ghoulfiends and gentlecreeps!

The Wendigo also known as (windigo, weendigo, windago, waindigo, windiga, witiko, wihtikow) is a monster born of native american traditions and folklore. Should a person happen to partake in cannabalism then they run the risk of being possessed by an evil spirit that curses them with an insatiable appetite for human flesh. Whilst the descriptions from different tribes do differ invariably the appearance of the afflicted becomes demonic and in time they become a full on furred, furious and frightful beast! 

In some cases the Wendigo like werewolves are for the most part able to keep a human appearance and only change under certain conditions but in most tales of the Wendigo the change from human to beast is a permanent one and once fully transformed they head for forests and caves to live, hunt & store bodies! The more humans on which the Wendigo feasts, the bigger it becomes and so to does its appetite!

Some psychologists recognize a mental disorder known as wendigo-syndrome, where a person craves human flesh even when other food is readily available! The psychosis is considered to be culture bound amongst aboriginal people. In the 20th century reported cases of Wendigo syndrome are virtually non-existent and most experts question whether it actually really existed.

Traditional Native American depiction of a "Wendigo"

Recently a Wendigo featured in an episode of the popular, long running tv show “supernatural” (series:1, episode:2, September 20th, 2005) . While trying to find their father, John Winchester, Sam and Dean help a family whose brother has gone missing on a camping trip. He has been taken by a Wendigo, but they find him alive in a cavern where the Wendigo stores its victims as living food sources. Dean kills the creature by shooting it with a flare gun.

"Wendigo" as featured in an episode of the "Supernatural TV series"

More scenes from the "Supernatural tv series" featuring a "Wendigo"

A particularly great use of the wendigo legend is seen in the short-lived tv series “fear itself”. In a genuinely horrible , disturbing and well scripted episode called “skin and bones” (series:1, episode:8) Rancher Grady Edlund returns home to his family after being lost in the forest for a number of days. He is possessed by a Wendigo, and the episode follows his descent into madness and monsterdom as he invariably ends up trying to eat his whole family!!!

Scenes from the "fear itself" episode called "skin and bones"

A wendigo also makes a fleeting appearance in the monstermendous brilliance that is “cabin in the woods”. The creature is seen briefly on a surveillance monitor attacking members of the security forces.

"Wendigo" on the rampage in "Cabin in the woods".

The wendigo has appeared in many marvel comic’s story-lines, with various humans being affected by the curse and then doing battle with the likes of Hulk, Wolverine and Alpha flight.

So there you have it! A little homage from the creepy critter to the wonderfully worry-some Wendigo! Hope you enjoyed it ghoul-fiends and gentlecreeps and have a fangtastic wendigo wednesday!!!

Happy 91st Birthday Christopher Lee! Aka Dracula, Prince of Darkness!

Today actor Christopher Lee turns 91! 

For a younger generation of film goers Mr Lee is synonymous with the character of Saruman from the “Lord of the rings” and perhaps Count Dooku from the latest Star Wars trilogy, but for the rest of us Christopher Lee is Dracula! Lee’s Dracula was a tour de force of unrelenting evil! Showing none of the humanity exhibited by the vampires of most modern horror movies or the forlorn lost soul of Bela lugosi’s Count. Christopher Lee, standing all of 6ft 5 inches, brought an incredible presence to the character of Dracula, portraying a Prince of darkness that was stoic and regal yet utterly brutal and without conscience.

When we think of Hammer Horror Films, Christopher Lee’s Dracula automatically springs to mind, but Lee actually began his association with Hammer playing the role of Frankensteins Monster in “The curse of frankenstein” (1957) before going on to portray the  undead count in a total of 7 films for Hammer film studios:-

Dracula (1958)

Dracula, prince of Darkness (1966)

Dracula has risen from the grave (1968)

Taste the blood of Dracula (1970)

Scars of Dracula (1970)

Dracula A.D 1972 (1972)

The satanic rites of Dracula (1973)

Whilst i personally love all 7 films, Mr Lee himself became somewhat disillusioned with the direction Hammer took with the last 5 films and agreed to star in them only out of loyalty, but true professional that he is, the performances are never less than dripping with absolute malice and evil! Aside from Dracula and Frankenstein other notable roles filled by Lee for Hammer studios included Rasputin the mad monk, Sherlock Holmes and in one of my all time favorite horror films “The devil rides out” Lee played the role of Duc De Richleau, a famous character from novels written by Dennis Wheatley. It was not however only for Hammer horror films that Christopher Lee played the roll of Dracula. Lee reprised the role in “Count Dracula” (1970) from spanish film maker jesus Franco and also starred in the french language horror comedy “Dracula père et fils (Dracula and son)” 1976. In addition to these main roles Lee performs a cameo as Count Dracula alongside Peter Cushing’s Van Helsing in the comedy film “one more time” (1970).

For me Christopher Lee is the greatest Dracula actor of all time! That is not to take anything away from the magnificent Bela Lugosi, but Lee’s Dracula is the one that i grew up with and was at first terrified by and later mesmerised by as i grew older. So happy birthday Christopher Lee and fangs for the memories!

Introducing Creepy Critter and the terrible tribune of tremendous terror!!!

Gruesome greetings, ghoulfiends and gentlecreeps and welcome to the creepy critter’s terrible tribune of tremendous terror! This blog is not your standard up to the minute news type blog for new films but instead a general celebration of horror and the macabre covering everything you can imagine that horror fans will adore! So journey with the Creepy Critter on a journey into the world of terror...if you dare!!!