Christmas Creatures: Belsnickel, Krampus and La Befana

Strange Cinema: Advent (2024)

On this episode of Strange Cinema we discuss Advent, a 2024 horror film that blends modern internet culture, folklore, and the creeping dread of the holiday season into a supernatural thriller.

Christmas Creatures: Belsnickel, Krampus and La Befana

Tis the season to be spooky, though Halloween has passed there are still plenty of creatures that go bump in the night, and while these creatures are a bit more festive some are also terrifying. So put on your favorite ugly Christmas sweater and light that pine scented candle while I tell you just a few of the creepy creatures that will make a stocking full of coal seem like the least of your worries.

Disappeared Into Thin Air: What Happened to Brian Shaffer?

Today’s case… is one of the strangest disappearances in modern history. A case with cameras. Witnesses. Timelines. Evidence. And still, no answers. On April 1st, 2006, a medical student walked into a bar at Ohio State University… and was never seen again. No confirmed sighting. No body. No clue as to how he left a bar with only one entrance, and multiple cameras watching. This is the story of Brian Shaffer.

Water Horse Demon? The Legend of the Kelpie

In this episode, we dive into the chilling folklore of the Scottish Kelpie, the shape-shifting water spirit said to lurk in lochs, rivers, and mist-covered marshes. We explore its eerie ability to appear as a beautiful horse or an irresistible human, and the dark warnings these stories carried for generations living close to dangerous waters. Join us as we unravel the mystery, fear, and fascination that keep this legendary creature alive in storytelling today.

Strange Cinema: Pilgrim

In this episode of Strange Cinema, Thanksgiving takes a sinister turn when a well-meaning mother hires historical reenactors to create an immersive, “authentic” holiday experience for her family. What begins as an awkward gimmick quickly becomes unsettling as the Pilgrim guests—led by the eerily polite Ethan—refuse to break character.