22 Comments
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K.Lynn Grey's avatar

Why are all the evil spirits women? Are there any evil men :)

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Stephen Duffy's avatar

I was thinking the same thing! 😂 Some don't really mention gender, then you look for pics and it's all women 🤷‍♂️

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Sandy Shaller's avatar

I love Japanese horror although some of it truly shocks me. It transcends its own culture to tap into some primal fears that many countries can respond to. I never knew that Jewish culture has horror in it, but it does. Not a lot, but there are also legends of restless spirits, Gehenna (the Jewish hell) and devils that wait to trick unwary people.

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Stephen Duffy's avatar

Yeah, this one was pretty shocking compared to the others I've done. And there were loads of other legends I never touched on. Never knew about Jewish horror either, might have to look into it 👌🏻

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Sandy Shaller's avatar
Edward.Marlo.Ruiz's avatar

This is really dope. Had a reoccurring nightmare of the crawling nightmare when I was younger but it was a bald bloodied man. Have you thought about doing Mexico by chance if you haven’t already?

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Stephen Duffy's avatar

Thanks, and that sounds terrifying! Is this bald, bloodied man part of Mexican lore? I'll def do Mexico at some point.

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Edward.Marlo.Ruiz's avatar

Def not! It was my own messed up mind 😭 Looking forward to more.

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Nicole Paton's avatar

I love this series, Stephen - learning about where all of these modern horror tropes come from is brilliant. Was the Foxra of Cincer Hollow inspired a little by the slit-mouthed woman??

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Stephen Duffy's avatar

Thanks Nicole! No, she wasn't actually. She just came from a dark little corner of my mind 🤷‍♂️💀😆

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Kathy Enriquez-Nguyen's avatar

Hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn haha.

Love your article! I’m so obsessed with Japanese horror

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Stephen Duffy's avatar

Bitches be trippin! 😂 Thanks pal, I think I love it now too. And I could easily do a whole other article on Japan; there's loads to it.

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Kathy Enriquez-Nguyen's avatar

Ahahahah!! That’s awesome! You totally could. There’s so many. And I swear they’re scarier than a lot of lores out there

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Stephen Duffy's avatar

Yeah they really are! 💀

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Reda Rountree (she/her)'s avatar

How am I just now reading this series? I loved it!!

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Stephen Duffy's avatar

Thanks Reda! How are you anyway?

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Ulysses Santillan's avatar

Thanks for the history, I knew a little. Horror has many intriguing stories from everywhere but Japanese horror has that extra uniqueness.

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Stephen Duffy's avatar

It really does! I feel like I could easily do another episode on Japan.

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J.P. Choquette's avatar

Great article, I like how you give examples of movies for each type of spirit. And how you start each section with a little fictional setting--well done!

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Stephen Duffy's avatar

Thank you! ❤️🙏

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Kyle (Horrorble Writer)'s avatar

Great essay Stephen! Haven’t seen some of these like Ringu and the US remakes in along time.

One of my favorite horror movies Spookies, from the 80’s, had a scene with a Spider Woman character. The movie is a so bad it’s good mess but the practical effects are actually really well done including that creatures scene.

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Stephen Duffy's avatar

Thanks Kyle, appreciate that. I'll have to check out Spookies, it sounds fun! 💀😁

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