Ancient mythology has beena key reference point throughout pop culture and literature for several decades, and continues to be one of the greatest resources for movie monsters. Fantasy, folklore, and myth stem from a variety of cultures and regions, usually depicting uniquely specified creatures from classic stories. Sometimes mythological monsters overlap from region to region, but are given a different name. A prime example being that of vampires and werewolves, whose origins stem from Rome to Romania.
The horror genre brings these figures to light unlike any other, and the films that portray these monsters often make them as lethal as possible. However, some films likeLeprechaunandKrampuspartake in a more comedic portrayal of these age-old tales. Often, horror’s most infamous monsters are loosely based on mythology, and embody their very own myth origins. Here are the best horror movies based on mythology.
6Leprechaun
Although theLeprechaunseries is one of the more forgotten in the horror genre, the franchise’s core protagonist is one of the most infamous pieces of Irish folklore. Typically, these fairy-like men, who dress predominantly in green, partake in mischief and are often paired with their pot of gold. All of these characteristics, and then some, were used to create the creature in the 1993 film, but with something more sinister than plain old mischief up his sleeve. After being awoken from a sleeping curse, the Leprechaun realizes that his gold has been stolen, and seeks to destroy the group of teens who have taken his treasure. TheLeprechaunmovie franchisehouses eight installments in total, with four showcasing Warwick Davis as the titular creature. The film not only is the best horror comedy to watch around Saint Patrick’s Day, but also utilizes the lore and mythology of Leprechauns to the max ability.
Related:8 Scariest Mythological Creatures in Horror Movies
Krampus is a horned creature who acts as the grim counter-figure to Saint Nick and punishes children who misbehave. His lore can be traced back to modern-day Germany. The iconic figure has been depicted in various ways in different films, but is always best defined by his giant horns. According toBloody Disgusting, Micheal Dougherty’s 2015 film,Krampus,turned the figure into a horror icon. The film follows Max, played by Emjay Anthony, who is tired of his family’s constant bickering and writes a letter declaring his hatred of Christmas and his family. He rips the letter up and throws it into the wind, where it gets blown into the sky and presumably to Krampus. Max and his family must now fight to survive Krampus and his band of helpers.
Sinisterwas released in 2012, and truly does not receive the recognition it deserves for a modern day horror film. The plot follows Ellison, a true-crime writerplayed by Ethan Hawke, who is so fame hungry that he moves his family into a murder house. He discovers a box of Super 8 films, all showing the gruesome murders of families over decades of time. Ellison spots the ancient deity, Bughuul, who is also known as “Mr. Boogie” in the background of one of the films, and realizes he is dealing with something much more sinister than he prepared for. Bughuul, referenced in the film as “the eater of children,” is a loose play on the lore associated with the Bogeyman. Bughuul follows all the same rules as the Bogeyman, regarding his placement for punishment and terror. However, the two differ in the aspect that Bughuul requires the children he eats to kill their families.
3Sleepy Hollow
The Headless Horseman has been regarded in American folklore since the early 1800s, when author Washington Irving first wrote “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” However, the figure dates back as early as the Middle Ages.Sleepy Hollowhas been made into feature-length films, and even reimagined for television several times. However, the 1999 film encapsulates the eerie, dark world that Irving has intitally intended for. For the first time, the Headless Horseman is given a backstory that is fully fleshed out and allows for more room to import him into more of the film’s story.
The Headless Horseman’s description depends heavily on which part of the world he emerges from. In the case of American folklore, he is a large man riding a horse holding a Jack-o'-Lantern in place of his head. According to legend, the horseman was killed in battle, having been decapitated, and the remains of his head were left on the battlefield. The night in which he rides depends on the region, but his purpose is always to find his head.
Related:10 Best Folklore Horror Movies From the Last Decade
2The Ritual
The Ritualwas released in 2017 and follows a group of hikers who are meeting after the death of an old college friend. The friends find themselves lost after taking a wrong turn, and their small mistakes plants them in a part of the forest that they didn’t realize existed. They find themselves face to face with an ancient creature of lore who hunts them despite their attempts to escape. PerScreen Rant, the creature inThe Ritualis Jotunn, the son of Loki, with origins in Norse mythology. Although the physical stature of Jotunn differs from how he is described in myth, his terrifying stature serves the brute of the horror.
It is almost impossible to completely disregard vampires when making connections between horror and mythology, being that the blood sucking creature dates back to ancient times and is a wildly recognized figure across all cultures. In 1887 Bram Stoker wrote the horror classicDraculaand since then, vampires have been staple figures in pop culture. From black-and-white classics toTwilight,vampires have been in constant rebirth. Count Dracula was loosely based on Vlad the Impaler, and Bram Stoker’s story centers in on a love sick monster who is so clearly misunderstood. Unlike the 1931 film, 1992’sBram Stoker’s Dracularecounts the story the way it was initially intended.
Dracula, and all the other wide variety of adaptations, paved the way for new vampire stories that focus on different origins and bend the rules.Fright Night, 30 Days of Night, The Lost Boys,andInterview With The Vampireare just a few examples of how the genre has molded the ancient mythological figure into new characters for the modern lens. Out of all the mythological creatures that find their way into the world of modern horror, it is hard to imagine a genre without one of their most integral components.
