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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On a warm September afternoon in 1981, 58-year-old Polly Melton was spending time in one of her favorite places on Earth: the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. She went out for an easy hike she’d done dozens of times before with a couple of friends while her husband Bob stayed back at their camper nearby. But strangely, she disappeared on the way back to the campground, and was never seen again.

Between the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Elizabeth Bathory is suspected of killing up to 650 people, mainly young women, for both pleasure and in order to use their blood for consumption and beauty rituals. An early nepo baby who got away with murder for over a decade before she finally made a mistake that led to her demise.

Grab your popcorn and candy- it's spooky season movie time! Cassandra and Natasha each share their must-watch Halloween movies.