Skip to main content
Back to Show
Monstrum

Don’t Let Them In! The Urban Legends of Black-Eyed Children

Season 3 Episode 8

An urban legend that exploits our fears of an obstructed gaze and the deeply unsettling idea that the youngest of our species are out to destroy us, the lore of Black-Eyed Children, or Black-Eyed Kids, is a modern construction. But the “evil spawn” child archetype of the horror genre and hundreds of years of social expectations of childhood inform these unsettling monsters.

Support Provided By
Season
Trolls: Scandinavia’s Malevolent, Magical Outcasts
16:03
This episode takes you through the Nordic sagas that contribute to the prowess of Trolls.
Death Worms: Fact or Fiction?
11:54
Look at the possible inspirations behind some of history’s most famous death worms.
Fire Cat or Fire Cart? The History of Japan’s Kasha
12:48
The Kasha drags the bodies of the dead to the underworld for a life of damnation.
El Silbón: The Deadly Whistler of the Grasslands
9:56
This emaciated, whistling devil is cursed to wander the South American Countryside.
The Macabre Origins of the Grim Reaper
10:02
This episode looks at the history of the scythe-wielding skeletal form of the Grim Reaper.
Basilisk
10:31
Find Out the Surprising truth of What the Basilisk and the Cockatrice have in Common
Yara-ma-yha-who: Australia’s Regurgitating, Blood-Sucking Mo
9:48
This vampiric creature uses its fingers and toes to suck your blood.
Will-o’-the-Wisp: Monstrous Flame or Scientific Phenomenon?
9:58
These elusive blue flames have been reported globally and inspired a wealth of folklore.
Leprechaun: From Gold-Loving Cobbler to Cultural Icon
12:43
The diminutive faerie folk was once more popularly known for their role as tricksters
Taotie: The Mystery of Chinese Mythology’s Famous Glutton
11:03
This influential ancient monster from Chinese mythology predates the written word.
Werehyena: The Terrifying Shapeshifters of African Lore
7:40
This monster is an animal that disguises itself in human form.
Baba Yaga: The Ancient Origins of the Famous ‘Witch’
14:03
One of the most beloved (and feared) figures in Russian and East Slavic folklore,
Active loading indicator