Back to Show
Monstrum
Pontianak: The Vampiric Ghost of Southeast Asia
Season 2
Episode 14
The pontianak, or kuntilanak, has long been a staple of Malay horror. In addition to serving as an allegory for the tension between traditional and modern cultural and spiritual practices, these monsters gave name to a real city. In this episode, you’ll learn how Islamic trade routes, animism, and the role of women in Southeast Asia contribute to stories of this notorious ghost.
Support Provided By

10:27
How did Van Helsing go from academic in Dracula to action hero icon?

14:27
Was the 1952 Flatwoods Monster sighting an alien, a Cold War experiment, or mass hysteria?

10:33
Let’s talk about the eerie and unsettling legend of changelings.

7:11
Rooted in Greek culture, the Christmas monster Kallikantzaros is a goblin-like creature.

8:15
You think you know Gremlins—but their story is far deeper than just the 1984 movie.

32:44
Let’s talk slasher films–their origins, their lasting impact, and why we love them so much!

12:47
Is the Manticore a man-eating monster from Persian myth or simply a misidentified tiger?

12:13
Jiangshi, is a variation on the vampire that you won’t soon forget!

8:44
Translation has shaped the lore of Grendel's Mother as a fearsome yet misunderstood figure.

10:29
La Lechuza: The Shape-Shifting Witch-Owl

10:09
King Kong and how his long-lived story has changed to reflect our society’s complex social issues.

11:16
Ever felt like a place seems real yet oddly unsettling?