Up Next
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
Season
13:49
Horses have inspired countless equine folklore, but none are quite like the centaur.
11:02
Advances in technology are always met with some degree of technophobia—and villainization.
12:53
A majestic, all-white horse with a spiraled horn is just one depiction of many.
9:35
Bloody Mary is less important than the ritual that summons her.
9:32
Yuki-Onna, the icy snow maiden of Japanese lore, might steal your heart or your life.
10:06
We explore Tiamat the “mother of monsters” in Mesopotamian mythology.
14:35
We find out when and why did the Mummy become the popular movie monster.
14:05
These monster faces make up a distinctive brand of horror in Hollywood.
9:43
This massive half-human, half-horse hybrid, the Filipino Tikbálang thrives on chaos.
12:33
What happens when plants themselves become conscious, and turn killers? We find out!
11:23
Cthulhu has impacted horror fiction and the real world in significant and unexpected ways.
10:41
This episode looks at how social media contributes to horror in the 21st century.