Up Next
Back to Show
Monstrum
The Origins of ‘Big Bug’ Science Fiction
Season 3
Episode 14
Insects make up 80 percent of the world’s species, so it's not all that surprising we’ve occasionally made them into monsters in science fiction and horror. What is staggering is why the “big bug” subgenre took off in the 1950s. Find out how nuclear weapons, the suburbs, the Cold War, and the pest control industry all contributed to a beloved film subgenre in this episode.
Support Provided By
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.
9:32
Yuki-Onna, the icy snow maiden of Japanese lore, might steal your heart or your life.
10:41
This episode looks at how social media contributes to horror in the 21st century.
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.