Roots Of Horror: The Legend And Lore Of The Wendigo In Film

 by Marie Robinson

Welcome back to another long-delayed installment of Roots of Horror! In these articles I explore horror films and the inspiration they take from folklore, urban legends, and parapsychology.

Native Americans have a rich culture that is teeming with fascinating legends. One that proves to be equally sinister and inspirational is the story of the Wendigo. As with any folktale, the specific details of the beast and its habits vary from region and culture, and the North-based legend is no exception. The tale is known to the Algonquin and Ojibwe tribes in the Northern United States and Canada, mainly Ontario.

The Wendigo resides in the frozen, desolate forest of these Northern regions, in the places were men could get lost during hunting or travel and be stranded, left to the mercy of the cruel land. When food supplies are depleted, sometimes people are forced to take desperate—and savage—measures.

That’s right, eating your friends! The Algonquians considered cannibalism a very severe taboo—they believed that even when you have no other options, it is better to resign to death then eat another person. What would you do in that situation?

One film that explores this question, and the legend, as well, is Ravenous. Antonia Bird’s 1999 film stars Guy Pearce (the love of my life) as Boyd, a Civil War veteran who is placed at a fort in Northern California with a handful of quirky characters, including two Native American siblings. When a man stumbles upon the land, bloodied and emaciated, he recounts a harrowing tale where he was forced to cannibalize the members of a group he was traveling with. The Native Americans whisper warnings to Boyd of the Wendigo, and when the group goes out with the man to find the other missing members of his party, he fears the story might be true.

Another aspect of the Wendigo is that its appetite is insatiable; the more it eats, the hungrier it gets, needing always to kill and eat more flesh. The only way to stop it—is death.

Sometimes the Wendigo is said to be manifested as a beast, parts tree, and parts deer. Sometimes it is a giant that leaves bloody footprints that sets loose an awful, wind-like cry. It is a manifestation not only of greed and hunger, but also the desolation that one might find alone in the woods. Interestingly enough, the Germans (God love ‘em) have a word for this specific sensation. Waldeinsamkeit—forest solitude, or the feeling of being alone in the woods.

Another film that invokes the Wendigo is…well, it’s called Wendigo. This 2001 flick directed by Larry Fessenden is about a family who goes to get away from it all in rural Colorado. Unfortunately, they not only have psycho rednecks to deal with, but an ancient, deadly spirit, as well.
It is a great atmospheric and emotional flick that uses the myth creatively and even gives you an eyeful of their depiction of the beast!

 Fessenden was so in love with the legend he went on to direct an episode of Fear, Itself in 2008 called “Skin and Bones”. In my opinion, this is probably the most terrifying episode in the series, about a man who was left for dead in the wilderness, only to stumble home, changed. This is a good example of another physical depiction of the Wendigo, or, rather, a man who is possessed by one: extremely emaciated, with skin taut over bones, like a walking skeleton.

Algernon Blackwood really brought this legend to the mainstream when he penned 1910 short “The Wendigo”. Apparently based on Blackwood’s actual experiences and knowledge of hunting in Canada, this story features a group of men—including two Scotsman, a Native American and a French Canadian—who are moose hunting and find themselves threatened by—well, you know.

Apparently there is a Supernatural episode that also covers the Wendigo, but I’ve never watched that show so I couldn’t tell you if it was any good. Let me know if it though, eh?
Oh, and if you get really hungry—just do us all a favor and open up a pack of Ramen, deal?

Fascination With FEAR ITSELF (2008)

~by Marie Robinson

Greetings, goblins! Even though I do not have cable, I do love a good television show. Though a continuous storyline has its perks—as a viewer you get to know the character, the setting, the storyline, itself—after so many seasons it can lose its freshness. My favorite shows are anthology-style, such as the Twilight Zone, Tales from the Crypt, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Tales from the Darkside.

Fear Itself only survived one season, but I have cherished every episode. I found it on Netflix a year ago, but it originally aired in 2008 on NBC. The creator is Mick Garris, who is known for the Masters of Horror series and a slew of Stephen King adaptations. The producer, Adam Goldworm, also did Masters of Horror.

 "The Circle"

Now, I’m sure all of us horror lovers know that many episodes of Masters of Horror are notoriously awful (a friend and I recently laughed our way through John Landis’ Deer Woman), which is a shame since it has an extremely impressive collection of directors, but in my opinion they got it right the second time around with Fear Itself.

Fear Itself also has a few notable directors. John Landis returns, along with Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator), Brad Anderson (The Machinist), and Rob Schmidt (Wrong Turn). And while there aren’t any big name actors, there are a few you will see and say, “Hey, there's that guy/chick,” such as Anna Kendrick from Up in the Air and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Scream Queen Brianna Evigan.

"Skin and Bones"

Each forty-five minute episode is its own little horror story. Some are supernatural, some serial killer—they cover the classics and some original ideas as well. What I love about the show is the originality—each episode stands on its own. They pull you in and keep you watching, and they sure as hell get you sweating. This show masters suspense and of course, fear. I’m not kidding, this show is freaking SCARY! One episode, entitled “Chance”, about a man who is faced with his own evil doppelganger was so intense I turned it off! I’m sure you guys are judging me now, but watch that episode, I dare you!

My favorite episode is called “Skin and Bones”, directed by Larry Fessenden, and it is about a man who becomes possessed by a wendigo. In case you didn’t know, a wendigo is a creature in Native American folklore, an evil spirit that possesses people and turns them into cannibals. Now, unless we have some cannibals in the crowd (nice to meat you), I guarantee watching this episode will give you gooseflesh and gags.

Seriously, this show is the stuff of nightmares! It is a shame that it only lasted one season, but lucky for us all the episodes are on Netflix!

Anthology shows are probably my favorite because I am short story writer, myself, and I am always looking for examples of spooky, clever, and quality tales.

Check this show out and let me know what you think! And if you are familiar with the series and have a favorite episode, please, do tell.

*Editor's note:  After reading this synopsis of Fear Itself (and remembering that I not only watched some of this series when it was on but I actually did a small review of it here on FWF), I checked on Amazon and you can buy the entire first season (the only season) for only $13.20.  Matter of fact, I bought a copy for myself, so thanks Marie! / ch

Update on Fear Itself

Ok, so I've now watched the first two episodes of the new horror anthology series on NBC- "Fear Itself", and I have a few thoughts.

First of all, I kind of enjoyed the first one, entitiled 'Sacrifice'. It was the story of a small group of criminals who hoard up in an abandoned fort in the wintertime. Soon they run into three young women, sisters I believe, who live like old time pioneer folks, and for some reason Dad's chained to the bed. The sisters have some secrets, and being about only 40 minutes long (commercials!), they don't waste much time figuring things out. I'd like to say it was a tight little tale, but it had more than a few holes in the set-up and was only somewhat scary. It had a bit of atmosphere and a claustrophobic feel, but all in all - just mediocre.

The second episode - 'Spooked' was directed by the guy (Brad Anderson) that did 'The Machinist', which I very much enjoyed, but this hour - for me - was totally inferior. I didn't find it even remotely scary - and the storyline was actually just boring. I almost nodded off a few times (but that could be the late 10pm showtime). Eric Roberts starred, and he almost always brings a sleasy, skum-bag kind of feel to things, and this was no different. He stars as a disgraced cop who has made some fairly bad decisions in his career, was forced off the police squad, and in turn, is a private detective of sorts. He is hired to get evidence on an unfaithful husband by staking out the house from the abandoned (say, haunted) home across the street. Basically, I think the idea was that his past was coming back to haunt him...literally.
The plot, to me, was just a mess here, and I couldn't find many redeeming qualities. So let's leave it at that and hope for better next week.

So far I am not impressed and don't think it even holds a small candle to the 'Masters of Horror' series on Showtime that it is patterned after. And it is not because they aren't able to swear profusely, have nudity, or excessive gore. It is a problem with the writing, in my humble opinion. Let's just hope they have saved the better eps for later on. I will keep watching, if only because there isn't a damn thing on tv this summer - unless you like extra shitty reality shows.

I guess you should check it out for yourself, though. I never believe what the critics (or anyone else) say until I see something for myself.
Till next time...

Nothing to fear but...

FEAR ITSELF is a new horror anthology series coming to NBC tv on Thursday nights at 10:00pm.

It starts on June 5th with an episode entitled "The Sacrifice", about a band of criminals who take shelter in an abandoned snow-covered fort that has its own secrets.

Brought to us in the same vein as (and by the same producers of) Showtime's 'Masters of Horror', I am sure it will be a bit more edited due to network tv constraints, but it still looks fairly promising - especially for the summertime, which is usually quite mundane when it comes to interesting television. The show's website (http://www.nbc.com/Fear_Itself/about/index.shtml) states it will be "pushing the boundaries" - so you know what I say: PUSH 'EM!

I'll report back after the first episode with a humble opinion.