Sarah Stubbs | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

Seeing the recent launch and images come from Artemis II really makes you stop to think. Earth is just a tiny speck in the galaxy but vast to those of us on the third rock from the Sun. However, there is something that connects all of us. Cryptids. I know that’s not what you expected to see but hear me out. All over the world, there are stories and lore about cryptids. In Africa there is Mokele Mbembe, in Asia there are Mongolian Death Worms, in South America you have the Voladora, Europe has the Loch Ness Monster, the United States has Mothman, and that’s not even a fraction of the cryptids in the world. Even the Antarctic ocean has the Ningen! Sometimes you just have to look to see we have more in common than you might think. This week we have a lot of great movie and book recs, all featuring, you guessed it, cryptids! Come find us on BlueSky and tell us your favorite cryptid!

IN THE NEWS

Brett Petersel | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd & Sarah Stubbs | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

Our partner, Macabre Daily, have announced their first-ever STREAM-A-THON to benefit The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and mental health organization for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning (LGBTQ) young people. Join Macabre Daily on Saturday, April 25th from 1-5pm EST for roundtables, discussions and more, all for a good cause (to raise money)! Learn more here.

Shudder’s Halfway to Halloween has begun! With their April schedule already live, and May 2026 additions being slowly announced, we have great news for Tales From the Crypt fans. Beginning May 1st, Shudder will premiere the first season, followed by additional seasons EVERY WEEK through mid-June!

Despite saying she had no intention of returning to the show, Fangoria and Bloody Disgusting both reported that Jessica Lange is returning to American Horror Story for it's 13th season.

"Drop it". It looks like the Robocop television series is making strides over at Amazon/MGM Studios. First announced in 2024, per Dread Central, we have yet to see any other new details about the announcement except for James Wan's involvement as Executive Producer via Atomic Monster.

Mother of Flies may have recently dropped on Shudder earlier this year, but our friends, The Adams Family, have no plans of slowing down! They just announced their next project, an apocalyptic horror film titled The Glorious Dead, will be featured at this May's Cannes Festival’’ Frontières Platform. Both Bloody DIsgusting and Variety have the scoop!

CREATORS CORNER

Sarah Stubbs | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

After her really fun article on Roger Corman films for his 100th birthday, I thought it would be fun to highlight a creator I've followed and admired for a long time, Heather Wixson. Heather was one of my earliest follows in the days of horror Twitter. Then she was with Daily Dead, but now she is writing on her own independent publication, From the Desk of The Horror Chick. She always has interesting insights and if you get the chance to chat with her, is an absolute joy!

Heather has written a couple of incredible books: Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Conversations with Cinema's Greatest Artists and Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume 2. Additionally, she's done a fair amount of essays for physical releases. Most recently: Salem’s Lot for ARROW, Fade to Black and Sorority House Massacre for 88 Films, and while not horror, her commentary for The Hours for 88 Films was recently announced. I'm somewhat biased but I also think it's worth sharing that she was also on Final Girls Feast to discuss The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003).

If you're not already, go give her a follow on BlueSky and subscribe to her site!

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Bee Delores | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

Willow Creek is one of the simplest found footage films you'll ever see. But that doesn't mean it isn't terrifyingly effective. That's its charm. A couple heads to Six Rivers National Forest in the hope of finding Bigfoot. The local town, called Willow Creek, is the Bigfoot Capital of the World, so it makes perfect sense. But they are in for a rude awakening when they hear rustling footsteps outside their tent. The nighttime scene (IYKYK) will live in your head rent free.

Growing up in West Virginia, I'd always heard stories about Mothman. Considering that aliens are very real, there's a good chance Mothman is, too. The Mothman Prophecies shone a spotlight directly on my state. Renick, WV is miles and miles away from Point Pleasant, so the likelihood of the winged cryptid showing up here is slim to none. After all these years since I first saw the film, it still haunts him. The more I think about it, maybe I should go on a Mothman hunt soon. Anyone up for a road trip???

RIYL: EXISTS (2014)

Don’t let Bigfoot ruin your getaway! Since we’re all fans of Eduardo Sánchez’s 2014 found footage film Exists, the Horrorverse team crept out of the woods to share our favorite films we think you’ll also enjoy! Check out the list on Letterboxd.

GORE-MET PAIRINGS

Sarah Stubbs | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

Movie: Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster

Synopsis: While the gang travel to Scotland to visit Daphne’s cousin and witness the annual Highland Games, they find themselves terrorized by the legendary Loch Ness Monster.

Why I Chose This Film: I chose Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster because it's a great gateway horror film to get an introduction to cryptids. In my opinion, it's a good time! Not only that, but it's one of the better Scooby-Doo films made in or after the 2000s. It's not directly related, but it would also pair well with the Walt Disney Studios short, The Ballad of Nessie, which is another gateway cryptid entry. Nessie isn't at all scary so little ones will enjoy it.

Pairing Idea: This may sound silly, but the pairing for this film is super easy! It's Scooby Snacks! I personally like the cinnamon ones that Kelloggs has in grocery stores. However, you can also make your own if you'd like. Alison's Wonderland Recipes has a fun recipe for a honey version! Both are a great movie snack!

OUR FAVORITE CRYPTID HORROR FILMS

From the legend of Bigfoot to mythical creatures of the water (Mermaids), and then some, the Horrorverse crew came together to share our favorite cryptid horror films with you. Check out the list on Letterboxd.

RECOMMENDED READING

Candi Norwood | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd | StoryGraph | Website

Bigfoot hunts are an oddly popular pastime in my corner of Tennessee, but I don’t know how they tell the difference between a Sasquatch and some of the more hirsute population, but that’s just me. Whether or not you believe in the Mothman, Nessie, chupacabras, mermaids, the Fresno nightcrawlers, etc., it’s a lot of fun to speculate and follow the myths down rabbit holes.

The United States of Cryptids by J.W. Ocker is a non-fiction encyclopedia of cryptid lore in the U.S. All the expected cryptids are there; Bigfoot, Mothman, Wampus Cat, but there are many you may not have heard of, like the Batsquatch of Washington or the Lizard Man of South Carolina. He also includes interesting bits of trivia so you may even learn something new about your old favorites.

Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen is a horror-comedy about a “Bachelor”-style reality show cast and crew whose final episodes will be filmed on a remote Pacific Northwest island which has been mostly deserted for a number of years due, in part, to the number of people that have gone missing there. Patricia Wants to Cuddle is full of snarky commentary on stereotypes of dating show contestants and some sweet community building highlighting the importance of found family. Plus a Lady Sasquatch.

Choose Your Own Mermaid Adventure: I couldn’t choose between these two “mermaid” novels; I would recommend them both in different ways.

For a fun horror-science spin on mermaid lore, Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant follows scientist Victoria Stewart who is looking for answers about what happened to her sister who was lost at sea in the Mariana Trench. Slightly spoilery, but since you’re here for the cryptids, the mermaids in this are vicious, dangerous sea creatures, and Into the Drowning Deep is legitimate cryptid horror.

A different spin, what I would call literary dark fantasy is Cassandra Khaw’s The Salt Grows Heavy, in which a mermaid is the main character who is joined in her quest for vengeance by a plague doctor through. This novella is creepy and atmospheric, and Khaw’s language is so lyrical and beautiful, I never wanted to stop reading.

Special Sneak Peek: Mothman Is My Boyfriend by McCayla Coyle - I took a break from strict horror to check out this cryptid-filled cozy modern fantasy about a small hidden town called Cryptid Creek where some special humans coexist with our favorite cryptids; not just Mothman, but the Jersey Devil, Fresno Nightcrawler, Loveland Frog, and more make appearances. The digital version had such nice artwork, I definitely want the physical version when it comes out on 5/5. You can pre-order it here and read my full review here.

💀 7 Experimental Horror Films to Get Weird With (READ)

💀 Cinematographer Joel Froome Divulges The Dark And Pulpy Secrets Of "THE YETI" (INTERVIEW + REVIEW)

💀 "LOOKY-LOO PART II" (2026) Invites Us Back Into The Killer's POV (REVIEW)

💀 Macabre Daily Announces First-Ever STREAM-A-THON To Benefit The Trevor Project (READ)

Looking for something new to watch? Sarah shared her favorite horror viewings from March including documentaries, silent films, and more! [READ]

This past Sunday would have been Roger Corman's 100th birthday! Inspired by Heather Wixson's great list of Corman films to stream for free, Sarah created her own! [READ]

Cryptid love is in the air, especially with The Yeti coming to digital this week! Over on Bloody Disgusting, Paul Lê shared 10 of the best yetis from movies and TV! [READ]