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🎙️ Truth Behind the Terror — Episode: Shadow of the Solstice: The Truth Behind Krampus (2015)

Episode Description

Every winter, a horned creature stalks the snowy villages of the Alps — rattling chains, dragging birch branches, and punishing the misbehaved. But how much of that legend actually made its way into the 2015 horror-comedy Krampus?

In this episode of Truth Behind the Terror, Carissa descends into pre-Christian folklore, Alpine winter rituals, and centuries-old moral traditions to uncover the real stories behind the monster that Hollywood turned into a gingerbread-slaying Christmas demon.

From Krampusnacht parades and Saint Nicholas’ dark companion to snow-globe dimensions and killer toys, we separate folklore fact from cinematic chaos — and reveal what Krampus really was meant to be.

🎄 Creepy.
📜 Historical.
👹 Surprisingly meaningful.

🩸 Truth Behind the Terror Scale

🧊 5/10 — Rooted in folklore, wildly fictionalized

📬 Listener Fan Mail

Have thoughts, theories, or your own creepy holiday traditions?
Use the Fan Mail button to send a message — your note may be featured in a future episode.

🎬 Credits & Disclaimers

Host, Research, Writing & Editing:
Carissa Willis

Music:
Eerie and Scary Ambient Music (Royalty Free Music)
“Curse” by Mehul Sharma

Film Clips:
Brief audio excerpts from Krampus (2015) are used under fair-dealing provisions for commentary, criticism, and educational purposes.

Podcast Platform:
Buzzsprout

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Happy New Year ... in April!! We are back with our first episode of 2024 and it's a fun one! Join us as we look at a movie that had one of the most creative marketing campaigns in movie history ... it's based on a true story ... but it actually isn't. It's also a bit of winding path as we explore a truly indescribable movie from the 70s that was actually the pioneer of the modern found footage film genre. And we leave you with some true crime/true horror stories that are sure to add a little something extra to your next camping trip!

Episode warning: This episode contains discussions of animal cruelty, child abuse, violence against children, violence against First Nations, and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.

References and Sources

- Music by SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras from Pixabay

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5iF5psCp28 - Blair Witch Mythology: The Burkittsville 7 (Documentary/Mockumentary)

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEmUpmA27QI - Ruggero Deodato - Interview (Part 1) with his son discussing “Cannibal Holocaust”

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-mUYmyxlCw - Ruggero Deodato - Interview (Part 2) with his son discussing “Cannibal Holocaust”

- The Blair Witch Project. Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, performances by Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard, Haxam Films, 1999.

- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/movies/blair-witch-project-1999.html
“‘The Blair Witch Project’ at 20: Why It Can’t Be Replicated”
Jake Kring-Schreifels
The New York Times
July 30, 2019

- https://www.vice.com/en/article/8xzy4p/blair-witch-project-oral-history-20th-anniversary
“The Terrifying True Story of How ‘The Blair Witch Project’ was Made”
Tatiana Tenreyro
Vice
July 16th, 2019

- Blair Witch Online Message Boards - https://blairwitch.proboards.com/

- Blair Witch Project - Documentary Prequel - https://youtu.be/NxmoQrF6Zik?si=r0D9YseBlYeWQaNQ

- Cannibal Holocaust Directed by Ruggero Deodato, performances by Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi, and Perry Pirkanen, F.D. Cinematografica, 1980.

- https://collider.com/cannibal-holocaust-production-history-explained/
“The Fascinating Story Behind One of Horror’s Most Disturbing Films, “Cannibal Holocaust”
Luna Guthrie
Collider
December 29th, 2022

- https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/sep/15/cannibal-holocaust
“Cannibal Holocaust: ‘Keep filmint! Kill more people!"
Steve Rose
The Guardian
September 15th, 2011

- https://listverse.com/2022/10/14/10-brutal-crimes-committed-against-campers/
“10 Brutal Cr

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Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal! Happy holidays to you!

Need a break from your Festivus celebrations? Looking for that perfect holiday film to cuddle up with the whole family? Need some topics of conversation to get through all of the awkward family dinners? You are in luck! Join us on the winding path of our latest podcast as we cover such topics as:

✅ Why were all of the horror movies of the early 2000's such 💩?
✅ Serial killers ... their psychopathy, why they should only ever drive Honda Civics, and what is with the mommy issues? 🗡️
✅ Forensic odontology ... is it junk science or the new fingerprints? 🦷
✅ The best of Canadian cinema ... Fubar? Strange Brew? Porky's? 🇨🇦
✅ Why is it probably for the best that only one of us has children? 👶
✅ Occasionally circling back to the 2 (or is it 3? 🤔) true crime stories that inspired the Canadian cult classic Christmas/horror movie Black Christmas.

Thank you so much for listening to our podcast through 2023, we hope that you have enjoyed listening as much as we have enjoyed making the episodes! Remember to like, subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform if you are enjoying what you are hearing.

We wish you the very best of the holiday season and look forward to entertaining you again in 2024! Happy New Year! 🎊

References and Sources

Music by SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras from Pixabay

Black Christmas. Directed by Bob Clark, performances by Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, and Margot Kidder, Warner Bros., 1974.

"13 Things You Didn't Know About 'Black Christmas'". Chiller (TV channel). December 25, 2015. Archived from the original on December 29, 2015.

Wikipedia contributors. (2023, December 7). Black Christmas (1974 film). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:09, December 7, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Black_Christmas_(1974_film)&oldid=1188746384

https://nerdbot.com/2023/11/13/urban-legend-fact-or-fiction-the-babysitter-and-the-man-upstairs/
Urban Legend Fact or Fiction: The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs
Amy Davis
Nerdbot
November 13th, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=uUEfES_6-Ko
The Story Behind Black Christmas: The Boy Murderer George Webster and The Vampire Killer Wayne Boden
Under the Ash Tree
December 31st, 2022

https://serialkillercalendar.com/WAYNE-CLIFFORD-BODEN-THE-VAMPIRE-RAPIST.php
Wayne Clifford Boden - The Vampire Rapist
Serial Killer Calendar
Aaron Kirkland