Urban Legends, Part 1 – #folklore #paranormal #crime #history

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Not far from my usual realm of true crime and history we find Urban Legends. In simplest definition, an urban legend is a story that circulates from person to person. The idea is that the legend is true, and quite often, there are many facts weaved in that are based on reality.

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Origin:

The earliest report of the term “urban legend” being used in print dates back to 1968.

Jan Harold Brunvand used the term in his published books in 1981. You may recall the title, The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends & Their Meanings.

Many urban legends were meant to serve as cautionary tales. Think about the stories of the teenagers going to park in secluded areas, and the aftermath that involved a hook man or an equally terrifying monster. This story circulated to encourage teens to NOT go park.

According to Wikipedia, there are four types of urban legends:

1. Crime. These are often mixes of both fictional and real events.
2. Medicine. Medical folklore, like going outside after a shower will result in a cold.
3. Internet. The stories that spread like wildfire through the internet and social media. Chain letters and fake viruses are great examples.
4. Paranormal. Obviously, these involve supernatural beings and/or cryptids. Think Bigfoot or Nessie!

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Urban Legends:

The Babysitter. Have you checked the children? This urban legend has been seen again and again on the big screen. The young babysitter is enjoying a peaceful night while the kids she’s watching are asleep in their beds. But then the repeated phone calls start, and the threats become terrifying. A frantic cry to the police, and we learn the call is coming from upstairs!

The Chupacabra. The reptilian-like creature that sucks the blood from unsuspecting livestock.

High Beams. This crime tale involves a woman driving alone at night. She’s being followed by an unknown vehicle, and the driver suddenly starts flashing their bright lights at her. She races home and think she’s safe. But once there, she is greeted by the murderer that was hiding in her back seat. The stranger was simply trying to warn her.

Skinwalkers. This is a Native American story about medicine men that have turned evil. They’re able to shapeshift into animals and other people.

The Devil’s Chair. A memorial sculpture that you’ll often find in a cemetery. It’s meant to serve as a chair of mourning, something to comfort grave visitors. But, many believe sitting in the stone chair can bring punishment to you.

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Pop Culture:

• Black Christmas, 1974 film.
• Snowbeast, 1977 TV movie.
• When a Stranger Calls, 1979 film & 2006 remake.
• The Boogeyman, 1980 film.
• The Hitcher, 1986 film.
• Candyman, 1992 film.
• The Big Book of Urban Legends, 1994 paperback.
• I Know What You Did Last Summer, 1997 film.
• Urban Legend, 1998 film.
• The Curve, 1998 film.
• 8mm, 1999 film.
• Dead Man on Campus, 1999 film.
• The Blair Witch Project, 1999 film.
• Encyclopedia of Urban Legends, 2001 book by Jan Harold Brunvand.
• The Ring, 2002 film.
• The Mothman Prophecies, 2002 film.
• Trick ‘r Treat, 2007 film.
• Vacancy, 2007 film.
• Cropsey, 2009 film.
• Triangle, 2009 film.
• Bunnyman, 2011 film.
• V/H/S, 2012 film.
• The ABC s of Death, 2012 film.
• Willow Creek, 2013 film.
• Killer Legends, 2014 documentary.
• Death Passage, 2015 film.
• Slender Man, 2018 film.
• The Curse of La Llorona, 2019 film.
• Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, 2019 film anthology.
• The Raven, by Jonathan Janz in 2020.
• The Shadows, 2020 by Alex North in 2020.
• The Husband Switch, by Carmen Maria Machado.
• Mary: The Summoning, by Hillary Monahan.
• Light as a Feather, by Zoe Aarsen.
• The Girl From the Well, by Rin Chupeco.

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Sources:

• proofreadingservices.com
• bookriot.com
• creepycatalog.com
• wikipedia.org