Ominous Origins

Dracula and Vlad III

Dracula: A name that has struck fear into the hearts of the populous ever since the publication of the novel in 1897. But what was the basis for the character? Many cite the formidable Vlad Tepes, or Vlad III, or Vlad the Impaler… Essentially a guy called Vlad who was the prince of Wallachia in the 1400’s. However, the truth might not be that black and white, and maybe many of us have been wrong in the assumption that Vlad was the inspiration.As it turns out, Bram Stoker never set foot in Romania, where Wallachia happened to lie, and never saw the infamous castle in person - rather it was a drawing that sparked the imagination of Stoker. Granted, it was a drawing of a Romanian castle. Nevertheless, Vlad the Impaler himself didn’t directly inspire Dracula, and the name, Vlad Dracul was actually Vlad II, The Impaler’s father.I’m giving away far too much here. The relationship between the real life Vlad, who had a very interesting life, and Dracula is quite thin, but that doesn’t mean the creation of the character, and his impact on pop-culture can be overlooked. Same with the influence that Vlad III had on history is unquestionable. Together, these two make for two incredible stories, one in fiction, the other in reality. From the tales of Vlad and his impaling preference, to the traits of Dracula living on in generations of vampire stories and fears for decades - both have their place in history and both have a place in our dark, horror loving hearts. Listen to the cast to get the full story.Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: ominousoriginspodTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsCredit: Music: https://www.purple-planet.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Close Encounters | The Phoenix Lights

In March of 1997, the residents of Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding areas were treated to a sight never really before seen by human eyes. In an unprecedented episode, I look at maybe the most marvelous and spectacular UFO sighting in the history of the world. This is, of course, the Phoenix Lights. Sure, there might be more famous or popular incidents featuring UFO’s, such as Roswell, but not many can boast the same degree of evidence and eyewitnesses.It was getting into the evening of March 13th when not one, but two incidents occurred, with multiple people witnessing at least one encounter. These encounters? Well, they’re described as a massive V shaped formation of lights just hovering over the skies of the Phoenix, Arizona area. It’s a phenomenon that wasn’t just witnessed by countless people, but was also captured on video and film by multiple sources as well, and these witnesses weren’t drugged up alley-rats - they were respected members of society, such as police and the State Governor at the time - though his story flip-flopped a few times.Nevertheless, the Phoenix lights is one of the most intense and fascinating stories I’ve ever read. From cover-ups and conspiracies to some less than reasonable explanations from the US air force, it makes for something… out of the world. Also, I can’t thank the MUFON enough for the research they put into this, and many other cases, as it was a one stop shop for everything I wanted when looking into this case. In the end, I even share an encounter of sorts I had with a UFO in my younger days. Maybe that’s why it’s taken so long to cover an alien or UFO style case; maybe it hits a bit of a subconscious level of fear that they’ll come for me. Maybe. Anyway, be sure to listen to the cast for the whole story!Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsCredit: Music: https://www.purple-planet.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

History of Demons | Belial

First off, I have to apologize for missing last week. Sadly, I just couldn’t find the time, despite being stuck at home - like many of you are. Some things came up, and I just didn’t have the privacy I would have liked. Nevertheless, I’m back this week with a brand new History of Demons episode - something I might just be expanding in the coming weeks. And this week I thought I would dedicate to the granddaddy of them all (almost literally), Belial.Belial is such an interesting character to look at. Described as the King of Evil, and one who panders to the wicked, including perverts, atheists, and more or less anybody with a disturbed soul, Belial might just be older than the Devil himself. He’s one of the first, and one of the few that God himself has disavowed. He might also be responsible for the term later describing Satan, the Prince of Darkness. He’s a real nasty and evil demon, who was featured throughout history in a number of texts, notably the Dead Seas Scrolls. His presence isn’t just isolated to ancient history, and has been featured in more recent works, such as Milton’s Paradise Lost, and a number of Occult works. He also makes several appearances in popular culture, from books to video games. All in all, Belial is a very intriguing demon in the realm of demonology, and if you want to know more, I do encourage you to listen to the episode in full!Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Lead Masks Case

This week’s episode toes the line between true crime and the supernatural. It’s a weird one, and it comes to us as a request from Talia on Facebook, and I’m so glad she brought it to my attention. All throughout the world there have been some pretty weird and unsolved crimes, but what happened in 1966 Brazil has to be near the top. Two men, Miguel and Manoel claimed to have business outside of their town in Rio de Janeiro, made one quick stop for some water, then were found dead three days later. Not too odd is it? Well, what if I told you they were found wearing suits, raincoats, towels, a note with instructions… and wearing masks? Oh, and they were lying supine, as if they were sleeping. Double oh, they were told to take two capsules containing unknown substances. Yeah, flashes of Jonestown, right?Is that strange enough yet? I hope so, because this episode is all about what happened to them as we follow their last known hours, and what the theories are surrounding their death. Of course, the investigator in me looks at the practical, but with a case like this, it seems as though there’s so much more than what meets the eye. From UFO’s, to cults, and demonic activity, it feels as though this mystery has everything.If it seems like it’s up your alley, then give it a listen. If it doesn’t seem like it’s up your alley… well, still listen! I’ve been told my voice has such qualities as putting people to sleep. Still not sure if that’s a good thing or not. Regardless, here it is, The Lead Masks Case.Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The History of Demons | Alphabetical "A"

Sadly this week was a rough one for me on a personal note. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, I was officially laid off from my job for the foreseeable future, and so it was stressful, and I could really dedicate all the time I wanted to for this week’s episode. Nevertheless, the lay-off does mean that I’ll have plenty of time in the coming weeks to give you some high quality stuff. And with that out of the way, this week’s episode comes to us in the form of the History of Demons series, which was (and still is) a Patreon only series. However, this felt like a good week to bring it back to the mainstream.I take a look at Michelle Belanger’s incredible encyclopedia, The Dictionary of Demons, and I figure the best place to start would be the letter A. Now, I had covered some of the demons in that section of the book in the past, so I skipped those ones and went onto some lesser known ones. There are a plethora of demons out there, and not all are well known or documented, so I thought it’d be fun to showcase some of those ones.The names of some of these demons are… tricky to say, and that’s putting it nicely. So, bear with me as I struggle to pronounce some of the… more complex ones. It’s always fun to listen to somebody completely butcher names and words, right? I’m banking on it in this episode. Regardless, I hope you do enjoy this history lesson on some demons while I get my life back together. Here’s hoping I’m not homeless in the next month! I kid, I kid… Kinda. As always, be sure to leave a review on iTunes, or Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. 5-Star reviews do indeed get a shoutout, so if that tickles you the right way, be sure to leave one!Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Bogeyman

At least once in everybody’s life they’ve heard of it. Maybe you’ve even been afraid of it. The thing that lurks in the shadows, the monster in the closet or under the bed; of course I’m talking about the bogeyman. It seems that tales of child-snatching monsters is a tale as old as time, and for as long as humans can recall, we’ve had the bogeyman. The first instance of that particular name being recorded even dates back to the 1500’s. The bogeyman is a fascinating topic as it’s one of those stories and legends that spans centuries and cultures, though very few describe the same thing, which is something I’ve talked about in the past. It’s a curious thing, different cultures worlds away, over massive periods of time have tales for the same things. It’s incredibly interesting, and the bogeyman is no exception. Ultimately, the bogeyman is a classic example of exploring morals. Naughty children beware, for the evil that wanders the dark of night will snatch up up lest you behave. Of course the bogeyman isn’t the only creature that explores that theme, but could it possibly be the first? That’s the question isn’t it? Whether or not I find that answer is up in the air. You’ll just have to listen to the cast to find out!Of course, if you like what you hear, please feel free to leave a review on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. And be sure to listen to the other podcasts on the Morbidly Beautiful network. We just introduced The Horror Spinsters and their podcast, I Spit On Your Podcast, and their first episode on the network just dropped. So go check it out after you listen to the Ominous Origins episode on The Bogeyman.Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Women In Horror Finale | Catherine Corcoran

Sadly, today brings us to the end of this amazing journey through various women in honor of Women in Horror Month, and today is an incredibly special one. You know her as the outgoing and charismatic Dawn from Terrifier or Lauren from Return to Nuke ‘em High, this is Catherine Corcoran. For all her talent and success, she is incredibly humble and down to Earth, but she also knows the responsibility that comes with that success. She’s an avid supporter and champion for equal rights and pay in Hollywood and independent films (and the working world in general). She makes sure to get the word out about that noble cause whenever she can.During our interview, we talked about a huge range of topics from her experiences on different sets (I was SO curious what a Troma set was like), to what it was like to see herself bifurcated on screen, and everything in between. As expected, Catherine is a wonderful storyteller, and she told some seriously entertaining tales. Lastly, Catherine was kind enough to share some important advice to young women looking to break into the industry.Catherine also has a bunch of titles in the works, and I personally can’t wait to see what her effervescent attitude brings us next - she’s even working on an original series, which is wicked exciting! Keep an eye out for what she’s working, and definitely check out all of her works, both past and present. Also, I would like to send a huge thank you to the Parker Group for helping facilitate this amazing opportunity!Now, with Women in Horror Month coming to an end, I’ve had the absolute pleasure of meeting and talking to so many immensely talented women from all different mediums. From film to podcasts and everything in between, all of these women are so incredibly special in their own ways. This is a series I will miss dearly, well, until next year anyway. But that does bring me to my next point: just because February is dedicated to women in horror, it doesn’t mean the celebration of their talent has to stop. This month we took notice of just some of what the world has to offer, and everyday we should be acknowledging talent from every corner of the Earth. I still believe Stephanie said it best during the first interview: We have Women in Horror Month so one day we won’t have to. That rings very true. Nevertheless, I encourage you to always keep an open mind when it comes to creativity. Be it a man, a woman, LGTBQ, black, or white - talent knows no limits. Celebrate it because having more great things in the world to love can only be a good thing. Thank you for giving me the honor of being part of this incredible month.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Women In Horror | Ember Burns

In our penultimate interview for Women in Horror Month, I bring you yet another multi-talented individual by the name of Ember Burns. Now, Ember has accomplished a lot in her young career, acting in 36 different titles! 36! She’s also directed four projects of her own. She’s got a lot of range, and her talent is undeniable, and it shows in all of her work. In front of the camera, she’s known for her horror roles, and has a ton of great stuff coming up as well; the next few years are going to be quite busy for this budding star.Behind the camera though, Ember has shot a couple of PSAs, as well as a couple of shorts. Her upcoming film The Motel looks to be a festival favorite, as she’s poured her heart and soul into it. The film is going to be a horror classic, filled with violence, scares, and maybe even a twist or two - something she couldn’t really go into, understandably. Beyond that, we talk about a whole slew of topics, from her career and inspirations, to crowdfunding and the obstacles involved in making a film come to life.During my time interviewing all these incredible women, one thing has been a common thread: They’re all multi-talented individuals who love to challenge the norm and show the world what they’re made of. It’s been an insanely satisfying endeavor, hearing all their stories, and getting to know each and every one of them. Ember is no different. I couldn’t be happier that we got the chance to talk and to show off her talents. Ember Burns: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7357196/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.