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31 Scary Story Nights: October 28th “The Mad Monk”

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Hail and hello, readers!  For those just joining us, this is 31 Scary Story Nights, a sort of Halloween Advent Calendar with a different classic scary story for each night in the month of October as we count down to Halloween!  Tonight’s scary story is called The Mad Monk, and it’s a classic cautionary tale.

Gather around, now, and dim those lights.  This is one tale that needs the cover of near darkness…

***Writer’s Note:  We here at iHorror are big proponents of responsible parenting.  Some of the stories in this series may be too much for your little ones.  Please read ahead and decide if your kids can handle this story!  If not, find another story for tonight or simply come back to see us tomorrow.  In other words, don’t blame me for your kids nightmares!***

The Mad Monk as retold by Waylon Jordan

Brother Matthias was no good monk.  In fact, it was a wonder he’d somehow taken the necessary oaths to enter the brotherhood as he seemed to love money and power more than charity, humility, or God.

Those who found themselves in the confessional opposite Brother Matthias would often find themselves extorted for money to keep their hidden sins from becoming public gossip.  He had no scruples in the use of violence to ensure the people’s silence in his activities however, and more than one met with a tragic accident in his time at the monastery.  He even managed to poison two of his fellow monks who had stumbled upon his activities.

Time went on, and Matthias’ soul grew darker by the day.  The darker his soul, the more bold he became in his schemes for he knew that he was untouchable.

It wasn’t until one young woman who had found herself pregnant outside the bonds of marriage survived the wicked man’s attempt to murder her when she refused to pay his blackmail that he was finally brought before the local court.

Brother Matthias was quickly found guilty, though he managed to spill more than a few secrets in an attempt to discredit some of the witnesses brought forth to testify for the accuser.

Justice was swift in those days and the echo of the gavel in the courtroom had hardly died out before Matthias was hanged in the public square.  When the hangman cut down the lifeless body of the Mad Monk, as he had come to be known, however, his body began to morph and change.

The thing that rose from the ground was no longer Matthias, in fact he hardly looked human at all with the fur that covered his body, the sharp teeth that grew from his now pronounced snout, and the short horns that grew from his forehead.

The witnesses to his execution screamed and fled in fear and the creature escaped into the forest.

It wasn’t long before the head of the monastery was found dead in the courtyard, his throat ripped out and his body covered in bite and claw marks.  Not one week later, another brother was found in the same way just outside the church door.  Four more brothers fell to the unseen menace before they abandoned the monastery all together, moving to different parts of the country.

Over time, as the monastery fell to ruin, a creepy silence fell over the land that it occupied.  Silence except for the howls and screeches that seemed to emanate from it’s stone walls late at night.  No one would say it out loud, but the townspeople knew that it was the creature that had once been the Mad Monk Matthias.

The sounds are heard to this day, and the people who live nearby, now, warn their children to behave and not to stay outside after the sun begins to set for Matthias is always hunting for flesh to fill his stomach and that of an innocent youth is his favorite!

Do you have stories like this where you live?  Matthias is just one of many boogeymen that roam the dark and shadowed places we all knew as kids.  Who was yours?  Thank you for joining us again for another of our favorite scary stories!  We hope you’ll join us again tomorrow as our countdown reaches its final days!

Featured Image by Ferdinand Bart Alst-Pixel Your Soul Photography

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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