Despite what big box retailers, streaming services, studio executives, and digital warriors say, physical media is not dead. On the contrary, it’s a fantastic time to be a collector. Whether it’s Blu-rays, DVDs, vinyl, books, VHS or cassettes, this column will feature some of the new releases worth snagging. Don’t listen to the haters. Physical media is here to stay.
FREAKY FOLKLORE, the new book by Eeriecast hosts Darkness Prevails and Carman Carrion, compiles over 50 creepy creatures from around the globe into one beautifully illustrated compendium. A true treat for anyone interested in cryptids, monsters, or mythological creatures, FREAKY FOLKLORE makes a perfect coffee table conversation starter or summer campfire companion. Seamlessly presenting both fact and fiction, this unique combination of cultural and historical significance coupled with original stories makes FREAKY FOLKLORE a mutually entertaining and informative read.
Like many young weirdos, I was obsessed with reading about mysterious phenomena, unexplained events, and creepy creatures that lurked in the shadows. I would spend countless hours pouring over library books that recounted stories involving The Bermuda Triangle, Area 51, the Easter Island statues, or sightings of Bigfoot not far from where we lived. These books opened my world and mind up to endless possibilities that were as fascinating as they were terrifying. FREAKY FOLKLORE tapped into that feeling of dark childhood curiosity in a way that I didn’t even know was still possible.
While the book includes classic cryptid heavy-hitters like Bigfoot, Baba Yaga, Mothman, and the Yeti, it also includes lesser-known myths and beasts. Doing its absolute best to present an efficient and comprehensive worldview on eerie entities, FREAKY FOLKLORE includes creatures like Muldjewangk, a man-fish from South Australia, Adze, a shapeshifting vampiric insect from West Africa, and Kuchisake-onna, a vengeful spirit from Japan. This is where each featured creature's captivating illustrations come in handy. Even though the descriptions and background info are all great, having an excellent visual reference for each creature takes the book to another level.
For hardcore cryptid enthusiasts, FREAKY FOLKLORE will feel light regarding background information and historical or cultural context. If you’re looking for research materials suitable for academic purposes or a book that looks at cryptids through a more anthropological lens, FREAKY FOLKLORE will not be the best fit. It is pretty apparent the authors attempted to be sensitive to these creatures' roots and anthropological origins and took special care to credit Indigenous cultures where appropriate. However, at times, the attempt ends there and falls disappointingly short.
All that said, whether reading front to back or cracking the book open randomly, each page of FREAKY FOLKLORE has something to offer. Enjoyably spooky and beautifully executed, FREAKY FOLKLORE is a worthy bookshelf addition for anyone fascinated by things that go bump in the night.
FREAKY FOLKLORE publishes July 16, 2024. It is now available for pre-order wherever books are sold via Wellfleet Press, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group. For more information, please visit the Quarto website here.
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