In a horror movie, the look and capabilities of a monster can be the most important decision. If the creature of the feature isn't creepy enough, all the big scares will fall flat. Luckily, there's a mountain of options to pull from, hidden away in the historical troves of folklore and fiction from generations ago.
The stories of the past still have so much appeal to the audiences of the modern day. Action movies borrow the structure of ancient myths. Romance stories are still pulled from torrid tales of gods and monsters. Horror films can and do find new scares in ancient monsters.
Troll
This Netflix original film takes the structure of a typical modern kaiju movie and applies it to the Norwegian legend of trolls. The film opens with a brief primer that explains the concept, noting that 13 of the massive monsters live in suspended animation as a part of a local mountain range. When a standard heartless corporation seeks to blast their way through the mountain to build a highway, they awaken the sleeping giant. The troll is a fantastic update of the old myth. One could picture it as an enemy in a video game, but it has a far more expressive face than the typical movie monster. The narrative is in direct conversation with the myths of the past, exploring the troll's reaction to the changes in society since he turned to stone. Troll is a simple idea executed well enough to be immediately great, and it could pave the way for endless new versions of mythological kaiju.
Krampus
Most people know the Krampus as the equal and opposite of Santa Claus. While Old St. Nick gives out presents to good kids, Krampus scares and sometimes punishes bad ones. His origin is in the Alpine region, where he could be expected to factor into pre-Christian parades and celebrations. The character became the subject of a 2015 horror comedy by Trick r' Treat director Michael Dougherty. Adam Scott, Toni Collette, and Emjay Anthony star as a somewhat messy family driven into chaos by visiting distant relatives. When young Max (Anthony) abandons his belief in the Christmas spirit, he awakens the wrath of Krampus. The film manages to be somewhat scary while also sporting a sick sense of humor. Dougherty knows how to get a lot out of very little, and the fine details make this film memorable. The sound design deserves special commendation, as it's an unsung virtue that Krampus nails. There's been something of a cultural obsession with Krampus in recent years, and this film is very much the starting point.
The Pyramid
Make no mistake, The Pyramid is a bad film. It's the absolute low point of the found footage craze, breaking every notable rule in its pursuit of dim plot points and lazy scares. Interestingly, it was released only four months after As Above, So Below, a nearly identical film that happens to be substantially better in every way. However, despite the general lack of quality, The Pyramid does feature a fascinating use of Egyptian mythology. Spoiler alert for this widely ignored and generally despised 2014 film, but the big threat that appears in the third act is Anubis. Fans of films that make sharp turns in tone and stakes near the ending will love The Pyramid. The main cast suddenly switches from evading death traps inside the titular tomb to having their heart violently torn out to be weighed on the scales. The sudden turn into mythology and sketchy portrayal of the Egyptian god of death isn't enough to save The Pyramid, but it is the most fun anyone will have with the film.
The Hallow
The world of Irish horror understands that faeries aren't as cute as they tend to be in Disney movies. Director Corin Hardy wanted to bring Irish folklore into the spotlight with a proper horror film. It's an instant classic for fans of the darker side of fairy tales. The Hallow follows a family who finds themselves in a remote Irish forest. After being spooked by some locals, their baby disappears suddenly. What follows is an Evil Dead-style fast and gory horror film packed to the rafters with nightmarish banshees and baby stealers. Hardy's mastery of atmosphere makes even the most familiar elements of this film feel new and horrific once again. Those who have any level of fascination with Irish folklore owe it to themselves to check out The Hallow. Those who don't should see it anyway, and learn the horrors firsthand.
The Ritual
Director David Bruckner, best known for the 2020 film The Night House and all-time great horror anthology segment Amateur Night, adapted Adam Nevill's 2011 novel into this solid horror film. The Ritual takes a long time to get where it's going, but, once it's there, it delivers one of the most horrific mythological monsters ever put to film. The story follows a group of friends hiking across northern Sweden. As they travel deeper into the forest, they encounter fitful hallucinations, nightmarish omens, and a cult that threatens the safety of the entire world. The Ritual is a simple film, but it's a must-see for folk horror fans.