Editorials
Shadows of Ourselves – The Unexplained Phenomena of Shadow People [DEAD Time]
Welcome back to DEAD Time. I hope you left a light on because this month, I want to talk about shadow people. Have you ever sat alone in the dark and thought you saw something out of the corner of your eye? Did you tell yourself that you’re just tired or it’s just your mind playing tricks on you?
The concept of shadow figures can be traced back to various religious beliefs, legends, and folklore. Some people believe the dark, patchy, humanoid figures are the presence of ghosts, demons, or other creatures of the underworld. While some think shadowy creatures are spiritual or supernatural, reports of shadow people have been connected to certain medical conditions like dementia, schizophrenia, and sleep paralysis. These dark figures are often perceived as evil or threatening but can also be seen as friendly or impartial.
Whether you believe shadow people are real or imagined, and regardless of what you think their motives are, people have reported seeing them for decades.
In the first installment of DEAD Time, I described some of the paranormal or unexplained experiences that were regular occurrences in my family home when I was growing up and even into adulthood. As I said in that first column, I believe the activity in our home was somehow connected to my mother. Exactly how it was connected to her will probably always be a mystery, but everyone in my family experienced strange things to some extent.
One of the things all of us experienced was what we would describe as shadow people.
I’m the only member of my family with a sleep disorder, so I’ve always believed that the shadowy figures could be connected to the fact that even now, I rarely sleep well if I sleep at all. Studies have shown that people who suffer from insomnia, sleep paralysis, and narcolepsy have all reported seeing what they describe as dark, shadowy figures. I’ve struggled with sleep my entire life, but oddly, the only times I remember seeing shadow people during periods of sleep deprivation were when I was growing up or times when I would spend the night at my parents’ house. I still have raging insomnia, but as an adult I’ve never seen these figures in my own home. I suppose the reasons for that will be lost to time along with my family’s strange paranormal history.
Based on my personal experience, I’ve never perceived shadow people as good or bad—they were just there, lurking in the dark. Sleep paralysis is a brief loss of muscle control, known as atonia, which occurs right after falling asleep or just before waking up. Hallucinations are common and can cause intense fear.
People who suffer from sleep paralysis will tell you stories about shadowy creatures that lunged at them, sat on their chests, and tried to choke or smother them. Shadow people have been reported by people based on their religious beliefs and even folklore. Indigenous mythology features many stories about shadow beings. For example, the Choctaw people pass down the legend of the Nalusa Falaya, which translates to “long, tall being.” The Nalusa Falaya is a terrifying shadow creature that waits in the dense forest to claim victims, who are never seen or heard from again. Some religions, as well as paranormal researchers, believe shadow figures represent demons or ghosts, who want to harm us or simply wish to communicate with us.
Maybe you just need some sleep, dear reader. Or maybe it’s just a trick of the light and these shadows aren’t beings at all.
Your belief in the paranormal, and perception of shadow people in particular, is most likely tied to your religious or spiritual beliefs, culture, folklore, or even a medical condition. Whether these shadowy entities can be linked to disease, mental illness, or some sort of paranormal phenomena, people will most likely continue to report seeing them for decades to come. Please feel free to reach out with your own experiences with shadow people or share them in the comments.
Until the next DEAD Time, I hope you’ll leave a light on for me.
New month, new horror recommendations from Deep Cuts Rising. This installment features one random pick as well as four selections reflecting the month of May 2024.
Regardless of how they came to be here, or what they’re about, these past movies can generally be considered overlooked, forgotten or unknown.
This month’s offerings include a self-loathing serial killer, a violinist’s murderous ghost, and a postmodern vamp flick.
Scream, Pretty Peggy (1973)
Pictured: Ted Bessell and Sian Barbara Allen in Scream, Pretty Peggy.
Directed by Gordon Hessler.
The TV-movie Scream, Pretty Peggy first aired as part of ABC Movie of the Week. Bette Davis plays the mother of a reclusive sculptor (Ted Bessell), and after the previous housekeeper goes missing, a local college student (Sian Barbara Allen) fills the position. Little does she know, though, the young employee’s predecessor was murdered — and the killer is still on the loose.
Admittedly, Scream, Pretty Peggy isn’t difficult to figure out; its inspiration is obvious. However, Bette Davis’ overstated performance and the son character’s macabre artwork are enough to stay tuned and learn who’s behind the killings.
Scream, Pretty Peggy is now available on physical media from Kino Lorber. Perhaps watch the movie with your own mother this Mother’s Day (May 12).
Paganini Horror (1989)
Pictured: The ghostly killer in Paganini Horror.
Directed by Luigi Cozzi.
For National Buy a Musical Instrument Day (May 22), check out this absurd Italian entry in the subgenre of cursed music horror. A rock band unleashes hell when they unknowingly use a satanic piece of music composed by Niccolò Paganini, the violinist who was rumored to have made a Faustian deal.
Even though Paganini Horror is hardly deemed a standout of Italian Horror, and the movie indeed drags itself toward the finish line, there are some bright spots worth focusing on. For instance: Donald Pleasence. If that’s not enough, the very ’80s aesthetic helps gloss over the flaws in Daria Nicolodi‘s uneven script.
Paganini Horror is now on physical media from Severin Films and is also streaming on SCREAMBOX.
Nadja (1994)
Pictured: Suzy Amis Cameron and Karl Geary in Nadja.
Directed by Michael Almereyda.
These vampires may or may not cast a reflection, but they sure do love to reflect. David Lynch executive-produced as well as briefly appeared in the film, which Roger Ebert succinctly described as “Deadpan Noir” in his review. This tale of revenge and philosophical pondering begins with the vampiric namesake (Suzy Amis Cameron) seducing the daughter (Galaxy Craze) of Van Helsing after he killed Nadja’s father, Dracula. From there a war erupts between the two sides, all while taking place in modern NYC.
Nadja is quite slow but also just strange, stylish and creative enough to keep your attention. In addition, the trip hop soundtrack is easy on the ears, and Peter Fonda plays a memorable Van Helsing. Overall, this is a unique and artsy approach to vampire horror.
Nadja is now streaming on Freevee.
The Bone Snatcher (2003)
Pictured: Scott Bairstow, Warrick Grier and Rachel Shelley in ‘The Bone Snatcher’.
Directed by Jason Wulfsohn.
For National Sunscreen Day (May 27), dig up the monster movie The Bone Snatcher. It will take more than a high SPF to protect the sunburned characters here; they are stuck in a South African desert with a bizarre monster called the Esikhulu.
The best things about The Bone Snatcher are its setting and the creature. This beast, which is brought to life on screen using a combination of practical and digital effects, sports a ghastly design to go with its unnerving ability to animate skeletons. Something else this movie has going for it is a refusal to show the monster too often; that way there is less chance of becoming desensitized to the Esikhulu. Ultimately, this has nothing on John Carpenter’s The Thing, however, those more forgiving fans of Syfy-ish creature-features should be satisfied.
The Bone Snatcher is currently streaming on Tubi.
#1 Serial Killer (2013)
Pictured: Jason Tobin in #1 Serial Killer.
Directed by Stanley Yung.
May is AAPIM, and the subversive #1 Serial Killer (originally titled Chink) is relevant when discussing the “Invisible Asian” notion. Acknowledging the irony, Stanley Yung’s movie has gone widely unnoticed despite its potent take on race and identity.
Jason Tobin (Warrior) delivers a compelling performance as the vile protagonist here. The self-hating, Ted Bundy-admiring character discriminates against other Asians after years of mistreatment and disregard, and that growing rage finally manifests as cathartic violence.
#1 Serial Killer is currently available at digital retailers like Apple.
No genre is as prolific as horror, so it’s understandable that movies fall through the cracks all the time. That is where this recurring column, Deep Cuts Rising, comes in. Each installment of this series will spotlight several unsung or obscure movies from the past — some from way back when, and others from not so long ago — that could use more attention.
‘Infested’ Review – One of the Best Spiders Attack Horror Movies in Years
‘The King Tide’: An Island Town Rots with Moral Decay in Canadian Folk Horror Fable [Review]
Limited Edition Morticia & Wednesday Addams ‘Monster High’ Dolls Releasing Next Week!
TWO New ‘Evil Dead’ Movies Now in the Works; Sébastien Vaniček & Francis Galluppi Directing
“AHS: Delicate” Review – ‘The Auteur’ Gives Birth to a Lackluster, Laughable Finale
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