8 horror movies inspired by Native American myths and legends
Ready for some refreshing spooks from the natural world? Native Americans have been conjuring up vengeful spirits from campfires for ages. Here—for the 20th installment in our 31 Days of Halloween series—are a slew of supernatural stories woven into Hollywood films to make you think twice about messin' with tribal burial grounds.
Hollywood has been painfully slow tapping into this massive mythology of Indian lore to inject into its scary movies. Filmmakers mining spooky gems from the rich caves of Native American tragedy and tradition seems like a no-brainer, but the limited number of movies themed in this light suggest many have no clue of the potential for adaptation.
A few have used their weirdly wonderful legends to great effect, educating and introducing audiences to a stampede of shape-shifting creatures, woodland spirits and angry evil entities. Others have missed the mark completely, capitalizing on politically incorrect slasher films. For better and for worse, from antler-accessorized specters to long-locked tumor demons, these eight Native American-influenced films will deepen your understanding of Indian culture and scare the pemmican out of you at the same time.
And here's a complete list of all 31 Days of Halloween features:
9 zombie-killing ladies we want on our side during the apocalypse
11 custom coffins perfect for any sci-fi fan's final collectible
12 movie and TV haunted houses we wouldn't mind moving into
10 unsettlingly scary movies in which everyone dies at the end
8 undead animals prove reanimation ain't always such a good idea
14 timeless literary classics mashed up into creepy horror tales
Nosferatu + 13 more classic silent horror films you can watch NOW
Gruesome Halloween costume ideas from 25 terrifying cosplayers
12 deadly TV psychos we should hate (but secretly love)
11 weird zombie-killing weapons that'll destroy the undead with style
15 Lovecraftian stories to read once you've read all of Lovecraft
Watch 9 over-the-top horror movie performances by Star Trek stars
11 zombies it hurt to kill because we loved them so much
Mickey, Popeye and more get spooked in 15 classic creepy cartoons
20 horrifying, hilarious Halloween T-shirts better than costumes
11 great, gory vampire kills from horror movies and TV
Dracula's Dog + 8 more WTF movies about the Prince of Darkness
15 awesomely horrific Game of Thrones deaths (+ a bonus LOL one)
Batman, Iron Man + 22 more superhero-carved Halloween pumpkins
8 horror movies inspired by Native American myths and legends
Beetlejuice, Slimer + 9 more goofy ghosts from horror films and TV
12 most annoyingly useless horror movie authority figures
13 horrific Kickstarter projects you can help fund before Halloween
12 gruesome horror scenes where someone loses a head
Chomp down on 23 awesomely revolting zombie comic book covers
9 spooky body mods that'll put your Halloween costume to shame
14 annoying horror movie victims we were actually glad to see die
9 over-the-top horror films so disgusting they got banned
Check out 13 scary move trailers that still freak us out
25 creepy cosplayers who should be horrific but are sexy instead
See Harrison Ford + 18 more sci-fi celebs in Halloween costumes
View Images
WENDIGO (2001)
Directed by horror-meister Larry Fessenden, an intriguing Algonquin myth about a flesh-eating shapeshifting forest demon who comes camping with a cabin-load of clueless yuppies.
DEER WOMAN (2005)
John Landis presents this bizarre Native American folklore entry for the excellent Masters Of Horror cable series staring a sexy body-morphing elk woman. You'll never see Bambi the same way again.
THE SACRED (2009)
Step away from the burial grounds! Gory fright flick with meddlesome archaeology students stirring up malevolent ghosts in a Florida swamp with predictable Flatliners-like results.
SCALPS (1983)
Offensive? Extremely. Fun? Bigtime. Dumb students unleash the spirit of Black Claw and he's not too friendly. Exploitation trash with every "evil Indian" cliche and pun you can toss a tomahawk at.
SHADOW OF THE HAWK (1976)
Old Man Hawk, an aging shaman recruits his skeptical son to help battle a 200-year-old witch named Dsonqua with a deranged dose of Native American sorcery.
THE MANITOU (1978)
Wailing for a remake! A cosmic reincarnation horror film starring Tony Curtis and Susan Strasberg and one wild-mopped midget Indian spirit spawned from a neck tumor and out for nasty revenge.
POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE (1986)
Cuckoo's Nest Chief Will Sampson plays a gentle Indian shaman who strides into little Carol Anne's weird world in this silly sequel. Uses some handy Native American spells to beat down a demonic living cadaver named Kane.
SOUL CATCHER (2011)
Moving and strangely watchable paranormal docu-drama digging around haunted Native American landmarks and abandoned Indian boarding schools searching for lost souls and spirits along the infamous Trail Of Fears.
