The Wendigo
Searchlight Pictures/YouTubeThe wendigo as it appears in the 2021 film Antlers.
The wendigo is truly one of the most infamous creatures in Native American folklore — and one of the scariest cryptids on this list. Said to be a former hunter who resorted to cannibalism, the wendigo is an insatiable evil spirit wandering the Earth. According to legends, it stands at nearly 15 feet tall, but its appearance is emaciated, as it is never able to satisfy its hunger.
Its bones push out from beneath its skin, and its skull is sometimes depicted as being similar to that of a deer’s. Some descriptions give the wendigo large, sharp claws and owl-like eyes, while others say that it smells of death, decay, and corruption.
Likewise, some variations of the story describe it as incredibly fast with an unparalleled endurance, while others claim that it only hobbles forward, as if it’s falling apart.
Wikimedia CommonsThe wendigo, one of the most frightening cryptids on this list, has appeared in a variety of popular media in recent years, including the show Hannibal and the video game Until Dawn.
Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of the wendigo, however, is its ability to mimic human voices. Rather than relying on speed and strength to catch its prey, the wendigo prefers to slowly lure its victims into the wilderness, away from civilization. It can also turn its victim into a wendigo, which will continue to spread its malevolent hunger until the end of time.
During the turn of the 20th century, the Algonquian people attributed numerous disappearances to the wendigo, believing that many of the missing had been lured away by the horrifying creature. In fact, one rough translation of wendigo is “the evil spirit that devours mankind.”
If that doesn’t send a chill up your spine, what will?
