Buzz
Horror films are brimming with gruesome creature assaults. Freddy Krueger slashes through teens, Godzilla wreaks havoc on cities, Dracula feasts on blood, and the Gill-man abducts unsuspecting women. It’s all in good fun because it’s just fiction... right? Maybe. Throughout history, countless terrified individuals have sworn they were attacked by monsters, demons, and creatures with razor-sharp teeth. Were they lying, delusional, or simply intoxicated? Or could they have been telling the truth?
10. The Nameless Terror of Berkeley Square
As previously noted, 50 Berkeley Square is renowned as London’s most haunted house. This notorious residence is said to be teeming with spirits, but what if something far more sinister roams its halls? Since the 1840s, tales have circulated of an unnamed horror inhabiting the upper levels. While some insist it’s a malevolent ghost, others argue that Berkeley Square harbors a genuine eldritch monstrosity.
In the 1840s, Sir Robert Warboys, a skeptic of the paranormal, took on the challenge of spending a night on the second floor of London’s infamous haunted house. At the anxious landlord’s urging, Warboys carried a candle and a pistol, with instructions to pull the bell cord if anything unusual occurred. At 12:45 AM, the landlord was abruptly awakened by the sound of the bell ringing and a gunshot. Rushing upstairs, he found Warboys crouched in a corner, a smoking pistol in his hand, and lifeless. No intruder was found, but the landlord knew from the terror etched on Warboys’ face that he had witnessed something unspeakable.
The second incident occurred in 1943 when two sailors, Martin and Blunden, penniless after a night of revelry, chose to stay in the deserted house. They discovered a relatively dry, rat-free room upstairs, lit a fire, and fell asleep on the floor. After midnight, Blunden awoke to the sound of creaking hinges and saw the bedroom door slowly opening. Terrified, he woke Martin, and they both heard something wet and slimy sliding across the floor, inching closer. Martin glimpsed the creature, describing it as a “hideous monstrosity” (perhaps too horrifying for the human mind to fully grasp), and it blocked their only exit.
The creature lunged at Blunden, wrapping around his throat and strangling him. Martin fled in terror, finding a patrolling police officer. Though skeptical, the officer searched the house and discovered Blunden’s body in the basement. The sailor’s neck was broken, and his eyes were bulging. While it’s plausible that Martin killed his friend, why would he invent such an outlandish tale? And what about the numerous other accounts of a massive, slimy blob with tentacles? Some truths are beyond human understanding, and one of them may reside at 50 Berkeley Square.
9. Lhakpa Dolma And The Yeti
Contrary to the charming portrayal in Monsters, Inc., the yeti is far from endearing—at least according to Lhakpa Dolma. In 1974, 14-year-old Lhakpa was herding yaks in the frosty Nepalese mountains when something came barreling down the slope. A yeti seized the girl and tossed her into a stream. Though frightened and unharmed, Lhakpa observed as the creature shifted its focus to her livestock.
Lhakpa described the monster as dark brown with a wrinkled face and long nails, capable of walking on both two and four legs. She estimated its height at about 1.5 meters (5 feet), making it roughly the same size as Danny DeVito. However, the yeti compensated for its lack of height with sheer strength. It punched the yaks and, like a deranged cowboy, grabbed their horns and twisted until their necks broke. After killing three, the frenzied creature feasted on their brains.
Lhakpa was deeply shaken, and her family discovered her in tears. They alerted the police, who found peculiar bite marks on the yaks and unusual footprints in the snow. Could a yeti have truly attacked Lhakpa Dolma? Regardless of the perpetrator, the incident was undeniably monstrous.
8. The Converse Werewolf
Believe it or not, Texas is teeming with tales of werewolves. In 1958, Mrs. Delburt Gregg of Greggton woke up to see a wolf-like creature peering through her window. According to an old legend, settler and tombstone carver N.Q. Patterson of Kimble County carved the terrifying visage of a local werewolf into the limestone rocks near his home. Meanwhile, in San Antonio, the Crimson Blood Wolf Pack, a group of self-proclaimed teenage werewolves, sport fake fangs, slit-iris contacts, and animal tails.
However, the most chilling Texas legend is that of the Converse Werewolf. The story recounts how an old rancher gave his son a rifle and sent him into the woods to hunt a deer and prove his manhood. When the boy failed to return after several days, the rancher organized a search party to find him.
As the rancher pushed through the dense underbrush, he heard an eerie sound in the distance. Hoping it was his missing son, he rushed toward the noise, only to discover his boy being devoured by a massive wolf-like creature. In horror, the rancher shot the beast, which fled, leaving behind the boy’s mutilated body. The rancher was too late—his son had been torn apart. After the encounter, the rancher spiraled into despair, locking himself in his cabin, refusing to eat, and eventually dying alone. It’s as if H.P. Lovecraft penned a Western tale.
7. The Dragon Of Lake Chelan
Nestled in the North Cascades National Forest, the serene waters of Lake Chelan may appear inviting, but danger lurks beneath the surface of “Washington’s Playground.” Legend has it that Native Americans once discovered a demon residing in its depths and attempted to destroy the creature by damming the lake. However, like any resilient horror movie monster, it endured.
The beast reappeared in 1892. A local newspaper reported that an unidentified young man was swimming in the lake when razor-sharp jaws clamped onto his legs. He screamed for help, and two friends rushed to pull him out. But the ravenous creature had other intentions. After a desperate tug-of-war, the men managed to drag their friend ashore—only to find the monster still gripping his legs.
The creature had the legs and body of an alligator, the head and eyes of a snake, a scaly tail, and bat-like wings. Despite its skin being “soft as velvet,” the beast proved indestructible. The men attacked it with knives, rocks, and sticks, but nothing worked. The dragon refused to release its hold. Finally, they lit a fire and dragged the creature over the flames. This provoked a violent reaction—the dragon spread its wings, took flight, and plunged back into the lake, taking its victim with it.
6. The Hellhound Of Suffolk
Imagine being pursued by a demon. Your first thought might be to seek refuge in a church, assuming evil entities cannot tread on sacred ground. However, this rule doesn’t hold for hellhounds. These shadowy canines have been sighted worldwide, with some believing they are Satan’s attack dogs and others claiming they are the devil himself. Despite their infernal origins, churches provide no protection against them.
The most notorious hellhound attack occurred on Sunday, August 4, 1577, in Suffolk, England. As the townspeople of Bungay prayed inside St. Mary’s Church, a violent thunderstorm erupted. Hail battered the church, and lightning illuminated the sky when a massive dog suddenly appeared. The beast lunged into the congregation, tearing out throats and emitting such intense heat that it vaporized those who came too close. Some accounts even claim it used its paws to strangle worshippers. By the time it finished, the hellhound had slain three people, but its rampage wasn’t over. It raced to Blythburgh Church, where it continued its slaughter before vanishing into the night.
Did a hellhound truly attack Bungay and Blythburgh? Historical records confirm a thunderstorm on August 4, 1577, and that St. Mary’s steeple was struck by lightning. Additionally, Churchwarden’s records note that two men died in the belfry that night. Was it a natural disaster? Possibly. Yet, an old verse states, “All down the church in the midst of fire, the hellish monster flew. And, passing onward to the quire, he many people slew.” To this day, visitors to Blythburgh can see the scorch marks allegedly left by the hellhound on the church door.
5. Henri Van Heerdan And The Santu Sakai
The Santu Sakai of Malaysia are mythical beings, part-human and part-animal, notorious for raiding villages and abducting people to devour as late-night meals. Their name means “mouth men,” likely due to their razor-sharp fangs and their gruesome appetite for human flesh.
Naturally, most people dismiss the existence of the Santu Sakai. They sound like the product of a feverish nightmare after indulging in spicy food while watching Beowulf. However, Henri Van Heerdan would beg to differ. In 1967, while hunting in a forest near Kuala Lumpur, he heard growls and screams emanating from the trees. As an experienced hunter, Van Heerdan was accustomed to such sounds, but these were so unsettling that he fled.
As he ran, Van Heerdan glanced back to see two monstrous ogres charging toward him. They were massive, muscular, and equipped with terrifyingly sharp teeth. Van Heerdan attempted to shoot them, but before he could aim his shotgun, the Santu Sakai overpowered him, knocking his weapon aside. In a desperate move, he struck the creatures with a rock and stumbled into his car. While fumbling with his keys, one demon tried to smash through the rear window, while the other climbed onto the hood. Van Heerdan managed to start the engine and shook off the first creature, but the second continued pounding the windshield. He slammed on the brakes, sending the monster tumbling, and then sped toward safety, leaving the Santu Sakai behind.
4. The Story Of Edward Brian McCleary
If you get your hands on the May 1965 edition of Fate Magazine, you’ll encounter a harrowing account titled “My Escape From a Sea Monster” by Edward Brian McCleary. At just 19, McCleary and his four teenage friends—Warren Salley, Eric Ruyle, Larry Bill, and Brad Rice—claimed they were assaulted by a creature straight out of prehistory.
On March 24, 1962, the group decided to explore the USS Massachusetts, a decommissioned navy ship sunk off the coast of Pensacola, Florida. The boys thought it would be an ideal spot for scuba diving. Adventurous teens, a spooky location, and a lurking monster—you can guess how this unfolds.
As the boys paddled toward the battleship in a rubber raft, a violent storm struck. Tossed by fierce winds, they became disoriented in the fog. While they didn’t encounter ghostly pirates, they stumbled upon something far more terrifying. As dusk fell, they heard splashing nearby, followed by the foul stench of decay and an eerie hissing sound.
McCleary recounted seeing what looked like a 3-meter (10-foot) pole, or perhaps a long neck, charging toward them. In a panic, the teens abandoned their raft and swam for the battleship. As they struggled through the water, McCleary witnessed the creature drag Eric Ruyle beneath the surface. Moments later, Warren Salley yelled, “It’s got Brad!” Shortly after, Salley screamed in agony, and Larry Bill disappeared into the fog.
McCleary managed to swim to shore, where a rescue team found him. Three years later, he sold his story to the magazine and drew a sketch of the beast that allegedly killed his friends. The drawing bore an uncanny resemblance to a plesiosaurus. But was McCleary’s story true? According to “Cryptomundo,” Brad Rice’s body did wash ashore, but the fate of the others remains a mystery.
3. The Fred Beck Story
Near Mount St. Helens lies a narrow gorge known as Ape Canyon, and if Fred Beck is to be believed, its residents aren’t fond of intruders. In 1924, Beck and four friends were gold mining near the canyon when strange occurrences began. For a week, they heard odd noises, whistling, and loud thuds, as if something was pounding its chest. One day, while Beck and a companion fetched water, they spotted a hairy humanoid emerging from the woods. Perhaps it meant no harm, but Beck’s friend panicked and fired at the creature, driving it back into the canyon.
Understandably shaken, the miners decided to leave the next morning. However, the Bigfoot had other ideas. That night, as the miners slept, something slammed against their cabin. Beck awoke to the sound of massive creatures moving outside. With no windows, one miner peered through a gap in the logs and saw at least three monsters planning an assault. The creatures began hurling rocks at the cabin, pushing against the door, and climbing onto the roof in search of an entry point. The miners fought back, firing through the roof and gaps in the logs.
The assault lasted all night, with the creatures relentlessly attacking the cabin. One miner, terrified, sang in an attempt to calm the “Mountain Devils.” At sunrise, the beasts retreated into the forest. The miners hastily packed and fled to their car. After reaching safety, they shared their incredible tale with newspapers. Investigators found mysterious footprints but no sign of Bigfoot, alive or dead. Most dismissed the story as a hoax, and in 1982, a man named Rant Mullens claimed responsibility, admitting he had been faking Bigfoot tracks since the ’30s and had rolled rocks onto Fred Beck’s cabin that night in 1924. While the incident was likely an elaborate prank, this author still wouldn’t spend a night near Ape Canyon.
2. The Bauman Incident
The chilling story of Bauman, the mountain man, was documented by none other than Teddy Roosevelt himself. This eerie account is featured in Roosevelt’s 1892 book The Wilderness Hunter, and Bauman’s experience is as spine-tingling as they get.
Bauman and his partner were beaver trappers who had established a camp and constructed a lean-to near Montana’s Wisdom River. After leaving their belongings behind to set traps, they returned at dusk to find their shelter destroyed and their packs ransacked. Bauman assumed a bear was responsible, but his partner was suspicious. Using a torch, he examined the tracks closely. “Bauman,” he said, “that bear has been walking on two legs.”
That night, as the two slept in a newly built lean-to, Bauman woke to see a massive figure standing in the entrance. In a panic, he shot the intruder, which then fled into the woods. For the remainder of the night, the two men stayed by the fire, clutching their guns and keeping a wary eye on the trees.
The creature reappeared the following day, destroying their campsite once more while they were out setting traps. That night, the men heard the beast’s haunting howls echoing through the forest. At sunrise, Bauman and his companion decided it was time to leave. However, they first needed to retrieve their traps, and in a classic horror-movie misstep, they separated. Bauman headed to the river, while his partner stayed behind to pack their equipment.
When Bauman returned to camp, he noticed the fire had died out. Their belongings were packed, but his partner was nowhere to be found. Bauman called out, but there was no response. Then he saw the body. His partner lay sprawled on the ground, his neck broken, his throat marked with puncture wounds, and enormous footprints scattered around. Overcome with fear, Bauman fled into the forest, abandoning everything except his gun.
So what was this creature? Bauman believed it was a goblin. Modern cryptozoologists suggest it might have been Bigfoot. Roosevelt, however, remained uncertain. Perhaps it was just an animal... or perhaps something more. As he famously said, “No man can say.”
1. La Bruja De Guadalupe
Leonardo Samaniego is no ordinary victim of a monster attack. Besides being a police officer, Samaniego didn’t face the usual Bigfoot or sea creature. Instead, he insists he was assaulted by a “bruja,” the Spanish word for “witch.”
On January 16, 2004, Officer Samaniego was patrolling the streets of Guadalupe, Mexico, when he saw something leap from a nearby tree. Intrigued, he turned on his brights for a closer look and spotted a woman dressed in a black cape, cloak, and pointed hat. Her eyes were entirely black, devoid of any whites or eyelids, and most unsettlingly, her feet didn’t touch the ground. Without warning, the bruja flew toward his car, landing on the hood and staring at him with her hollow eyes. In a panic, Samaniego reversed the car, but the witch began pounding on the windshield, attempting to shatter it and seize him. Samaniego called for backup but crashed into a wall, knocking himself out.
Samaniego regained consciousness in an ambulance and was tested for drugs and alcohol, both of which came back negative. He passed all psychological evaluations and had no history of hallucinations. When reporters arrived, the shaken officer stood by his account. After his story went public, hundreds of people claimed to have seen a woman flying through the sky. Was Samaniego’s account the spark for mass hysteria? Or did something truly supernatural attack his patrol car? If you ever visit Guadalupe, you might want to carry a bucket of water—just in case.
