Monstrum

Monstrum

The world is full of monsters, myths, and legends. Host Dr. Emily Zarka takes the viewer on a journey to discover a new monster in each episode. Viewers develop an understanding of the unique drive to create and shape monster mythology through oral storytelling, literature, and film while exploring the history of these mythologies.

Color illustration of a grimacing dragon walking through a hazy forest.

Closeup of a portrait of Mary Shelley beside the superimposed silhouette of a shrouded figure with 1 forearm extended.

Dark red background with a silhouette of a large bridge. On it appears a paperback book with the title, "I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson. It has an drawing of a person holding a pole at the edge of a cliff above people falling into flames below.

Shadowy silhouette of a bald figure with both hands up and fingers spread out in front of an eerie blue background.

Black and white image of a male statue holding Kraken's tentacle. A black and white illustration of a man being attacked by Kraken appears under the image. A brown book with gold foil lettering that reads, "The Toilers of the Sea" sits to the left of the image.

Fresco of a nude Perseus holding up the head of Medusa. Fresco is surrounded by an ornate gold frame.

Digital image of a wall made of slats with light peeking through a large patched portion in the center.

Closeup of a digital page from the Weekly World News with a headline that reads, "Chupacabra Captured," above the image of an animal in a cage.

Black and white illustration of Godzilla baring its teeth and gripping an object. The word, "Kreeeonk!" cuts diagonally across the bottom right corner.

Closeup of a rock face erupting with small fires through its cracks.

Scrap of a painting that depicts Medea grasping her children while holding a dagger in 1 hand. Title bar reads, "Medea About to Kill Her Children. Eugéne Delacroix, circa 1862."

2-page view of a book filled with writing in Hebrew. Text on screen reads, "Torah."

Black and white image. Crowd of men in suits with slicked hair and fedoras hold pencils and notebooks. A woman writing in a notebook sits next to them on their left.

Blonde woman wearing a light pink shirt and long earrings holds up her hands as she talks. Behind her is a background of a cartoon forest with snow falling in low, gray light.

Blonde woman wearing a black shirt and a wooden necklace holds up her hands as she talks. Behind her is a background of a cartoon forest in low, brownish light.

Split screen. On the left is a digital cartoon of 3 shirtless cyclops forging objects out of metal in front of a fire. On the right is another cartoon cyclops wearing a dark red toga holding a shepherd's staff next to a goat in a cave.

Blonde woman wearing a blue and white striped shirt talks in front of a cartoon background depicting dirt hills with 1 small tree.

2 sepia-tone images. The left is a sketch of 3 women wearing striped dresses and fancy shawls with 2 men looking on from afar. The right is a photo of a woman with long, dark hair in a long dress leaning an arm across the back of a small chair.

Blonde woman wearing a black shirt with part of a skeleton costume stands outside in front of a large mural depicting a battle between Native Americans and European settlers.

Closeup of a gray and white cat with green eyes and long white whiskers.

Woman faces camera and parts her lips as if speaking in front of a muted woodland backdrop.

Blurry image of a black and white illustration. Boy turns back on a path surrounded by vegetation. A line of figures walks forward on the path ahead of him.

Blonde woman wearing a gray and white striped sweater talks in front of a cartoon background depicting snow falling on a meadow with snowy mountains behind it.

Cartoon of the back of a man with a white turban holding a jar with smoke coming out. He is looking at the silhouette of a large, bearded genie with glowing white eyes. The genie holds up its right forefinger.

2-page view of the title page of an old book. Text on the page reads, "An Arabian Tale from an unpublished manuscript, with notes critical and explanatory." A cursive signature appears next to the text.

Cartoon of a woman in dark clothing looking away. A man wearing a red tunic with white flowers looks toward her. There's a thick white line in the background between them.

Cartoon of a man with a wide-brimmed hat standing on the bow of a large red ship while holding a rifle at the ready.

Map of the Mediterranean Sea, with red lines connecting many of the cities around the coasts of the Sea. Some drawings of monsters from folklore appear on the Sea. Text on the screen reads, "Egyptian Trade, circa 1400 B, C."

Blonde woman wearing a royal blue shirt talks while standing in front of a large wooden bookshelf filled with books and monster decor.

Blonde woman in light pink sweater with a black necklace talks in front of a cartoon background depicting a dark, misty street lined with buildings and a gas lamp.

Cartoon of a bearded man wearing a tan hat with long ties hanging loose by his ears talking to another man in a dark hallway with a large window.

Sepia-tone photo of rows of soldiers with wide-brimmed hats marching while holding rifles on their shoulders. Each row has a commanding officer marching with it.

Sepia-tone photo of a man holding a handgun coming through an open door. In the room is a woman looking scared and another man looking at the man with the gun.

Scene from a film showing a person in dim light bringing a weapon overhead to strike at something. There's a border around the scene to make it look like film, with text that reads, "28 Days Later, 2002."

Cartoon of a bearded man wearing a brown jacket, black hat, and long pants running through mist toward a body of water.

Blonde woman wearing a jean jacket and black shirt talking in front of a cartoon background depicting the silhouettes of skinny, leafless trees surrounded by mist in low light.

Cartoon of a person with medium-length black hair in a leather hide with fringe on the arm looking at something hidden behind jungle plants. It is raining.

Still image from: Monstrum: Baba Yaga--The Ancient Origins of the Famous ‘Witch’

Still image from: Monstrum: Werehyena--The Terrifying Shapeshifters of African Lore

Still image from: Monstrum: Leprechaun--From Gold-Loving Cobbler to Cultural Icon

Still image from: Monstrum: Yara-ma-yha-who--Australia’s Regurgitating, Blood-Sucking Monster

Still image from: Monstrum: Basilisk or Cockatrice? The Mysterious King of Serpents

Still image from: Monstrum: Don’t Let Them In! The Urban Legends of Black-Eyed Children

Still image from: Monstrum: Fire Cat or Fire Cart? The History of Japan’s Kasha

Still image from: Monstrum: Death Worms--Fact or Fiction?