Skip to main content
Back to Show
Monstrum

The Dark Origins of Hansel and Gretel

Season 2 Episode 2

Hansel and Gretel is one of the most famous fairy tales of the Western world, and contains one of the most notorious witches. In this episode you’ll learn about witch trials in Germany, the role famine and poverty play in creating monsters, and how the Grimm brothers evolved oral folklore into legendary tales. The real story of Hansel and Gretel is even more scary than you think.

Support Provided By
Season
The Ancient Terror of the Chinese Hopping Corpse, Jiangshi
12:13
Jiangshi, is a variation on the vampire that you won’t soon forget!
The Mother of Vengeance: Grendel's Mom
8:44
Translation has shaped the lore of Grendel's Mother as a fearsome yet misunderstood figure.
La Lechuza: The Shape-Shifting Witch-Owl
10:29
La Lechuza: The Shape-Shifting Witch-Owl
King Kong pt. 2
10:09
King Kong and how his long-lived story has changed to reflect our society’s complex social issues.
Lost in the Backrooms: Exploring the Internet's Creepiest Liminal Space
11:16
Ever felt like a place seems real yet oddly unsettling?
Is This North American Sea Serpent Real or a Hoax?
11:15
The Pacific Northwest's enigmatic waters are home to an elusive sea serpent of legend: Cadborosaurus
A Giant Monster With a Giant Problem
9:06
In this episode, we explore the complicated legacy of the monumental 1933 film, King Kong.
How a Children’s Book Introduced Us To Our Inner Demons
9:12
There’s something deeper to this fantastically monstrous story!
Who Is This Japanese Yōkai That Is Obsessed With Your Butt?
11:25
Meet Kappa, a Japanese water yokai that's obsessed with butts.
Uncovering the Enigma: Sasquatch Sightings (ASL)
12:08
Is Bigfoot a benevolent beast or bloodthirsty killer? Depends on who you ask, and when!
Mari Lwyd: The Skeleton Horse's Deep Past with Christmas
10:58
What grim skeletal equine monster roams the villages of Wales under the cover of night?
Creepy Clowns: The Horror Behind the Laughter
7:54
Behind their face paint, creepy clowns reveal our deepest fears about who we can trust.
Active loading indicator