In the TV show Supernatural, Sam and Dean investigate a mysterious disappearance that had to do with the mythical creature, the Wendigo. As it turns out, the Wendigo had been stalking the area, ready to catch its newest victims. In the video game Until Dawn, a group of friends is being stalked by a dark entity, as punishment for bullying someone back in high school. In the novella The Wendigo, by Algernon Blackwood, the protagonists sense something horrific living in the wilderness of northern Canada, but aren’t sure if they should even be pursuing it. It’s abundantly clear that the Wendigo weighs on the imagination of many writers. Whether it be their grotesque appearance or their haunting beginnings, Wendigos are a part of the horror genre, and continue to act as one of the harbingers of death. 

Wendigos are a part of Algonquian mythology. According to this, the Wendigo is a supernatural monster associated with cannibalism. The Wendigo appears emaciated, and appears to have ashen gray skin, with sunken eyes. In other words, the Wendigo is akin to a skeleton that has risen from the grave. It smells of decay. In some legends, wendigos were said to originally be human beings, who were starving to the point of cannibalism. When they ate other human beings, their monstrous transformation would begin. Other legends state that human beings were overtaken by their greed, and as such, were drowning in their own corruption.

Wendigos are considered to be the embodiment of gluttony. They aren’t satisfied with one kill, and will go out to seek other victims. The same can be said for humans. Because of the symbolism, many Native Americans have used it to serve as a warning against greed. Through this association, the wendigos are often used to encourage cooperation among colonists and natives during colonial times. However, this association has faded in modern culture.

Interestingly enough, there’s a psychological condition called Wendigo psychosis, where human beings would eat others out of extreme starvation, despite the fact that food might be nearby. A particularly famous case comes from a man named Swift Runner. In 1875, when Swift Runner had driven himself to the point of exhaustion, he turned around and slaughtered his family, though there were food supplies nearby. Another case involves Jack Fiddler, a medicine man known for fighting wendigos, especially those who were believed to be possessed by the wendigo. This often lead to their deaths. When Fiddler was caught by local authorities, Fiddler was arrested. He was eventually pardoned, but died before he could get the news.

The wendigo is a creature of legend that has inspired numerous horror stories, whether they be in movies, video games, and books. With its horrific appearance and nightmarish concepts, and even its lessons on human morality, the wendigo serves as one of the darkest parts of our muses. Because of this, the legend won’t die in the annals of history, and continues to hide in the shadows of the horror genre.