Films about Wendigos are a subgenre of horror movies that explore the mythical creature known as the Wendigo. Wendigos are often depicted as malevolent spirits or cannibalistic creatures from Native American folklore. These films typically delve into themes of isolation, survival, and the darkness within human nature. Here are some existing films about Wendigos:
“Ravenous”, 1999
Director: Antonia Bird
Set in the 19th century, this film follows a group of soldiers stationed at a remote outpost who encounter a Wendigo. As the creature's influence spreads, they must confront their own inner demons to survive.
Starring: Guy Pearce, Robert Carlyle, David Arquette, Jeremy Davies, Jeffrey Jones, John Spencer, Stephen Spinella, Neal McDonough, Joseph Runningfox, Bill Brochtrup, Sheila Tousey, Fernando Becerril, Gabriel Berthier, Pedro Altamirano, Joseph Boyle, Damián Delgado, Fernando Manzano, Alfredo Escobar, Gerardo Martínez, Miezi Sungu, Abel Woolrich;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: horror, thriller;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 101 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,9;
More information about the film “Ravenous” on the website imdb.com
“Wendigo”, 2001
Director: Larry Fessenden
In this atmospheric horror film, a family on a winter vacation in the woods encounters the wrath of a Wendigo after their son becomes convinced it's real. The film explores the psychological toll of fear and the blurred line between myth and reality.
Starring: Patricia Clarkson, Jake Weber, Erik Per Sullivan, John Speredakos, Christopher Wynkoop, Lloyd Oxendine, Brian Delate, Daniel Sherman, Jennifer Wiltsie, Maxx Stratton, Richard Stratton, Dash Stratton, Dwayne Navara, Shelly Bolding, Susan Pellegrino, James Godwin, Joseph C. Felece, Jack Fessenden, Daniel Stewart-Sherman;
Production year: 2001;
Genre: horror, thriller, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 91 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,1;
More information about the film “Wendigo” on the website imdb.com
“Antlers”, 2021
Director: Scott Cooper
This supernatural horror film tells the story of a small-town teacher who discovers that one of her students is harboring a dangerous secret involving a creature known as a Wendigo. As she uncovers the truth, she realizes the creature's connection to her own past.
Starring: Jeremy T. Thomas, Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, Graham Greene, Scott Haze, Rory Cochrane, Amy Madigan, Sawyer Jones, Cody Davis, Lyla Marlow, Jesse Downs, Arlo Hajdu, Dorian Kingi, Ken Kramer, Dendrie Taylor, Andy Thompson, Jake T. Roberts, Glynis Davies, Michael Eklund, Charmaine Wilson, Jay Brazeau, Katelyn Peterson, Lisa Cromarty, Emily Delahunty;
Production year: 2021;
Genre: horror, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 99 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,9;
More information about the film “Antlers” on the website imdb.com
“The Manitou”, 1977
Director: William Girdler
Though not specifically about Wendigos, this film features a Native American medicine man who summons an ancient spirit to combat a tumor growing on a woman's neck. As the spirit grows in power, it takes on the form of a Wendigo, bringing terror and chaos.
Starring: Tony Curtis, Michael Ansara, Susan Strasberg, Stella Stevens, Jon Cedar, Ann Sothern, Burgess Meredith, Paul Mantee, Jeanette Nolan, Lurene Tuttle, Hugh Corcoran, Anne Newman Bacal, Jan Heininger, Michael Laren, Cindy Stanford, Tenaya Torres, Carole Hemingway, Beverly Kushida, Charles Kissinger, Michael Andreas, Mick Dyrenforth, Loren Elaine, Felix Silla, Joe Gieb, Joe Dorsey;
Production year: 1977;
Genre: horror, thriller;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 99 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,3;
More information about the film “The Manitou” on the website imdb.com
“Wendigo: Bound by Blood”, 2010
Director: Len Kabasinski
In this low-budget horror film, a group of friends on a camping trip stumble upon a ritual site used to summon a Wendigo. As they inadvertently awaken the creature, they must fight for their lives and confront their own dark secrets.
Starring: Brian Anthony Fabian, Brian Arrington, Sara Brooks, Steve Brown, Dave Campbell, Jimmy Crissman, Bob Dobiesz, Andrew Ferrick, James Scott Charles Howells, Len Kabasinski, Cheyenne King, Joseph Mellesh, Amara Arielle Offhaus, Brenna Roth, K.K. Ryder, Jeremiah Salhoff, Melissa Scott;
Production year: 2010;
Genre: horror, science fiction, action, thriller;
Duration: 85 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 3;
More information about the film “Wendigo: Bound by Blood” on the website imdb.com
These films about Wendigos offer a thrilling and sometimes terrifying exploration of the folklore surrounding these mythical creatures. From psychological horror to supernatural thrillers, they showcase the enduring fascination with the Wendigo legend and its chilling implications for human nature.
In conclusion, films about wendigos serve as a haunting reflection of our deepest fears and the consequences of human transgression against nature. These chilling narratives often intertwine themes of isolation, survival, and the struggle against primal instincts, revealing the wendigo as not only a creature of folklore but also a metaphor for greed, insatiability, and the darkness that lurks within us all. As filmmakers continue to explore this enigmatic figure, audiences are invited to confront both the supernatural and the stark realities of their own humanity, ensuring that the legend of the wendigo remains a captivating and relevant source of horror in contemporary cinema.
