Parables of Monsters

I am in the mood today to discuss about monsters. I really like monsters. Not the everyday monsters we see walking the dogs or in the store, but the monsters which become an irrational fear. Take for instance a child eating giant with spikes covering his entire body. Or a half woman half snake creature which kills souls, not bodies.

What is a monster? A phantom which haunts and plagues the minds of children? A demon which sulks the shadows? Or rather a small innocuous-looking thing that can actually be vicious? A monster is not imaginary nor out of this world. A monster is an identity that people carry. The next door neighbor may in fact be
a monster. Children hide from monsters, however adults can too. And sometimes
the monster may never be unstoppable and others may not know a monster does
exist. It can be the fatal cut which infects your body and allows you your
torment and woe. A monster can also be a beautiful creature which despite
its deformities, a flawed and imperfect creation. A monster can be born with
a clean slate and naturally good tendencies, or with selfish ones.

Because it's monster time, I would suggest the following: Frankenstein, The Spirit of the Beehive, The Devil's Backbone, Monster, Where the Wild Things Are, and of course, the one with the fairy-chomping, eye-in-hands pale man, uh, Pan's Labyrinth.