"Sinister"/"Sinister 2": Baghuul, The Patchwork Demon
So, over the last week or so I've been playing with a story idea. It went from a random comment made to a friend and has turned into a full-blown, 3-part book trilogy. My story involves a spiritual entity called "The Collector" who harvests select unborn souls in order to coerce the parents into performing actions dictated by Fate, Sean, our Account Manager, suggested a similarity to the "Sinister" movies and their primary antagonist, Baghuul(Bagul).
Now, for those of you who watched the "Sinister" movies, Bagul is a terrifying and unholy entity with dark, hollow eyes, ragged black hair, no mouth, and black long-coat. His MO is to haunt and corrupt the youngest child in a family, gradually turning the child against its parents and family until, usually in some horrendous manner, the child ends the lives of the rest of the family. After the family is deceased, Bagul shows up and claims the child as his own and adds to his ghostly collection.
The demon is said to be a Babylonian deity that devoured the souls of young children as a part of its required sacrifices. Bagul supposedly works through images, moving and manipulating from his own alternate reality on the other side of an image. In the "Sinister" movies, Bagul seems particularly fond of working through old film, though he also is seen moving through hard-copy images and images on a computer screen. Though feared and very powerful, never once in the "Sinister" franchise up to date has he physically harmed a human, he seems to prefer to let his ghostly cadre of children do the dirty work. I guess when you have been around for that many centuries you can afford to be a little lazy.
While Bagul is an intriguing idea and a fascinating character, there actually is no cultural or mythical reference to a "Baghuul" in history. As close as I could find, Bagul is a cross between the Slavic "Ale" and Babylon's "Moloch". In my reading a few tried to draw comparisons to the demons Lilith and Abyzou, both of Sumerian origins.
Lilith and Abyzou honestly dont have many similarities with the Bagul character, Though in an article posted in 2012 internet writer Tim Wood claimed that Bagul's appearance was borrowed from Lilith (https://livescifi.tv/2012/10/is-the-bagul-demon-real/), there are no similarities between the typically beautiful and very feminine Lilith and the rather masculine and extremely terrifying Bagul. As for habits and MO, Lilith has a history of causing stillbirths and is considered the demonic patron saint of abortions, but rarely if ever has she devoured children. Abyzou shares a history with Lilith, both having said to have been born from the primordial abyss and heavily involved in child mortality and failed childbirths. Seeing as Bagul is male, tends to take on a decidedly dark and chilling appearance, and prefers to eat children rather than prevent them from being born, our friend Tim's connection is thin at best.
The Ale, on the other hand, are known for their dark appearance and child-eating habits. Although the Ale tend to take on more bird-like physical characteristics, they are definitely more somber in their attire than the likes of Lilith. And while nothing is said in the legends of them liking to play with their food, they do share Bagul's taste for young humans.
Moloch, one of the primary Babylonian deities, is the closest match to Bagul I was able to find. A powerful entity who demanded the respect and devotion of the entire Babylonian empire, Moloch demanded child sacrifice and was known for playing with the lives of mortals. Of all the historical entities and demons found in historical mythology, he is the closest to a "Bagul" you can find.
As if to back up this finding, the "Sinister" Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/SinisterMovie/photos/a.468930856456362.126357.440231629326285/1150412448308196/?type=3&theater), Bagul is the brother of Moloch who had his mouth sealed shut by his older brother. Apparently, Bagul was eyeing Moloch's offerings and the jealous brother shut his mouth with ash as punishment. But, of course, there is no record anywhere of Moloch having a brother or any real family of any kind. But its an interesting idea.
To wrap up, I really did like both movies in the "Sinister" franchise. It had a fascinating story, creepy plot twists, intriguing characters, and one helluva scary villain. But, luckily for all of us (especially those with children), Bagul is not real and we never have to worry about him coming to destroy our families.
So, until the next time,
This is Josh Shipman signing off!
Now, for those of you who watched the "Sinister" movies, Bagul is a terrifying and unholy entity with dark, hollow eyes, ragged black hair, no mouth, and black long-coat. His MO is to haunt and corrupt the youngest child in a family, gradually turning the child against its parents and family until, usually in some horrendous manner, the child ends the lives of the rest of the family. After the family is deceased, Bagul shows up and claims the child as his own and adds to his ghostly collection.
The demon is said to be a Babylonian deity that devoured the souls of young children as a part of its required sacrifices. Bagul supposedly works through images, moving and manipulating from his own alternate reality on the other side of an image. In the "Sinister" movies, Bagul seems particularly fond of working through old film, though he also is seen moving through hard-copy images and images on a computer screen. Though feared and very powerful, never once in the "Sinister" franchise up to date has he physically harmed a human, he seems to prefer to let his ghostly cadre of children do the dirty work. I guess when you have been around for that many centuries you can afford to be a little lazy.
While Bagul is an intriguing idea and a fascinating character, there actually is no cultural or mythical reference to a "Baghuul" in history. As close as I could find, Bagul is a cross between the Slavic "Ale" and Babylon's "Moloch". In my reading a few tried to draw comparisons to the demons Lilith and Abyzou, both of Sumerian origins.
Lilith and Abyzou honestly dont have many similarities with the Bagul character, Though in an article posted in 2012 internet writer Tim Wood claimed that Bagul's appearance was borrowed from Lilith (https://livescifi.tv/2012/10/is-the-bagul-demon-real/), there are no similarities between the typically beautiful and very feminine Lilith and the rather masculine and extremely terrifying Bagul. As for habits and MO, Lilith has a history of causing stillbirths and is considered the demonic patron saint of abortions, but rarely if ever has she devoured children. Abyzou shares a history with Lilith, both having said to have been born from the primordial abyss and heavily involved in child mortality and failed childbirths. Seeing as Bagul is male, tends to take on a decidedly dark and chilling appearance, and prefers to eat children rather than prevent them from being born, our friend Tim's connection is thin at best.
The Ale, on the other hand, are known for their dark appearance and child-eating habits. Although the Ale tend to take on more bird-like physical characteristics, they are definitely more somber in their attire than the likes of Lilith. And while nothing is said in the legends of them liking to play with their food, they do share Bagul's taste for young humans.
Moloch, one of the primary Babylonian deities, is the closest match to Bagul I was able to find. A powerful entity who demanded the respect and devotion of the entire Babylonian empire, Moloch demanded child sacrifice and was known for playing with the lives of mortals. Of all the historical entities and demons found in historical mythology, he is the closest to a "Bagul" you can find.
As if to back up this finding, the "Sinister" Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/SinisterMovie/photos/a.468930856456362.126357.440231629326285/1150412448308196/?type=3&theater), Bagul is the brother of Moloch who had his mouth sealed shut by his older brother. Apparently, Bagul was eyeing Moloch's offerings and the jealous brother shut his mouth with ash as punishment. But, of course, there is no record anywhere of Moloch having a brother or any real family of any kind. But its an interesting idea.
To wrap up, I really did like both movies in the "Sinister" franchise. It had a fascinating story, creepy plot twists, intriguing characters, and one helluva scary villain. But, luckily for all of us (especially those with children), Bagul is not real and we never have to worry about him coming to destroy our families.
So, until the next time,
This is Josh Shipman signing off!
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