Trivia: Xenomorphs are the antagonists of what film franchise?
Alien
Star Wars
Blade Runner
The Matrix
Correct Answer: Alien
So why is this answer correct? : With their oblong heads and spear-like tails, Xenomorphs are some of the most terrifying creatures in sci-fi cinema. These extraterrestrials serve as the antagonists of Ridley Scott’s “Alien” film franchise, threatening everyone from colonists working on quiet planets to military officers on search and recovery missions.
Trivia: Godzilla’s name comes from the Japanese words for which two animals?
Lizard and elephant
Gorilla and whale
Cat and mouse
Dog and pony
Correct Answer: Gorilla and whale
So why is this answer correct? : Debuting in 1954, Godzilla spawned an entire genre known as “kaiju” (“strange beast”) — movies about giant monsters. Originally named “Gojira,” the giant lizard got its moniker from a portmanteau of the Japanese words “gorira” (“gorilla”) and “kujira” (“whale”). The creature’s name was later anglicized when the movie was sold to U.S. distributors.
Trivia: Alexander the Great demanded to see what creature in the Indus Valley?
Basilisk
Yeti
Kraken
Griffon
Correct Answer: Yeti
So why is this answer correct? : He did a lot of conquering, but he was also a tourist: Alexander the Great wanted to see what all the Yeti fuss was about. Locals said they couldn’t show him one, because the “abominable snowman” couldn’t survive at that low altitude.
Trivia: Which morbid object did Frankenstein creator Mary Shelley keep with her?
Her husband’s heart
The finger of St. Nicholas
Her own blood in a vial
A lock of Lord Byron’s hair
Correct Answer: Her husband’s heart
So why is this answer correct? : Ally Lee/ Shutterstock
Trivia: The “Malleus Maleficarum” was a 15th-century guide to dealing with what?
Witches
Zombies
Poltergeist
Fairies
Correct Answer: Witches
So why is this answer correct? : Witch hunts spread across Europe in the 15th century, and hunters were guided by many witch hunting books, including “Malleus Maleficarum.” This handbook, written by two Dominicans, included details for identifying and condemning supposed witchcraft.
Trivia: Which film established the trope of vampires burning in the sun?
Twilight
Interview with a Vampire
Nosferatu
Son of Dracula
Correct Answer: Nosferatu
So why is this answer correct? : The black and white film “Nosferatu” caused a stir upon its release for being a blatant rip-off of Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula.” Stoker’s novel hints at the vampire being weakened by the sun, but in order to make this more dramatic on film, the creators of “Nosferatu” showed him disintegrating in direct sunlight, thus establishing a trope that continues to this day.
Trivia: Jennifer Aniston’s first movie was based on what murderous creature?
The Grim Reaper
Leprechaun
Witch
The Devil
Correct Answer: Leprechaun
So why is this answer correct? : If you go on vacation to Ireland, and steal 100 gold coins from a leprechaun, you get what you deserve. Aniston didn’t steal the coins in the first of eight “Leprechaun” horror movies, but she had the bad luck to rent the property where he was released.
Trivia: Banshees are known for performing what action?
Dancing
Spellcasting
Screaming
Exploding
Correct Answer: Screaming
So why is this answer correct? : In Irish lore, banshees are female creatures known for screaming. These supernatural beings foretell death, though sometimes their screaming is replaced by singing. Irish tradition believes banshees are former gods who were driven from Ireland and became fairies.
Trivia: Zombie legends most likely originated in which country?
Haiti
Bulgaria
Iceland
Indonesia
Correct Answer: Haiti
So why is this answer correct? : Tales of the dead returning to life have been around for centuries, but specific stories of zombies most likely originated with African slaves who were brought to work on Haitian plantations. The hope of a peaceful afterlife, free of enslavement, was threatened by myths of Voodoo practitioners returning their bodies to continue working for eternity.
Trivia: According to legend, a reincarnated mummy would retain only what organ?
Heart
Brain
Lungs
Liver
Correct Answer: Heart
So why is this answer correct? : Typical mummification would involve removal of all the organs, even frequently the brain. Per Egyptian custom, the organ that was to be left in the mummified body was the heart, which was considered the center of intelligence.