“Lore” is one of those works that wouldn’t work in any other medium. Its soundtrack and narration create an atmosphere that just wouldn’t work as well in a book. It could not work as a video because the monsters described can be far more terrifying when created by our imagination than when displayed on a screen.

“Lore” is a podcast that covers creepy folklore and historical events but focuses on the truths behind these stories. And these truths have often proven to be more frightening than the myth. The podcast is produced and written by supernatural thriller writer Aaron Mahnke. Though “Lore’s” quality is inconsistent, Mahnke’s ability to create an atmosphere and the podcast’s utter uniqueness makes it stand out in a saturated medium.

Much of Lore’s strength comes from Mahnke’s ability to communicate a feeling of empathy while maintaining the detachment of a storyteller. With his voice and writing background , “Lore” creates an atmosphere that’s equal parts creepy, somber, and analytical. Each episode covers a different phenomenon or monster which gives each episode a feeling of uniqueness.

Unfortunately, not all monsters are created equal and certain episodes are weaker because of it. The podcast is at its best when covering obscure monsters such as serial killer H.H. Holmes or the cannibalistic Wendigo. Mahnke prefers to present the reader with the facts. He approaches each story with a healthy amount of skepticism but his opinion never feels invasive. This leads Mahnke to present stories that have no obvious explanation and the ones offered are rarely comforting, but frightening.

Though the show’s subject matter is horror-based, the emotion “Lore” does best is heartbreak. The scariest monsters are not the ones that lurk in the shadows but ones that remain when we turn on the lights. In this sense, “Lore” is the truest kind of horror. It has the kind of monsters that don’t leave after the episode ends.

“Lore” is also the truest sort of non-fiction. The stories told are simultaneously informative on a surface level and reveal deeper truths about human nature. “Lore” reveals the parts of us we’d rather keep hidden.