The Heartbreaking Tale of Two-Toed Tom: A Must-Read for Animal Lovers

The story of “South of Midnight” begins dramatically, with a violent storm sweeping Hazel’s mobile home away in a flood, leaving her mother trapped inside. Driven by determination, Hazel sets off on a challenging quest to rescue her. Her journey takes her into the heart of Southern folklore, where she encounters mythical monsters rooted in real-life tales from the Deep South.

The first major beast Hazel encounters is Two-Toed Tom, an enormous albino alligator with an island of sorts sprouting from its back. Serving as the game’s initial boss, Tom presents a formidable challenge. But before Hazel can square off against this fearsome creature, she must navigate his memories—a backstory that’s especially bittersweet for fans of animals.

Tom’s tale is a somber one. Throughout his life, he was kept under tight control, never straying far from his master’s side. His master had a daughter, Jolene, who left the family to chase her dreams of becoming a country music star, much to her father’s displeasure.

With Jolene pursuing her music, Tom endured harsh conditions at home. His master often deprived him of food, and the gator sometimes went days without eating until his owner permitted it. Legend has it that Tom grew so desperate for sustenance that he started nibbling on his own toes. When fed, it was always to the sound of a bell, a conditioning that left its mark.

Jolene, upon returning and clashing with her father over her career, harbored feelings of rebellion. One night, driven by her yearning for freedom, she stealthily approached a sleeping father and rang Tom’s bell. Deprived and without other options, Tom turned on his abusive owner.

Tom’s roots trace back to a Southern legend. The real-life tale speaks of a 14-foot alligator, Two-Toed Tom, notorious for terrorizing towns in Florida and Alabama, devouring livestock and, at times, humans. The legend tells of Tom losing his digits to a hunter’s trap—a gator thought impervious to bullets, and even dynamite.

Once Jolene’s father was no more, she released a sorrowful Tom into the wild. He stumbled upon a pig farm and was overwhelmed by the bounty of food. Consuming everything in his path, Tom grew with each meal.

Scarred by a lifetime of near-starvation, Tom vowed never to miss a meal again. Consumed by an insatiable hunger, Tom expanded to enormous proportions over the years, devouring livestock, humans, kitchenware, and ultimately, entire buildings. Tom transformed into the monstrous figure that now haunts the townsfolk of Prospero.

Released in April 2025, “South of Midnight” was developed using Unreal Engine 5 by Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Game Studios. It offers an immersive experience on PC and Xbox, earning a modest 6/10 rating from Game Rant.