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23 One-Picture Horror Stories That We Do Not Recommend Reading Alone (New Pics)
Interview With Artist
We've all felt it. The feeling of someone behind you when you turn off the light and have to go to the next room, the fear that you're not alone and someone's watching you from the dark corner. Or when your heart starts racing while walking alone in the streets at night, afraid that someone's lurking in the bushes to get you.
That is what this Dublin artist, Brian Coldrick, illustrates in his work (part one). He creates moving images that show all kinds of creepy scenarios that are bound to give you goosebumps and shivers down your spine. With only one image and a few words, Brian manages to tell a story, capture the audience and maybe even make you wonder if someone's standing behind you right now.
More info: Instagram | Facebook | thehairsonthebackofyourneck.tumblr.com | twitter.com | briancoldrick.tumblr.com
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
LotusWolff 4 years ago
This is kinda sweet, the spirit kills the bullies so they don't bully her anymore
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
Thank you for pointing that out. I missed it by moving on too quickly.
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Jen Powell 4 years ago
the creature appearing behind her is the thing that dealt with the bullies. she thinks she's giving the flower to the statue but the statue is of the creature/spirit appearing behind her. I think, anyway.
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Nicola Dimigen 4 years ago
HERE I AM READING THIS ALONE. i MAKE MY OWN RULES! Fudge. Caps lock was on he entire time.
The whole project Brian creates is called 'Behind You'. Here's more info about it: "Behind You is an ongoing series of illustrations made by me, Brian Coldrick (hello!) I’d call it a webcomic but there are no panels and each image is essentially a separate story so that might be a stretch. My naive intention is to upload once a week."
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#2
Lanie 4 years ago
He can probably feel that he is all alone in this one. ^^
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#3
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
I call BS. Everyone knows you gently pack your problems and bring them with you.
Daniel Perkins 4 years ago
The shadow was like. hey excuse me, I'm stuck whoa a little help please!
"The whole thing sprung out of my love of horror films and books, and particularly the reading of spooky internet stories. My favorite type of spooky internet story is the real-life account. These barely function as narratives as much as scary scenarios. There are so many gaps in the stories there’s lots of room for the reader to fill them in with their conclusions. This series is essentially my attempt to purposefully do the same."
#4
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
If only he had the energy to turn around with his axe and end the cruel kid.
Mayrene Chester 4 years ago
sad but I think I know a way to get my cousins off the computer game every now and then
Klorx 3 years ago
Referencing a player controlling a sentient video game character
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HardTruths 4 years ago
Oooh... Now I will never look at my RPG character the same way any more... *gulp*
#5
Chucky Cheezburger 4 years ago
Now thats just creepy AF right there, I dont give a damn who you are.
crazy_cat_notAlady 4 years ago
that's actually very sad...makes me think that the poor man has dementia and he has forgotten the name and face of his friend/lover/wife. he knows that he knows her and that she helps him, but he just can't remember anymore. maybe one day i will b him too.
Ronny Hermans 4 years ago
this is not just creapy but the reality for people having dementia. It's like something is stealing their memories/world
Sheila Stamey 4 years ago
Oh I hate this one. I live in an assisted living center. I see this and it's very much like what's happening with Alzheimer's patients.
LesAnimaux 4 years ago
This is what happens when you try to remember your dream in the morning
Kenny Kulbiski 4 years ago
This could be a good thing if it would take the memories you didn't want anymore.
Tiffanie Miller 4 years ago
The design of this is astounding. The legs are scissors to cut the thread!
"Each page is simply a character with someone, or something, behind them and one line of text. While some of them touch on well-worn horror tropes, none are direct adaptions of existing stories; I guess fairytales and myths, old and new, are fair game. Hopefully, there is some amusing weirdness and genuine creepiness in the mix."
#6
Hadleigh Tindall 4 years ago
What is the theme tho? Why is he so mad when she checks her insta?
Koda Bear She/He/They 4 years ago
This was really funny when it looked lien it was screaming I was listening to a song and it just want EEEEEEEEEEEEE
#7
Bacony Cakes 4 years ago
The grim reaper gets hungry too. They're all out of pomegranates this season.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
What's scary is the old woman trying to p**n off her hard candies to innocent children.
Brian told us about the main goal of his illustrations: "That totally depends on what I’m illustrating. With the 'Behind You' series, I’m obviously trying to give the viewer a chill or sometimes a laugh, maybe make them curious about the wider untold story. But I often work on things with a totally different purpose. Cute characters or concept art or storyboards. It’s always nice to have variety!"
#8
George-Florin Constantin 4 years ago
The car in the background is a Volga, so it can be some former USSR republic or maybe former Yugoslavia.
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Chloe *Leah* Pheonix 4 years ago
I mean, look at the horrid sunburn on his arms!
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John Baker 4 years ago
What's scary about this one is he's lying on the roof with a safety wall that looks to be about six inches high.
Chloe *Leah* Pheonix 4 years ago
Yes, but the bird snake thing has its arm halfway up the wall ready to get to him
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The artist shares what got him into art: "Comics, Saturday morning cartoons, films, board games. I suppose like everyone, I drew all the time as a child but I’ve just kept it up. When it came time to try and pick something as a job, it seemed a lot more fun than the other options!"
#10
Callie Dryer 4 years ago
Damn it, this is the second one that’s causing a minor existential crisis….🙍♀️
Macaw 4 years ago
Oh I'm sure they'll find a way to twist the scriptures and other bible verses to fit their narrative about aliens just like they did with evolution.
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#11
RandomX123 4 years ago
This looks like Kamaji as a human with the Kodama from Princess Mononoke
Bacony Cakes 4 years ago
This is the LockPickingLawyer, and today we're opening the door to the 8th plane of damnation...
Daniel Perkins 4 years ago
I didn't see the red hand till after I read your comment.
Load More Replies... Liam Tranum 4 years ago
Just be friends with the friendly caspers but not the deadly demon in the gas chamber
Brian shares what the most difficult part of creating these illustrations is: "Coming up with the initial idea is always the hardest part. I find I can’t really start until I come up with a good concept but then the concept doesn’t really form in my brain until I’ve started drawing. It’s a catch-22 which just leads to a lot of scratchy rough drawings."
#12
LesAnimaux 4 years ago
Reminds me of a real story of a jockey who died on a horse during a race. He won.
Palo Sulek 4 years ago
I guess the second kid stopped complaining about the ride already....a devilish tip ...play Jesus Tod, Burzum and put this in full screen
Chloe *Leah* Pheonix 4 years ago
What's that song called from Howl's Moving Castle? The Merry-go-round of Life?
#13
Chloe *Leah* Pheonix 4 years ago
How to make any of these funny instantly: "we've been trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty"
daisydiamond 4 years ago
Ok I don't know why but this one scared me the most....the others were ok but ooooofff this one
Dakota Bloyer 2 years ago
my mom telling me to read a book (and then watching me play on screens)
Julian McCallum 3 years ago
Then all of the power went out and he heard a music box play an all too familiar melody download-1...8a8746.png 
Brian describes his drawing style and why he chose to do horror: "I suppose I’m fairly comic book-ish generally. For better or worse, I tend to believe the more the better, so I generally layer everything I do with lots of texture and detail. I love the beautiful lived-in clutter of the locations in Studio Ghibli films, so that’s at least one influence I’m always drawing from. I picked horror because it's is a fun genre with great visuals that can also tackle more serious themes in interesting ways. But mostly it was a excuse to draw monsters!"
#14
Stephanie de Blaauw 4 years ago
Looks like Mari Lwyd. They aren't bad tho. They stand outside and ask to come in and the person inside has to sing back excuses why they can't. If you run out of excuses they get to come in and raid your fridge/pantry and drink all your beer
Bacony Cakes 4 years ago
omg they turned friday night funkin into a real thing /s
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#15
Lola M 4 years ago
Reminds me of the captive girl from the movie "Gothika"
Load More Replies... Hadleigh Tindall 4 years ago
But in the position she is in, she cant use the window. Why have it at all?
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
Tip: It's easier to bury a body in rural suburbia than in a crowded city.
Brian tells us if he himself gets scared easily: "Definitely as a kid. I’m pretty good these days with scary movies and creepy stories because once you’ve seen or read enough, they can become pleasingly familiar rather than truly scary. But every once in a while I’ll see a coat I forgot was hanging at the end of a corridor and jump out of my skin."
#16
Chloe *Leah* Pheonix 4 years ago
I hate the scary stories parents tell their kids so that theyll behave, it turns into a real fear if they dont realize it's not true, which can be a problem
RandomX123 4 years ago
Imagine you're just sitting on the stairs when suddenly a Colossus Titan pops out of nowhere
LotusWolff 4 years ago
Harry Potter had had enough of Dudley so he decided to "take care" of him.
Dakota Bloyer 2 years ago
ever heard of that one anime?? (bro really said hey there kid... want to buy some lettus???)
#17
crazy_cat_notAlady 4 years ago (edited)
each of our ghosts r different. i am no longer afraid of the "traditional" ghost stories. traumas and memories have taken their place...that's exactly what this one reminds me. her traumas whispering
achilles get down from there 4 years ago
This reminds me of Abigail Hobbs entering the antler room in Hannibal, very creepy
Sarah Eggleston 4 years ago
Omg, this reminds me of my childhood home in some ways and a place where I lived in my 20's even more so!!!
Liam Tranum 4 years ago
I told you I’d come and hang out today don’t be paranoid… oh! I also got a manicure for the first time I don’t think I did well…
"I think I started creating these illustrations in 2015. My production rate has slowed a lot lately. I was finding it a lot harder to produce new ideas I liked and as a result I was spending more and more time on each one. I haven’t made a new one in quite a while now but with Halloween around the corner, I think it’ll be time to get back to work. What inspires me to keep going forward is: Fun, curiosity, money, jealousy, depression? All of the above."
#18
#19
Grumble O'Pug 4 years ago
Yes, drowning is the kind of death you know you are dying.
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Here's some advice from Brian for those who want to get into arts themselves: "I suppose my only advice would be to start making/doing what it is that interests you. What gets created might not be perfect but it’s better to have made it than have nothing. And then just keep going. You don’t need permission to try."
#20
tuzdayschild 4 years ago
I use to get that when I was younger. I taught myself to calm down and just go back to sleep. Just don't fight it. I don't get it anymore.
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Lola M 4 years ago
This specific imagery represents poor mental health, not an actual doggo lol
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#21
Chloe *Leah* Pheonix 4 years ago
I too wear a costume... I dont go trick or treating anymore but I still like to wear costumes when I hand out candy!
Ксения Петровская 4 years ago
Wow, really? Kids next door must love your house!
Load More Replies... Candia Lee 4 years ago
Okay, thanks for the perspective. *Now* it's scary.
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LotusWolff 4 years ago
This year I'm going as an imposter. My plan is to wear black, put a sticky note on my face that says "DUM" and make a knife out of carboard and tinfoil.
Daniel Perkins 4 years ago (edited)
This reminds me of a picture that messed me up as a kid, its was gift boxes opening up children with presents inside them from under a Christmas tree.
Brian tells us more about himself and his life: "Well, I’m 40 now so I’ve already forgotten most of the journey. I’m originally from Dublin but I moved to the UK about 10 (11?) years ago. No kids but one very small, old and grumpy cat who is snoozing on my lap as I type this."
#22
Chloe *Leah* Pheonix 4 years ago
Nice necklace, but you should probably put it on your neck, hate to drop it.
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
When someone says they don't want children, don't like children, believe them.
#23
"It definitely got some nice reactions and generated some great interest in 'Behind You.' It’s still strange to think of someone on the other side of the world interacting with an odd thing I drew in my little office one night," said Brian when asked if being on Bored Panda before helped him out.
What do you think of these illustrations? Did they creep you out? Send shivers down your spine? Tell us in the comments down below and don't forget to vote for your favorite one! Also, go show some love to the amazing artist Brian, who deserves way more recognition than he has. Your support means a lot to artists, so go follow and like their social media!
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Chloe *Leah* Pheonix 4 years ago
These sure live up to its name. Loved the animated details to it!
BastWren 4 years ago (edited)
Very well done! Anyone who hasn't seen part one (link at the top of this article) who enjoyed these will want to check it out. Another collection every bit as brilliant as these (and there are fifty of them). I love this artist's style so much. More of these, please, BP.
Ladybug 3 years ago
I can't find the link? Can someone help me please? :)
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Kenny Kulbiski 4 years ago
Jeez! These are creepy. I may need a bigger night light. 100 watt oughta do it.
Chloe *Leah* Pheonix 4 years ago
These sure live up to its name. Loved the animated details to it!
BastWren 4 years ago (edited)
Very well done! Anyone who hasn't seen part one (link at the top of this article) who enjoyed these will want to check it out. Another collection every bit as brilliant as these (and there are fifty of them). I love this artist's style so much. More of these, please, BP.
Ladybug 3 years ago
I can't find the link? Can someone help me please? :)
Load More Replies... Kenny Kulbiski 4 years ago
Jeez! These are creepy. I may need a bigger night light. 100 watt oughta do it.
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