Welcome to the corner of Reddit known as ‘Oddly Terrifying' that fires up your brain with some tingly sensations. How? Well, the title says it all. This community of a whopping 2M members has people sharing the weirdest, creepiest, and most unsettling pics of random objects, from natural artifacts to computer-generated images.

The whole entertainment of oddly terrifying pictures lies in its paradox—although it’s terrifying, it’s also impossible to look away. The pics captivate you like a horror movie you never signed up for, but still watch until the end with palms obscuring the screen. You look once, you look twice, and go “this is enough for me today,” only until realizing you’d like to see some more. After all, we all need some distraction.

So scroll down through Bored Panda’s new batch of oddly terrifying pics, and be sure to check our previous post for some more when you’re done with this one.

To find out what fascinates us about the unsettling photos and videos, Bored Panda spoke with Lisa Yaszek, a Regents Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech where she researches and teaches science fiction as a global language crossing centuries, continents, and cultures. Lisa shared incredible insights into how our minds are captivated by them.

#2

Best Cinema Ever

Best Cinema Ever

__ZEL Report

Mattewis88
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All fun and games until some grass touches someone's leg.

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#4

War Changes You

War Changes You

NN_besomething_iWish Report

No you didn't
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He was in another post recently, along with a bit of his story. Most of the four years he spent in a concentration camp.

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“It’s hard for us to look away from unsettling photos and videos because they challenge our usual ways of perceiving and cataloging the world, disrupting our sense of ordered reality and even suggesting that reality might be something other than we thought it was,” Lisa told us.

She explained that “these photos and videos tend to revolve around grotesque juxtapositions of things that should not be together; they are objects that defy science and rationality and disturb our sense of scientific category. More often than not, they focus on disgusting bodies that are monstrous fusions of things that should be kept apart.”

The professor added that while these monstrous bodies are usually individual ones, they often suggest a larger universe that is seriously out of kilter as well.  

#6

This Extremely Disturbing Face Swap

This Extremely Disturbing Face Swap

FlameHank Report

DUN DUN (she/her)
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope I definitely didn't need to see this. Unsee juice, here I come

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#7

Mahatma Gandhi's Statue After Some Prankster Added Red Lights To The Eyes Of It (San Francisco, 2019)

Mahatma Gandhi's Statue After Some Prankster Added Red Lights To The Eyes Of It (San Francisco, 2019)

Grimwolf-77 Report

The professor argues that it’s no surprise that humans are fascinated by oddly terrifying images and that there are whole online groups dedicated to sharing them. “Photos and videos are supposed to give us clear and accurate representations of reality; they assure us that we document and thus know the material world around us in methodical and consistent ways.”

But unsettling images can do the exact opposite, Lisa suggests. “They can undermine our faith in reality: either the camera does not lie and it has captured some monstrous rip in our own reality, or it does lie, and we have to recognize that we cannot even trust our own technologies to accurately document the world around us! Either way, it’s disturbing.”

#8

This Statue With A Beehive For A Head

This Statue With A Beehive For A Head

babytigertooth005 Report

#9

This Abandoned Hospital Had A Visitor Last Night

This Abandoned Hospital Had A Visitor Last Night

killHACKS Report

#10

Amazing Halloween Costume

Amazing Halloween Costume

frenchy614 Report

So you may wonder why we keep looking at these photos—and disturbing art in general? Lisa has an illuminating explanation. “Grotesque imagery is part of every culture and goes back to the dawn of civilization. Today, we actively seek out terrifying experiences by looking at grotesque photos, watching horror movies, and even going on roller coasters,” she said and added that “as humans, we seek out these terrifying artistic and cultural experiences for at least two different reasons.”

“First, as designed experiences, terrifying art and culture give us a way to engage with things that are disturbing, uncanny, and even utterly monstrous from a safe distance. Our psychological and mental categories for understanding the world are temporarily turned upside down, but we’re not directly, physically threatened by the grotesqueries we are looking at or experiencing, and we know eventually everything will return to normal,” Lisa explained.

#12

This Is What Running Birds Look Like

This Is What Running Birds Look Like

Csab7722 Report

Aaricia
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The vulture was the inspiration for many dragon artists.

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#13

The Black Crack, A 65-Foot-Deep Fissure Along A Trail In Canyonlands National Park In Utah

The Black Crack, A 65-Foot-Deep Fissure Along A Trail In Canyonlands National Park In Utah

Boojibs Report

Katie Lutesinger
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did NOT give them permission to post a picture of my butt!

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Lisa argues that it leads us to a second important point. “It’s the pleasure that comes from looking at disturbing images: they give us an opportunity to exercise our minds and to play with reality ourselves. Suddenly, we become storytellers asking ourselves and each other: Where do these grotesque images come from? Who is behind them? How would I react if I encountered this object or situation in real life?”

The professor suggests that at their most provocative, horrifying images can even inspire real-world change: “And how do these images make me see my own reality differently?  What do I need to do in my own world to make sure this never happens? Terrifying and grotesque events are part of the human experience, and encountering them first in safe artistic and cultural spaces provides us with excellent ways to prepare for them,” she concluded.

#15

Woke Up Scared Stiff Last Night When I Noticed A Victorian Ghost Floating At The End Of My Bed. Took Me A Few Minutes To Realise It Was My Clothes On The Door

Woke Up Scared Stiff Last Night When I Noticed A Victorian Ghost Floating At The End Of My Bed. Took Me A Few Minutes To Realise It Was My Clothes On The Door

sesse301187 Report

Debbie Barnes
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh my god.. This is why I don't have anything hanging from my doors or have dolls, whose eyes seem to always glow in the dark...

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#16

280 Million Year Old Fossil Found In Western Australia, Photo By Tom Kapitany

280 Million Year Old Fossil Found In Western Australia, Photo By Tom Kapitany

creepthekid_ Report

#17

A British Tourist Filmed A 'Monitor Lizard' Coming Out From His/Her Toilet Bowl In Thailand

A British Tourist Filmed A 'Monitor Lizard' Coming Out From His/Her Toilet Bowl In Thailand

YusufDumanN_ Report

DUN DUN (she/her)
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feared snakes biting my ass; this is a very big fear upgrade. Thank you.

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#18

A Whale Skeleton Found In The Hot Dunes Of Egypt

A Whale Skeleton Found In The Hot Dunes Of Egypt

SufficientTrack4193 Report

#19

Mother! I Request Your Soul!

Mother! I Request Your Soul!

AbolishAsh Report

#20

Was Playing Video Games When I Heard A Sounds To My Left. Looked Over And Saw This

Was Playing Video Games When I Heard A Sounds To My Left. Looked Over And Saw This

JulesGirth Report

#21

Fingers Without Nails

Fingers Without Nails

V3nd3l Report

#22

Imagine Seeing One In The Middle Of The Road While Driving

Imagine Seeing One In The Middle Of The Road While Driving

GummyYummyBears Report

#23

Pregnant With Triplets

Pregnant With Triplets

Chlorofil Report

Johnny Rodriguez
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor woman! Beeing pregnant for 27 month must be hard..

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#24

At Vezio's Castle In Italy There Are Lots Of These "Phantom" Like Statues

At Vezio's Castle In Italy There Are Lots Of These "Phantom" Like Statues

Holt_97 Report

#25

Eye Injury Causes Man's Iris To Collapse

Eye Injury Causes Man's Iris To Collapse

WhyIsLife12 Report

#26

Found This In My Apartment While Living In Japan. They Are Fast!

Found This In My Apartment While Living In Japan. They Are Fast!

Saucy_Lemur Report

#27

The Tornado Showing Up Because Of The Lightning Strikes

The Tornado Showing Up Because Of The Lightning Strikes

WizzerKrizzer Report

DUN DUN (she/her)
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And my father shouting about my driving faults in the adjacent seat

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#28

A Webcam Appeared In The Bottom Of My Computer Screen After It Blue Screened

A Webcam Appeared In The Bottom Of My Computer Screen After It Blue Screened

LittleDuffy Report

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#29

A Creepy Standing Goat.

A Creepy Standing Goat.

Megumins_AE86 Report

SamanthaStillNotBoredPanda.
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s not creepy that’s cute ! I give it kisses , ere come ere I giz you kisses 💃

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#30

The Remains Of This Caribou In Greenland

The Remains Of This Caribou In Greenland

KoalaTeaNip Report

#32

My Daughter's Bat Morph Suit

My Daughter's Bat Morph Suit

mountainmorticia Report

Elliot Fowler
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm more disturbed by the fact that the kid seems to like it

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#33

They Are Evolving

They Are Evolving

BigBlackOnyx Report

#34

This Jack O Lantern With Mold Growing From Inside

This Jack O Lantern With Mold Growing From Inside

SnapDragon0420 Report

#35

Never Letting A Cat Touch Me Again

Never Letting A Cat Touch Me Again

fools_gear Report

#36

A Doll Chillin In A Graveyard

A Doll Chillin In A Graveyard

B-L-O-C-K-S Report

#37

Just Wait When Night Falls...

Just Wait When Night Falls...

Flying-Armpit Report

#38

Found This In My Girlfriends Loft. She Only Moved In 3 Months Ago And Says She Has Never Been Up There. Guess What My Name Is...

Found This In My Girlfriends Loft. She Only Moved In 3 Months Ago And Says She Has Never Been Up There. Guess What My Name Is...

n515o Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#39

Found This In The Basement Of My New House

Found This In The Basement Of My New House

franco-noce Report

#40

Spacex Has Robot Dogs Patrolling Their Rocket Factory Now

Spacex Has Robot Dogs Patrolling Their Rocket Factory Now

EricFromOuterSpace Report

#41

There Is A Mutation In Frogs Where Their Eyes Grow On The Inside Of Their Mouth.

There Is A Mutation In Frogs Where Their Eyes Grow On The Inside Of Their Mouth.

Valentiniy0210 Report

Gelato Cat
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is a lie, the eyes don't grow from the inside of their mouth because of a MuTaTiOn, they can roll their eyeballs back in to the top of their mouth to clean then with their tongue if they get dirty and so it can help them swallow.

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#42

This Corridor, Man… This Is Gonna Haunt Me On Dreams

This Corridor, Man… This Is Gonna Haunt Me On Dreams

EltioEmiGomez7u7 Report

Daria B
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, it will haunt those dreams where you're desperately looking for a toilet

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#43

Man Goes In Narrow Underwater Cave

Man Goes In Narrow Underwater Cave

Interesting_Force_65 Report

#44

All Of A Sudden You Hear Sirens

All Of A Sudden You Hear Sirens

Saltycrackers_mp4 Report

Izzy Curer
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm guessing the floodplain of a dam? There are signs like this along the Susquehana south of Columbia PA

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#45

The Ants Are Up To Something

The Ants Are Up To Something

hahagnarlydude Report

#46

Pov: Polar Bear Is Trying To Eat You

Pov: Polar Bear Is Trying To Eat You

IamPotato14 Report

Katie Lutesinger
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The bastards look so cute and harmless, too. I have this horrible suicidal urge to start scratching his nose while saying stupid s**t like "aww, who's a Mister Cuddlebug? Yooou aRRGH!"

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#47

One Of The Last Known Pictures Taken By The Hikers Of The Dyatlov Pass Incident (1959)

One Of The Last Known Pictures Taken By The Hikers Of The Dyatlov Pass Incident (1959)

Multiversee Report

Brian Bennett
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw all the pictures (was told) from the cameras at the Dyatlov pass - I never saw this!

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#48

This Happens To My Hands At Cold Temperatures

This Happens To My Hands At Cold Temperatures

Zealousideal_Talk479 Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#49

Well That's Not A Good Sign

Well That's Not A Good Sign

XyRow666 Report

#50

Robot With A Face Is Quite Creepy

Robot With A Face Is Quite Creepy

Sbyien Report

Note: this post originally had 70 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.