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A terrifying picture captivates you like a horror movie you never signed up for, but still watch till the end with palms on your face hiding from the screen. You look once, you look twice and then think, “This is enough for me today,” only to realize you’d like to see some more. Thus, we’re going to give you some more scary scenes of unsettling images.

We've listed 50 terrifying images from the scary corner of Reddit known as ‘Oddly Terrifying.’ This community of 2M members has people sharing the weirdest, creepiest, and most unsettling pics of random moments and computer-generated images. These creepy pics promise to fire up your brain with some tingly sensations. So, scroll down through Bored Panda’s new batch of spooky pictures, upvote the ones that you find the creepiest, and frighten your friends by surprisingly sharing these disturbing images.

Image credit: mountainmorticia

The Fun Behind Unsettling Images

First things first, a terrifying picture isn't meant to be a horror scene. Unsettling images capture moments, and places from people in their daily lives that shift our reality’s perspective by evoking a disturbing, scary, or fearful emotion. The fun in oddly terrifying pictures lies in their paradox—although terrifying, it’s also impossible to look away and miss the fun of finding scary things hidden in pictures. 

Many people love them, and if you’re one of them, you must read the expert’s insights. 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.

#2

Best Cinema Ever

People in water watching Megladon

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#4

War Changes You

Changes in face after a four year war

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No you didn't
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2 years ago DotsCreated 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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Unsettling Images Fascinate Us. Why?

“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.

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#6

This Extremely Disturbing Face Swap

Scary face swap from human to dog picture

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#7

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

Statue with red light eyes

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A Terrifying Picture Offers A Different Perspective 

The professor states 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.”

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#9

This Abandoned Hospital Had A Visitor Last Night

Abandoned building with one light on in a window

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#10

Amazing Halloween Costume

Zombie with mushroom on his face Halloween tattoo

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Why Do People Keep Looking at Creepy Pics?

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

Four different pictures of birds running

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#13

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

Massive black crack in a National park

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The Impact of Photos With Disturbing Backstories

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?”

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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

Towels and robe hung up on a door

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Debbie Barnes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated 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

Person holding old fossil

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#17

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

Small lizard coming out from toilet

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#18

A Whale Skeleton Found In The Hot Dunes Of Egypt

Skeleton discovered in a desert

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#20

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

Brown bear looking through the window

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#22

Imagine Seeing One In The Middle Of The Road While Driving

Reindeer with lit up horns

GummyYummyBears Report

#23

Pregnant With Triplets

Woman showing her belly with triplets inside

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#24

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

Phantom statue in a touristy place

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Spankathon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine stumbling across that at night without knowing they're there

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Scarlett
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So what you’re telling me is there’s Nazgül all over Italy? I’m booking a trip.

ryancorman avatar
Smilodon, a Bad Cat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They're retired, and like the weather. Don't know if they appreciate the food and wine, though.

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Colleen Hennessy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Made from white chalk they are re-made each summer by tourists who agree to be put in a particular position, then covered with gauze and white chalk staying like that for 20 mins until the chalk is dry. The sculptures remain until destroyed snow or rain falls.

sofie avatar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reaper sitting on a ledge. That would freak me out.

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Jack Holt
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who said Ring-Wraiths didn't know how to partay?

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Wyndmere
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Note to self: before tour at Vezio’s Castle, buy a sledgehammer to bring along.

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AVERY SUAREZ
Community Member
8 months ago

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John Kamau
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like its singing "Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiahhhhh"

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Lucky2BAlive
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would have come back with a deck of cards and set up a shot of me playing for my soul

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Raj Kuthrapali
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The bloody Nazgul. They have absolutely nothing to do till Amazon Prime shows them where the blooming One Ring is.

ryancorman avatar
Smilodon, a Bad Cat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, no, they're retired. After working for Sauron, they deserve a rest- in scenic Italy!

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Katinka Min
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Italian's way of ruining a pleasant day by reminding us of our mortality and our fears...

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Ruth Scheidler
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

THAT'S CREEPY. Would scare the bejeebers out of little kids, and ME.

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Kai David
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Made of a type of chalk. The creator will ask random vistors to be covered in this chalk like mixture. After it dries, its removed. Then posed throughout the grounds. They don't last long. Gets really creepy when the fog comes in off the lake.

alchristensen avatar
Al Christensen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Might be the work of Albert Szukalski, a Poland-born Belgian sculptor who has several similar works installed in Ryolite, Nevada, near Death Valley.

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Alexandra Jarrin
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Statue or tree?? It looks to be part of a tree trunk doesn't it?

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buttonpusher
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wtf it looks like the final ghost from Muppets Christmas Carol. I was terrified of that thing. I've even got the music in my head now!

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Brandi VanSteenwyk
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At first I thought perhaps it was a naturally occurring element of tree overgrowth. Then, maybe an abandoned wasps nest. More to Google I guess.... WOW!! Fascinating to read about how they are made, each year, in different poses....

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Puggawugbug
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually like this, it feels peaceful. I imagine it as a quiet, peaceful spirit traveling somewhere, and they’re taking a rest.

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Angel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would be even better if there was something inside that pops out when people get close to to look at it

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#25

Eye Injury Causes Man's Iris To Collapse

Eye from an injury

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#26

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

Massive insect inside home

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#27

The Tornado Showing Up Because Of The Lightning Strikes

Front cam of a car during a storm

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#28

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

Random camera on a crashed computer screen

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#29

A Creepy Standing Goat.

Picture of a creepy standing goat

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#30

The Remains Of This Caribou In Greenland

The remains of an animal stuck between two rocks

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#32

My Daughter's Bat Morph Suit

Baby hugging her sister in a bat costume

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#34

This Jack O Lantern With Mold Growing From Inside

Mold growing on a pumpkin

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#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...

Creepy name written in houses attic

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#39

Found This In The Basement Of My New House

Terrifying torture equipment found in basement

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#40

Spacex Has Robot Dogs Patrolling Their Rocket Factory Now

Robot Dog walking in a construction site

EricFromOuterSpace Report

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#41

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

Mountain frog with eyes inside her mouth

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Gelato Cat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated 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

Narrow creppy corridor

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Daria B
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated 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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#44

All Of A Sudden You Hear Sirens

Orange warning sign in a forest

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Izzy Curer
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated 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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#46

Pov: Polar Bear Is Trying To Eat You

Polar bear looking thorough the stair gap

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Katie Lutesinger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated 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)

Terrifying silhouette captured winter in the forest

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Brian Bennett
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2 years ago DotsCreated 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

blue purple and rep persons hand

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#50

Robot With A Face Is Quite Creepy

Terrifying picture of a robot with a face

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

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