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Context is everything. Without it, some seemingly innocent images might not even make you do a double-take. But when you know more about what’s pictured, your reaction can be completely different. Raw. Visceral. Full of fear. On the other hand, some photos ooze evil and immediately turn on our fight or flight (or freeze or fawn) response.
Today, we’re featuring some of the creepiest photos ever taken, as shared on the immensely popular @fasc1nate account on X, formerly Twitter. Scroll down to take a peek at them, and be sure to share your thoughts on the photos in the comments at the bottom of this post.
Warning: this list is not for the faint of heart, as some topics are very sensitive.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The Haunting Look Of An 18-Year-Old Russian Girl After Being Liberated From Dachau, April 29, 1945
RELATED:
#2
British Pows After Their Release From Japanese Captivity In Singapore, 1945
#3
In 1907, A British Sailor Is Seen Unshackling An Enslaved Man Who Had Been Chained For Three Years
LakotaWolf (she/her) 4 months ago
Thank you, unknown British sailor, for your act of humanity and kindness.
The BBC notes that even some objectively ordinary things (e.g., dolls, clowns, mannequins) can have creepy connotations
According to Dr. Coltan Scrivner, a behavioral scientist and horror expert, the feeling of creepiness is something that almost anybody can resonate with. “If you say you’re creeped out, most people will know exactly what you mean.” It’s incredibly relatable.
#4
Survivors From The 87th Floor Of The World Trade Center (North Tower) Wandering In The Dust After The Collapse Of The South Tower – New York City, September 11, 2001
Rob D 4 months ago (edited)
That dust is still causing cancer. And I will never forgive, forget or pass an opportunity to remind folks that Republicans and Republicans only held up first responder healthcare funding. Firefighters died medically bankrupt because Republicans turned it into a political football for years. Years. If there is an objective good, you will find a christian conservative legislator in opposition. And while I should be used to it, this one still makes my blood boil.
#5
The Last Photo Taken By Bill Biggart, The Only Journalist Who Lost His Life. Covering 9/11
#6
The Nuclear Shadows Of Hiroshima
Kiyoko_tanaka 4 months ago
I'm from Hiroshima. I have seen this shadow in person and I have never cried more in my life. It's seriously haunting to see them in person.
Research shows that creepy things tend to be ambiguously threatening. A 2015 study into the psychological nature of creepiness found that it might arise in the gray area where things might or might not be dangerous.
Many people find things like mannequins, dolls, and clowns to be particularly creepy. They feel that these (objectively innocent) things have an underlying current of malevolence.
#7
Motel Manager James Brock Pours Muriatic Acid In The Monson Motor Lodge Pool To Evict Black Swimmers, 1964
#8
A Pod That Allows A User To Take Their Own Life. At The Push Of A Button, The Pod Would Fill With Nitrogen Gas, Rapidly Lowering Oxygen Levels
LakotaWolf (she/her) 4 months ago
Yes, please, thank you. At least for those who have terminal illnesses.
#9
The Start Of The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
Dr. Scrivener told BBC Bitesize that in real life, clowns paint on smiles, but on TV, dangerous clowns often paint on frowns. “This sends mixed ideas about whether they’re actually safe,” the scientist explained.
Meanwhile, clowns, dolls, and mannequins can scare some folks because of the uncanny valley phenomenon. In short, it’s related to how people feel uncomfortable when they see something that looks almost like a human being… but not quite.
#10
Josie (6 Years Old), Bertha (6 Years Old) And Sophie (10 Years Old) Worked Regularly At The Maggioni Canning Company
#11
Child Patients Sit Bound And Tied To A Radiator Inside The Psychiatric Hospital In Deir El Qamar, Lebanon In 1982
#12
A Chinese Woman Whose Feet Were Bound From Childhood, Late 1800s
Earthquake903 4 months ago
I cannot see how this could be considered beautiful. Boggles my mind
It’s not just people, creatures, and things that can scare us. Landscapes, like lonely forest roads, can unsettle us as well. “Humans are social creatures so if you’re out by yourself and you see no one is there, it’s a great question to ask, ‘Why is nobody else here? Is there something wrong with this place? Is it dangerous?’” Dr. Scrivner said.
#13
The Last Photo Before The Dyatlov Pass Incident
Susie Elle 4 months ago (edited)
From Wiki: The Dyatlov Pass incident is an event in which nine Soviet hikers died in the northern Ural Mountains between February 1 and 2, 1959, under uncertain circumstances. The experienced trekking group from the Ural Polytechnical Institute, led by Igor Dyatlov, had established a camp on the eastern slopes of Kholat Syakhl in the Russian SFSR of the Soviet Union. Overnight, something caused them to cut their way out of their tent and flee the campsite while inadequately dressed for the heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures.
#14
Coal Miners Returning From The Depths After A Days Work, Belgium, C. 1900
#15
This Photo Captures 28-Year-Old Marcy Borders, A Bank Of America Employee At The World Trade Center As She Takes Shelter In An Adjacent Office Building Following The Collapse Of The South Tower
Music, sounds, and silence can have a similar effect. However, context is vital here. “When a door creaks open that’s only creepy when you’re by yourself. It signals that something or someone may be pushing it slowly,” the scientist pointed out.
Alternatively, in a house full of people you know, a poorly-oiled door would be a minor annoyance at worst. Why? Because you feel safe and at ease.
#16
A Photograph From 2019 Shows Two Colombian Soldiers Giving A Final Salute As They Free Fall. The Rope That Was Carrying Them Suddenly Broke During An Airshow
LakotaWolf (she/her) 4 months ago
If I knew I was about to die, I hope I would be able to show this sort of dignity, strength, grace, and peace of the knowledge of what was about to happen. RIP to these poor guys.
#17
Acute Radiation Sickness, Photos Taken In A Specialized Clinic, Soviet Union, After The Chernobyl Disaster Of April 26, 1986
Final score:
173points
Laugh or not 4 months ago
The most horrific part for me is knowing that the cells and organs are breaking down, including the cardio-vascular system. It means you can't give them painkillers. The only compassion is euthanasia.
#18
Halloween During The 1930s
The viral thread, created by the curators running the @fasc1nate account, was immensely success, at least as far as internet fame is concerned. It caught a lot of people’s attention. At the time of writing, the post was viewed a whopping 2 million times.
#19
The Last Moments Of A Man Who Jumped In A Tiger Enclosure, 2014
LakotaWolf (she/her) 4 months ago
https://www.firstpost.com/living/white-tiger-kills-youth-at-delhi-zoo-heres-what-really-happened-1727251.html So basically the tiger did NOT immediately attack the man. It wasn't until bystanders started throwing rocks and stones at it that it attacked.
#20
A Photo Of A Possibly Shell-Shocked Soldier During Wwi
#21
Photograph Of Ted Bundy Having Fun With Kids In His Neighborhood
Earthquake903 4 months ago
Another horrible monster, I'm glad he's dead and I hope he suffered
Unusual, bizarre, and even macabre content can captivate a lot of people because it touches on taboo topics. People tend to have a strange fascination with figuring out the mystery behind strange and even uncomfortable content, whether that’s photos, videos, or stories.
#22
Alison Parker, A Young Journalist, Met A Tragic End During A Live Television Broadcast In 2015
While conducting an interview, she and her cameraman, Adam Ward, became the targets of a former coworker, who shot them. The image shown here captures a moment from that last interview.
ConstantlyJon 4 months ago
This happened just down the road from where I was living at the time. Virginia, USA. I was so glad to not have caught it because it's the news station that I'd most often watch if I did watch the news. Absolutely terrifying for the viewers who saw this happen live.
#23
A Photo Taken Shortly Before A Huge Wave Hit The Shore During The Devastating 2004 Tsunami
Sergy Yeltsen 4 months ago
The first sign should have been the water receding. But these people were never told about things like that and signs to look out for. Around a quarter of a million people killed in minutes, it's heartbreaking.
#24
This X-Ray Reveals A Tear Gas Canister That Was Fatally Embedded In A Protester’s Brain During Anti-Government Protests In Iraq In 2019
The @fasc1nate account itself is very widely known on X. It’s followed by a jaw-dropping 3.3 million users. It has amassed this large following over more than 11 years of posting since its inception in 2013. The account is part of the wider ‘History Defined’ internet and social media project.
#25
A Tunnel Rat Explores A Hole Between “Floors” Of A Viet Cong Tunnel System
hese changes in elevation were among the most dangerous situations for tunnel rats because they could not ensure no traps or enemies were present before going through
ColdSteelRonin 4 months ago
"The Tunnels of Cu Chi" is a good book about the tunnel rats experiences
#26
A Doll With Two Faces
#27
Taken At The Michigan Carbon Works Factory In Rougeville, The Pile Of Bison Skulls In This Photo Was Slated To Be Processed And Used In Making Products Like Bone Glue, Fertilizer, Bone Ash, Bone Char, And Bone Charcoal
Which of the photos featured in this list creeped you out the most, Pandas? What is the most frightening thing you’ve ever experienced in person? Would you have been creeped out by some of these images if you didn't know the context behind them?
If you’re not too spooked out, share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
#28
Jean Libbera, Aka “The Double-Bodied Man,” Had His Parasitic Brother, Jacques Libbera, Connected To Him From His Chest-Stomach Area
#29
Btk Killer Takes A Photo With His Daughter
#30
The Mask Worn By Dennis Rader (Btk) When Carrying Out His Attacks
#31
A Baseball Team Of Prisoners Whose Executions Were Delayed Only As Long As They Kept Winning, C. 1910
#32
A Trapper Boy, One Mile Inside A Mine In West Virginia, 1908
#33
Photo Of Jeffrey Dahmer At High School With A Fellow Student
#34
A Mickey Mouse Gas Mask For Children During Ww2, 1942
#35
Unidentified, The Picture Is Believed To Have Been Taken By Rodney Alcala, Serial Killer And Sex Offender
He had a collection of pictures of many anonymous people, some of whom were his victims. It is not known who this woman is or if she is alive
#36
The Modern Remains Of A Kindergarten Classroom After The Chernobyl Disaster
#37
Richard Ramirez In Court
LakotaWolf (she/her) 4 months ago (edited)
"Richard Ramirez was an American serial killer and sex offender whose killing spree occurred in Greater Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area in the state of California. From April 1984 to August 1985, Ramirez murdered at least fourteen people during various break-ins, with his crimes usually taking place in the afternoon, leading to him being dubbed the Night Stalker, the Walk-In Killer, and the Valley Intruder. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 1989 and died while awaiting execution in 2013."
#38
Princess Diana Her Bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones And Driver Henri Paul Shortly Before The Fatal Crash
#39
Magician Joe Burrus Is Lowered To A “Grave” In A Casket As He Prepares To Perform A Stunt. Burrus Passed Away After The Casket Collapsed Under The Weight Of The Concrete Poured On Top Of It
LakotaWolf (she/her) 4 months ago
Although this looks like an ancient photograph, this incident took place in 1990. His wife and child were present and witnessed the terrible event.
#40
A Female Omothymus Spider In Malaysia
#41
An X-Ray Of The Pelvis Of Albert Fish Reveals Needles He Had Inserted Into His Pelvic Area For Pleasure
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 4 months ago (edited)
I have read a lot of books about serial killers. Albert Fish is pretty much up there as one of, if not the worst. He murdered and ate at least one child.
#42
De Beer Mine Worker Is X-Rayed At The End Of His Shift Before Leaving The Diamond Mines. In Kimberley, South Africa, October 1954
#43
A Photo Of Clowns Found At An Abandoned Old Folks Home
Cat Chat 4 months ago
Clowns, in the entertainment industry, didn't become synonymous with horror until after the serial killer John Wayne Gacy, and after Stephen King released IT. After kids started growing up watching Pennywise in the miniseries, that's when larger groups started fearing clowns.
#44
A Japanese Soldier Wades Into The Sea Off Cape Endaiadere, New Guinea, With A Grenade Against His Head Moments Before It Goes Off, Defying An Australian Soldier Calling On Him To Surrender, December 18, 1942
#45
Police Excavate The Backyard Of Gary Ridgeway
LakotaWolf (she/her) 4 months ago
"Gary Leon Ridgway (born February 18, 1949) is an American serial killer known as the Green River Killer. He was initially convicted of 48 separate murders committed between the early 1980s and late 1990s. As part of his plea bargain, another conviction was added, bringing the total number of convictions to 49, making him the second-most prolific serial killer in United States history according to confirmed murders."
#46
The Last Security Footage Of 17-Year-Old Kendrick Johnson Walking Inside The Gym Of His High School On January 10, 2013. The Following Day, His Body Was Found Rolled Up In A Gym Mat
LakotaWolf (she/her) 4 months ago
Other students at the school said it was common for athletes to put their shoes behind or inside the rolled-up gym mats, so one of the theories is that Kendrick leaped/slid into the rolled-up mat to retrieve his shoes, got stuck, went unnoticed, and asphyxiated.
#47
Picture Of A Man With Schizophrenia Before And After His Lobotomy
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 4 months ago
Not at all saying it should have been done, or that there were not times when it went horrifically wrong, but in some cases lobotomy seemed to work and bring relief to the patients.
#48
Ted Bundy’s Yearbook Photo From 1965
Spencer's slave no longer 4 months ago
Hiding in plain sight looking like any other regular person. That's what I find the most frightening.
#49
A Drawing Of Ed Gein Done By John Wayne Gacy
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What do you think ?
🇺🇦 PrincessPatton 🇺🇦 4 months ago
Can't you at least briefly describe who the people in the photos are? Not everyone knows all US serial killers and US missing persons by memory :/ Special thanks to @LakotaWolf (she/her) who did the work for the authors :)
Kangaroo 4 months ago
Very special thanks to LakotaWolf and others who made this list 100x more informative than BoredPanda could be bothered to do :)
Load More Replies...
Wintermute 4 months ago
As to the exploitation photos, keep in mind, the same thing is still happening today. We just hear less about it because we directly benefit from it and don't want to give up that luxury. No one's computer memes are being powered by the coal those kids mined a hundred years ago, so we have the privilege of tsk-tsking it from the comfort of the future. 100 years from now our great grandkids will be looking at Chinese prison camps, migrant field slaves, and trafficked child labor of today with the same audacity. We spoiled elite just choose to ignore it because it works for us right now.
🇺🇦 PrincessPatton 🇺🇦 4 months ago
Can't you at least briefly describe who the people in the photos are? Not everyone knows all US serial killers and US missing persons by memory :/ Special thanks to @LakotaWolf (she/her) who did the work for the authors :)
Kangaroo 4 months ago
Very special thanks to LakotaWolf and others who made this list 100x more informative than BoredPanda could be bothered to do :)
Load More Replies... Wintermute 4 months ago
As to the exploitation photos, keep in mind, the same thing is still happening today. We just hear less about it because we directly benefit from it and don't want to give up that luxury. No one's computer memes are being powered by the coal those kids mined a hundred years ago, so we have the privilege of tsk-tsking it from the comfort of the future. 100 years from now our great grandkids will be looking at Chinese prison camps, migrant field slaves, and trafficked child labor of today with the same audacity. We spoiled elite just choose to ignore it because it works for us right now.
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