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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.

#1

The Haunting Look Of An 18-Year-Old Russian Girl After Being Liberated From Dachau, April 29, 1945

The Haunting Look Of An 18-Year-Old Russian Girl After Being Liberated From Dachau, April 29, 1945

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#2

British Pows After Their Release From Japanese Captivity In Singapore, 1945

British Pows After Their Release From Japanese Captivity In Singapore, 1945

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#3

In 1907, A British Sailor Is Seen Unshackling An Enslaved Man Who Had Been Chained For Three Years

In 1907, A British Sailor Is Seen Unshackling An Enslaved Man Who Had Been Chained For Three Years

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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

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

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#5

The Last Photo Taken By Bill Biggart, The Only Journalist Who Lost His Life. Covering 9/11

The Last Photo Taken By Bill Biggart, The Only Journalist Who Lost His Life. Covering 9/11

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#6

The Nuclear Shadows Of Hiroshima

The Nuclear Shadows Of Hiroshima

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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.

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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

Motel Manager James Brock Pours Muriatic Acid In The Monson Motor Lodge Pool To Evict Black Swimmers, 1964

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#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

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

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#9

The Start Of The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

The Start Of The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

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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

Josie (6 Years Old), Bertha (6 Years Old) And Sophie (10 Years Old) Worked Regularly At The Maggioni Canning Company

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#11

Child Patients Sit Bound And Tied To A Radiator Inside The Psychiatric Hospital In Deir El Qamar, Lebanon In 1982

Child Patients Sit Bound And Tied To A Radiator Inside The Psychiatric Hospital In Deir El Qamar, Lebanon In 1982

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#12

A Chinese Woman Whose Feet Were Bound From Childhood, Late 1800s

A Chinese Woman Whose Feet Were Bound From Childhood, Late 1800s

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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

The Last Photo Before The Dyatlov Pass Incident

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#14

Coal Miners Returning From The Depths After A Days Work, Belgium, C. 1900

Coal Miners Returning From The Depths After A Days Work, Belgium, C. 1900

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#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

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

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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.

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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

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

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#17

Acute Radiation Sickness, Photos Taken In A Specialized Clinic, Soviet Union, After The Chernobyl Disaster Of April 26, 1986

Acute Radiation Sickness, Photos Taken In A Specialized Clinic, Soviet Union, After The Chernobyl Disaster Of April 26, 1986

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#18

Halloween During The 1930s

Halloween During The 1930s

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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

The Last Moments Of A Man Who Jumped In A Tiger Enclosure, 2014

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#20

A Photo Of A Possibly Shell-Shocked Soldier During Wwi

A Photo Of A Possibly Shell-Shocked Soldier During Wwi

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#21

Photograph Of Ted Bundy Having Fun With Kids In His Neighborhood

Photograph Of Ted Bundy Having Fun With Kids In His Neighborhood

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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

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.

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#23

A Photo Taken Shortly Before A Huge Wave Hit The Shore During The Devastating 2004 Tsunami

A Photo Taken Shortly Before A Huge Wave Hit The Shore During The Devastating 2004 Tsunami

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#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

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

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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.

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#25

A Tunnel Rat Explores A Hole Between “Floors” Of A Viet Cong Tunnel System

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

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#26

A Doll With Two Faces

A Doll With Two Faces

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#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

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

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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

Jean Libbera, Aka “The Double-Bodied Man,” Had His Parasitic Brother, Jacques Libbera, Connected To Him From His Chest-Stomach Area

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#29

Btk Killer Takes A Photo With His Daughter

Btk Killer Takes A Photo With His Daughter

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#30

The Mask Worn By Dennis Rader (Btk) When Carrying Out His Attacks

The Mask Worn By Dennis Rader (Btk) When Carrying Out His Attacks

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#31

A Baseball Team Of Prisoners Whose Executions Were Delayed Only As Long As They Kept Winning, C. 1910

A Baseball Team Of Prisoners Whose Executions Were Delayed Only As Long As They Kept Winning, C. 1910

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#32

A Trapper Boy, One Mile Inside A Mine In West Virginia, 1908

A Trapper Boy, One Mile Inside A Mine In West Virginia, 1908

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#33

Photo Of Jeffrey Dahmer At High School With A Fellow Student

Photo Of Jeffrey Dahmer At High School With A Fellow Student

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#34

A Mickey Mouse Gas Mask For Children During Ww2, 1942

A Mickey Mouse Gas Mask For Children During Ww2, 1942

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#35

Unidentified, The Picture Is Believed To Have Been Taken By Rodney Alcala, Serial Killer And Sex Offender

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

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#36

The Modern Remains Of A Kindergarten Classroom After The Chernobyl Disaster

The Modern Remains Of A Kindergarten Classroom After The Chernobyl Disaster

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#37

Richard Ramirez In Court

Richard Ramirez In Court

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#38

Princess Diana Her Bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones And Driver Henri Paul Shortly Before The Fatal Crash

Princess Diana Her Bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones And Driver Henri Paul Shortly Before The Fatal Crash

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#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

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

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#40

A Female Omothymus Spider In Malaysia

A Female Omothymus Spider In Malaysia

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#41

An X-Ray Of The Pelvis Of Albert Fish Reveals Needles He Had Inserted Into His Pelvic Area For Pleasure

An X-Ray Of The Pelvis Of Albert Fish Reveals Needles He Had Inserted Into His Pelvic Area For Pleasure

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#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

De Beer Mine Worker Is X-Rayed At The End Of His Shift Before Leaving The Diamond Mines. In Kimberley, South Africa, October 1954

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#43

A Photo Of Clowns Found At An Abandoned Old Folks Home

A Photo Of Clowns Found At An Abandoned Old Folks Home

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#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

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

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#45

Police Excavate The Backyard Of Gary Ridgeway

Police Excavate The Backyard Of Gary Ridgeway

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#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

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

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#47

Picture Of A Man With Schizophrenia Before And After His Lobotomy

Picture Of A Man With Schizophrenia Before And After His Lobotomy

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#48

Ted Bundy’s Yearbook Photo From 1965

Ted Bundy’s Yearbook Photo From 1965

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#49

A Drawing Of Ed Gein Done By John Wayne Gacy

A Drawing Of Ed Gein Done By John Wayne Gacy

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#50

Btk Decorates A Christmas Tree With His Daughter

Btk Decorates A Christmas Tree With His Daughter

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Note: this post originally had 55 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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