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
#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
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
#5 The Last Photo Taken By Bill Biggart, The Only Journalist Who Lost His Life. Covering 9/11
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
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
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.
#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
#17 Acute Radiation Sickness, Photos Taken In A Specialized Clinic, Soviet Union, After The Chernobyl Disaster Of April 26, 1986
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.
