Whether it’s because you just finished watching a horror movie or are sleep-deprived, your eyes can play tricks on you now and then. Some explain this phenomenon as a sort of evolutionary advantage humans have that makes them sense danger, imagined or real.
Nonetheless, these tricks of the eye can still be terrifying in the few seconds before you realize just what you’re actually seeing.
Check out these heart-attack-inducing photos of innocent things that ended up scaring people.
#1 The nun
People who have watched The Conjuring films are probably familiar with that demon nun that looks awfully similar to the shape of this coat. Fortunately, it’s all just a trick of the light and the way the coat hangs.
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Source:
littlefoot2080 via Reddit
#2 Window ‘creeper’
We really can’t blame this sister for freaking out seeing that ominous figure in her apartment’s window. But as it turns out, it was just some clothes hanging to create a man-shaped shadow.
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Source:
AndyWyant via Reddit
#3 Surprise Slenderman
You never really expect to see Slenderman in public, much less at a New York City clothing store. And people certainly never imagined the creepy ghoul to be selling them a pair of jeans.
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Source:
bmagnusson via Imgur
#4 Abandoned house
Whoever put that girl doll by this abandoned house’s window sure knows what they’re doing. What’s more, they must be pleased with themselves since a couple passing by almost had a heart attack seeing the ‘welcoming’ figure.
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Source:
Its_Obvi_PShopped via Reddit
#5 More interesting than it looks
At first glance, you would think this was a giant spider out to get you. In reality, it’s some ancient whale bones above an old well.
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Source:
jahaight via Reddit
#6 Literal butt-face
This kid’s mom probably regretted buying her son a jack-o-lantern onesie after seeing this in the middle of the night. Her baby looks all snug and comfy, though.
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Source:
LadyJane17 via Reddit
#7 Scene of the crime
No, nobody got shot at school that day. One student just spilled their smoothie while in class and left this “bloody” mess behind.
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Source:
Danielmg via Reddit
#8 You’ll float too!
Imagine being so excited to see what you’re first baby looks like and being greeted with this sight. The moment was ruined, but the parents now have a cool story to tell about that time Pennywise the Clown appeared on their ultrasound.
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Source:
squidills via Reddit
#9 The perks of tidying up
This was one of those times when tidying up would’ve paid off big time. Hopefully, this little scare taught them a lesson not to leave things lying around on the bedroom floor.
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Source:
pooptime1 via Reddit
#10 Surprise passengers
Aww…we bet poor dad had a mini heart attack after getting into his dark and supposedly empty car and then seeing those ‘strange’ passengers in the back. As it turns out, his wife just left some of their kids’ presents back there.
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Source:
Apatharas via Reddit
#11 When a thoughtful gift backfires
He bought his photographer wife a cool lens-shape thermos as a thoughtful gift. It backfired, though, because he always panics when seeing it in the sink before realizing it’s the fake one.
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Source:
Tryenamy via Reddit
#12 Watching you, watching her
It looks like mommy isn’t the only one who couldn’t sleep – as this baby monitor screenshot proves. What are the odds that she’d catch her kid looking right into the camera?
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Source:
jcmcna0733 via Reddit
#13 Bacon or Pennywise?
It looks like Pennywise really is an expert at catching people off guard. Too bad for him, the person who took this picture was probably hungry for bacon and ate him anyway.
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Source:
jtronicustard via Reddit
#14 Deep cleaning
Don’t worry. This cute dog isn’t really being impaled at the groomers. The groomer is actually an amputee.
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Source:
BaByJeZuZ012 via Reddit
#15 What’s up?
Their cat sure is clingy. He can’t stand being apart from them so he camouflages himself in with the ceiling. Who says cats can’t be loyal?
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Source:
frex4 via Reddit
#16 Just napping
We eventually get to that age when we have to nap ASAP. There is no time to get under the covers or lie on the pillows or take your shoes off. Still, this guy got the scare of a lifetime seeing his grandma napping like this.
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Source:
joeltrane via Reddit
#17 Just being a good guy
We bet they thought his son was bluffing when he woke his folks up at 3 am because he saw a strange man on their porch wielding a stick. Bad news: he was actually there. Good news: it was just the paper delivery guy retrieving a roll he accidentally threw on the roof.
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Source:
thebeesremain via Reddit
#18 Light bending
Light can easily play tricks on the eyes. A quick glance at this green figure led this person to have new nightmare fuel. In reality, it was just a harmless emergency light.
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Source:
Tezariah via Reddit
#19 One of the boys
One of these things is not like the others. One of these things is not the same. Can you guess which?
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Source:
Nundee via Imgur
#20 Heavy sleeper
We imagine this person was absolutely horrified when he first saw his pet sleeping like that. He just likes getting comfy is all.
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Source:
morisaboo via Imgur
#21 One-eyed skull
Nope. The skeleton didn’t suddenly grow an eye overnight. That’s just the fish tank snail getting settled into a new spot.
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Source:
Tyranitard via Reddit
#22 I know what you did last summer
We bet he thought he had been transported into the film ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ when he saw this. It was just his housemate’s drying fishing waders, thankfully.
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Source:
jabrah15 via Reddit
#23 My precious…
Let it sink in. Someone actually took the time to print this photo out and stick it to their friend’s side mirror for fun.
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Source:
JamesPKP via Reddit
#24 I brought you a present
Dogs bring in the weirdest objects back home after playing outside. But this is by far the most unusual one we’ve seen.
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Source:
erethenn via Reddit
#25 A scary sight to wake up to
At first glance, it looks like this cat either stabbed something or was stabbed by something. But nope. That’s just some paprika.
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Source:
bessiboom via Imgur
#26 A new friend
These concerned parents just saw a disembodied baby head sleeping next to their son, so they had to investigate. Thank god it wasn’t really what they thought it was.
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Source:
Maritza Elizabeth via Facebook
#27 It’s coming for you
They probably thought Sadako was getting ready to drag him down her well. It was just his wife’s gloves left out to dry.
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Source:
RoninGR via Reddit
#28 CatDog without his other half
It’s been a lonely world for Dog when he finally got separated from Cat. They might have been opposites by his feline buddy was still his better half.
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Source:
esquonk via Reddit
#29 Burning down the house
The neighbors probably thought someone next door just opened the gates of hell. We still can’t believe this was a product of a sunset’s reflection.
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Source:
PeteLX via Reddit
#30 Kids on board
Kids can be weird, but these fake children staring right out into your soul are next-level creepy. Looking closely, we think they are actually headrest covers.
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Source:
Recoverytime via Imgur
#31 Shadow of nature
This looks like it is straight out of a horror movie. Luckily for the person who saw it, there were no demons stalking him. It was just the shadow of a tree outside.
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Source:
Hellakittehs via Reddit
#32 Hooded figure
We never knew something as comforting as a snuggie could actually look as ominous as a cult robe. It really is all about perspective.
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Source:
Snaps4 via Reddit
#33 A new breed of walnut
Walnuts are one of the tastiest yet weirdly shaped nuts out there. We can’t really blame anyone for freaking out for a second after seeing this web-like shape.
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Source:
zazzles via Reddit
#34 Just a messy closet
If this were a slasher film, this would’ve been the unconscious body of the final girl’s teenage friend. But this isn’t a horror film, so it’s actually just a messy closet ‘leaking’ its contents out.
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Source:
Rkblack12 via Reddit
#35 Don’t turn on the lights…
Props to them for not running out of the house to call an exorcist or something after seeing this. Here’s more incentive to make your bed every morning.
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Source:
pacmaneatsfruit via Reddit
#36 Just hanging
Here’s another instance of hanging boots freaking someone out. And it never helps that they’re always kept in dark basements.
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Source:
atodaso via Reddit
#37 Burglar-proof
This person’s neighbor may be resting easy because of his new anti-burglar cardboard cutout, but the people next door sure aren’t. It’s kind of hard getting used to seeing this whenever you get home from work.
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Source:
Eldeee via Reddit
#38 False alarm
Sometimes, it’s best to just err on the safe side and call the cops before suspicions turn into trouble. Not in this case, though. Apparently, what they thought was an intruder was just their hanging laundry.
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Source:
mew1994 via Reddit
#39 When the sun messes with you
The sun may be millions of miles away from us, but it can still find ways to mess with people. Case in point is this giant spider that’s really just the inner workings of a lamp.
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Source:
Nizzler via Reddit
#40 Drunk chick or dead body?
This scene can lead one to jump to numerous conclusions. Is it a drunk girl lying in the trash? A dead body discarded in the cardboard? Nope, it’s just an old pair of boots on a mannequin.
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Source:
Jimitheexploder via Reddit
#41 Hurricane aftermath
Here’s another instance in which a discarded mannequin gave onlookers a heart attack. This time it’s a washed-up mannequin head brought by Hurricane Sandy.
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Source:
harrysp via Imgur
#42 Old crone
He probably thought his friend was just messing with him after seeing this ‘sitting’ sack by his buddies home. It might have been accidental placement, or was it?
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Source:
drivetothebeat via Reddit
#43 Unconventional methods
We can’t really blame them for freaking out after seeing what looks like a person’s feet hanging out the window of their friend’s 11th-floor apartment. Thankfully, it was just a pair of shoes left out to dry.
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Source:
amandalauren16 via Reddit
#44 Messing with dad
The trampoline just got a hole in it. While this might be cause for a tantrum to other kids, this little girl decided to have some fun and give her dad a scare.
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Source:
Cerebos via Reddit
#45 Strangest visitor
Maybe his wife’s idea of drying the comforter on a chair instead of in the dryer wasn’t the best idea. He almost had a heart attack walking in to see this strange visitor seemingly waiting in their dining room.
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Source:
schrute_beet_farms via Reddit
#46 Bedfellow
It looks like her bedding has a mind of its own. Maybe she’ll learn to fluff her pillows and pull back her covers from now on.
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Source:
ThisIsHowIShowMyLove via Reddit
#47 How horror movies start
Imagine waking up in the middle of the night sleeping on your mom’s couch and being greeted by this sight. This is not a good way to start the morning.
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Source:
NotHerebrb via Reddit
#48 Freaky decor
It’s quite hard to tell what this really is. It certainly looks like a hanged girl in a school uniform, so the person who snapped this picture was understandably freaked out by their neighbor’s choice of décor.
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Source:
LadyRaptor via Imgur
#49 Someone’s at the door
Here’s a reminder never to leave your boots right outside your door. You’ll have a mini heart attack thinking there’s a strange man standing right outside.
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Source:
WesleyRJ95 via Reddit
#50 The ‘handmaid’
This could’ve easily been a serious situation. It’s a good thing that what they thought was a suicidal handmaid was actually just a red and white umbrella.
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