Horrors!
A directory of scary urban legends, scary stories, even scarier rumors, and Internet hoaxes guaranteed to make you sore afraid.
The 10 Scariest Urban Legends Ever Told
It's the witching hour on a dark, moonless night. You're huddled with friends around a campfire in the gloomy forest far from town, taking turns telling tales. Someone has just finished recounting a particularly eery ghost story, insisting it was true. Then someone in the shadows clears their throat and begins to speak: "Did you hear the one about..."
It's the witching hour on a dark, moonless night. You're huddled with friends around a campfire in the gloomy forest far from town, taking turns telling tales. Someone has just finished recounting a particularly eery ghost story, insisting it was true. Then someone in the shadows clears their throat and begins to speak: "Did you hear the one about..."
Alligators in the Sewers
You can find everything else under the sun in New York City -- so why not giant albino alligators under the streets?!
You can find everything else under the sun in New York City -- so why not giant albino alligators under the streets?!
Another Close Call at the Mall
A fiendish killer disguised as a mild-mannered, well-dressed businessman helps a damsel in distress, then demands that she give him a ride...
A fiendish killer disguised as a mild-mannered, well-dressed businessman helps a damsel in distress, then demands that she give him a ride...
Aren't You Glad You Didn't Turn on the Light?
After coming home late and getting ready for bed in the dark, a college coed wakes up the next morning to receive the shock of her life...
After coming home late and getting ready for bed in the dark, a college coed wakes up the next morning to receive the shock of her life...
Attack of the Penis Shrinkers!
Rumors of penis-shrinking sorcerers roaming the streets cause outbreak of pubic panic in West Africa.
Rumors of penis-shrinking sorcerers roaming the streets cause outbreak of pubic panic in West Africa.
The Body in the Bed
"Honey, what's that horrible smell in our hotel room?"
"Honey, what's that horrible smell in our hotel room?"
Boiled Brains
Manufacturer's instructions do not recommend drying your hair in the microwave. Neither does this urban legend.
Manufacturer's instructions do not recommend drying your hair in the microwave. Neither does this urban legend.
The Boyfriend's Death
They picked the worst possible night to go necking on Lovers' Lane...
They picked the worst possible night to go necking on Lovers' Lane...
Bride-and-Seek
Wedding reception fun and games take a gruesome turn.
Wedding reception fun and games take a gruesome turn.
Buried Alive!
It is a fact that once upon a time, before modern embalming techniques were developed, people were found on very rare occasions to have been buried alive.
It is a fact that once upon a time, before modern embalming techniques were developed, people were found on very rare occasions to have been buried alive.
The Choking Doberman
Choking on what, you ask? Horrifying answer here.
Choking on what, you ask? Horrifying answer here.
Crocodile Eats Golfer
Little did the Palm Beach golfer realize as he tramped off alone to the seventh hole that he was about to become Ol' Mose's last meal.
Little did the Palm Beach golfer realize as he tramped off alone to the seventh hole that he was about to become Ol' Mose's last meal.
Doctors Find Live Worm in Patient's Eye
Revolting photos show the surgical removal of a live worm from the eye of an unfortunate patient who purportedly contracted the parasite from ordinary house dust.
Revolting photos show the surgical removal of a live worm from the eye of an unfortunate patient who purportedly contracted the parasite from ordinary house dust.
Don't Lick Your Envelopes!
According to this emailed urban legend circulating since 2000, a woman in California got sick after cutting her tongue while licking an envelope infested with cockroach eggs. A few days later her doctor discovered a live cockroach growing inside her tongue.
According to this emailed urban legend circulating since 2000, a woman in California got sick after cutting her tongue while licking an envelope infested with cockroach eggs. A few days later her doctor discovered a live cockroach growing inside her tongue.
The Exploding Cactus
A family receives a cactus as a gift and gives it place of honor in their living room. Weeks later, someone notices that it seems to be... guivering.
A family receives a cactus as a gift and gives it place of honor in their living room. Weeks later, someone notices that it seems to be... guivering.
The Fatal Hairdo
Girl with a beehive hairdo that can't be washed dies a horrible death after a spider crawls inside and lays eggs, hatching a brood of hungry babies. Legendary proof that vanity can kill.
Girl with a beehive hairdo that can't be washed dies a horrible death after a spider crawls inside and lays eggs, hatching a brood of hungry babies. Legendary proof that vanity can kill.
The Fatal Tan
She made one too many visits to the tanning booth...
She made one too many visits to the tanning booth...
The Foiled Abduction
It really happened at a shopping mall to the son of my friend's friend.
It really happened at a shopping mall to the son of my friend's friend.
The Hairy-Armed Hitchhiker
Watch out, Granny's got a hatchet!
Watch out, Granny's got a hatchet!
Heads Will Roll
These traditional stories from Fiji and a Native American tribe of the Pacific coast demonstrate you can still get ahead in this world without a body.
These traditional stories from Fiji and a Native American tribe of the Pacific coast demonstrate you can still get ahead in this world without a body.
The Hook
A teenager drove his date to Lovers' Lane for a make-out session before it was time to take her home. The place was very dark and deserted. A voice came over the radio...
A teenager drove his date to Lovers' Lane for a make-out session before it was time to take her home. The place was very dark and deserted. A voice came over the radio...
Humans Can Lick, Too
Home alone, but there's nothing to fear with your trusty dog keeping watch under the bed. Or is there?
Home alone, but there's nothing to fear with your trusty dog keeping watch under the bed. Or is there?
The Kidney Thieves
Rumors can spread like viruses, and are sometimes just as lethal. Case in point, The Kidney Thieves...
Rumors can spread like viruses, and are sometimes just as lethal. Case in point, The Kidney Thieves...
The Killer in the Backseat
Drivers beware - that person following you on the highway may actually be trying to save your life!
Drivers beware - that person following you on the highway may actually be trying to save your life!
The Lightning-Fused Lovers
Two college students making love on top of a mountain during a thunderstorm experience the climax of their lives -- literally.
Two college students making love on top of a mountain during a thunderstorm experience the climax of their lives -- literally.
The Necrophilac's Gift
A very good reason never to sleep with a necrophiliac - as if you needed one.
A very good reason never to sleep with a necrophiliac - as if you needed one.
'A New Twist on Kidnapping' (Flat Tire at the Mall)
A female shopper's gratefulness turns to horror when she discovers that the "good samaritan" who offered to fix her flat tire in the mall parking lot has a briefcase full of knives, rope and duct tape.
A female shopper's gratefulness turns to horror when she discovers that the "good samaritan" who offered to fix her flat tire in the mall parking lot has a briefcase full of knives, rope and duct tape.
The Poodle in the Microwave
An elderly woman comes up with a novel way to dry off her soggy pet in a hurry. Don't try this at home!
An elderly woman comes up with a novel way to dry off her soggy pet in a hurry. Don't try this at home!
Psychic Predicts Halloween Campus Massacre
Resurrected urban legend about a psychic predicting mass murders at a major university on Halloween night brings terror to U.S. college campuses.
Resurrected urban legend about a psychic predicting mass murders at a major university on Halloween night brings terror to U.S. college campuses.
The Roommate's Death
There's a killer hiding in the room. Don't turn on the light!
There's a killer hiding in the room. Don't turn on the light!
Skinned Tom
Flayed alive long ago by a jealous husband, Tom's ghost still haunts a popular "Lovers' Lane" in rural Tennessee.
Flayed alive long ago by a jealous husband, Tom's ghost still haunts a popular "Lovers' Lane" in rural Tennessee.
Snake Swallows Man!
This charming series of photographs purports to show a gigantic serpent killed and dissected in the process of swallowing a full-grown human being.
This charming series of photographs purports to show a gigantic serpent killed and dissected in the process of swallowing a full-grown human being.
Snuff Films
Real-life murders captured on film and video? The Skeptical Inquirer's Scott Aaron Stine stalks the truth.
Real-life murders captured on film and video? The Skeptical Inquirer's Scott Aaron Stine stalks the truth.
The Stuffed Baby
Proof that drug smugglers will stop at nothing to ply their evil trade.
Proof that drug smugglers will stop at nothing to ply their evil trade.