The Creepypasta Fandom

[Olhelm]

2spoopy.

 

[Coldgrip]

Needs more hyper-realistic blood.

 

[MayMay]

That picture above may be a funny little parody but it does bring to mind a though regarding the state of pastas and fanworks. As in what's with the obsession with "black eyes red pupils dripping hyper realistic blood"? It's really not that creepy, mainly due to being over the top. Really something like, say, a totally empty eye socket would be more unsettling. Or even seemingly normal eyes. Uncanny valley goes a long way even when intentional like, say, the Link statue that inspired "Ben". It's in a sense perfectly normal looking but at the same time... just wrong.

Just saying, there's plenty that can be done to make something unsettling but the bloodeyes just look trite and a bit silly.

 

[Linako 2.0]

That picture above may be a funny little parody but it does bring to mind a though regarding the state of pastas and fanworks. As in what's with the obsession with "black eyes red pupils dripping hyper realistic blood"? It's really not that creepy, mainly due to being over the top. Really something like, say, a totally empty eye socket would be more unsettling. Or even seemingly normal eyes. Uncanny valley goes a long way even when intentional like, say, the Link statue that inspired "Ben". It's in a sense perfectly normal looking but at the same time... just wrong.

Just saying, there's plenty that can be done to make something unsettling but the bloodeyes just look trite and a bit silly.

My theory on why black eyes that bleed tears are popular is because Middle-Schoolers think it's edgy and cool. like. they want to be dark because it stimulates their desire to be an individual that belongs to something while being an outcast at the same time.
so they make these edgy, but not creepy characters as a way to express their shitty tastes. just look at this "Emo art" and tell me it doesn't look like a shitty modern creepy pasta character..

 

[MayMay]

My theory on why black eyes that bleed tears are popular is because Middle-Schoolers think it's edgy and cool. like. they want to be dark because it stimulates their desire to be an individual that belongs to something while being an outcast at the same time.
so they make these edgy, but not creepy characters as a way to express their shitty tastes. just look at this "Emo art" and tell me it doesn't look like a shitty modern creepy pasta character..

'Spose that's the case. Guess I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to horror. Another thing about the unsettling effect I forgot is that it doesn't even need to be all that slight to work well.

Case in point, most of the abominations from Silent hill. There's nothing remotely human about them yet a lot of them have things like a human-ish shape to them. It's like having that little bit you can "identify" with but is clearly something messed up.

Also, I got a better emo bunny right here:

 

[Meowthkip]

That picture above may be a funny little parody but it does bring to mind a though regarding the state of pastas and fanworks. As in what's with the obsession with "black eyes red pupils dripping hyper realistic blood"? It's really not that creepy, mainly due to being over the top. Really something like, say, a totally empty eye socket would be more unsettling. Or even seemingly normal eyes. Uncanny valley goes a long way even when intentional like, say, the Link statue that inspired "Ben". It's in a sense perfectly normal looking but at the same time... just wrong.

Just saying, there's plenty that can be done to make something unsettling but the bloodeyes just look trite and a bit silly.

I've always though eyes that are larger than normal on not-cartoons are way creepier.

 

[Ification]

Personally I think you can make anything scary with a big unnatural smile.

 

[Coldgrip]

Personally I think you can make anything scary with a big unnatural smile.

 

[Arctic]

 

[fishercat]

There are lots of things that can make someone subtly scary. Having features that are very close to normal but not quite, speaking oddly, etc. Black and red eyes just look stupid. And why is it that the scariest thing creepypasta writers can come up with is blood? There are plenty of examples of creepy/scary things that don't have HYPER REALISTIC BLOOD everywhere.

How to do creepy right:

How to do it wrong:

 

[MayMay]

There are lots of things that can make someone subtly scary. Having features that are very close to normal but not quite, speaking oddly, etc. Black and red eyes just look stupid. And why is it that the scariest thing creepypasta writers can come up with is blood? There are plenty of examples of creepy/scary things that don't have HYPER REALISTIC BLOOD everywhere.
View attachment 11362

This. There's all sorts of bodily fluids and other things that is more gross and icky than blood. Like I'd probably be freaked out if I saw someone, say, coughing up pus or something.

Also, for the less-subtle variant of uncanny valley done right:

What makes the Thing so freaky to look at is probably not so much the monstrous parts, but the parts that are clearly human (or dog) like that contrast WILDLY with the monster itself. Yikes.

 

[ASoulMan]

I personally think that white, blank eyes are more disturbing than black eyes with red dots IMO, especially when they look sunk in.

 

[Count groudon]

I personally think that white, blank eyes are more disturbing than black eyes with red dots IMO, especially when they look sunk in.

I think glossy reflective eyes are really creepy. Especially when it's like at night and someone's shining a flashlight and suddenly you see these two little shining back at them. That's probably the main reason why I think pictures of aliens or that one picture of the rake are so damn unsettling

 

[Frank Rizzo]

So, I've taken the liberty of writing a Jeff spinoff. I submit it here for your approval.

Spoiler: John the Killer

It happened when I was 12 years old.
I had went to bed after a long day, and was just drifting to sleep.
In the deep silence, I heard something that made me stir.
A creak from my window
I froze completely still, and tried to make out what made the sound.
I saw nothing.
I stood, and walked to my window, peering out into the street. Still, there was nothing. Another creak.
I turned swiftly, but still there was only thin air.
I paused, and suddenly heard a chilling voice from seemingly every direction.
"You can't see me..."
I started to run.
Something tripped me before I could make it to the door, and I yelped as I fell.
I could see him now, and he was terrifying.
Although stout, his muscles were unnaturally large.
His jaw seemed chiseled, and his eyes endless.
He grinned and lifted me above his head.
"YOUR TIME IS UP!" He screamed at the top of his lungs before slamming me on the floorboards.
I could hear my spine snapping from the force, but I couldn't scream.
The pain was too great.
He leaned in, and placed his hand in between our faces, shaking it.
"MY TIME IS NOW!"
He fled through the same window he got in through.
Since that day, I have been stuck in a wheelchair.
The latest reports depict him with a large golden belt around his waist.
God help you if you ever see John the Killer.

He only answers to a demon known as McMahon....

 

[Enjoy your spaghetti]

I personally think that white, blank eyes are more disturbing than black eyes with red dots IMO, especially when they look sunk in.

That little bit of "offness" that pushes someone or something over the wrong side of the uncanny valley goes a long way. We're pretty used to red and black demon eyes and tears of blood; it's not hard to figure out something with those features isn't one of us. But somebody that almost gets the human look but overshoots or falls short just a little bit? That's creepy. You do a double take and question your perception at the same time.

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[SU 390]

There are lots of things that can make someone subtly scary. Having features that are very close to normal but not quite, speaking oddly, etc. Black and red eyes just look stupid. And why is it that the scariest thing creepypasta writers can come up with is blood? There are plenty of examples of creepy/scary things that don't have HYPER REALISTIC BLOOD everywhere.

How to do creepy right:

How to do it wrong:

View attachment 11362

Am I the only one who finds the Sonic.exe "I Am God" picture creepy as fuck. G-Man is creepy in his own style, but holy fuck that picture of demonic Sonic made my hairs stand.

 

[fishercat]

But somebody that almost gets the human look but overshoots or falls short just a little bit? That's creepy.

Again, I think G-Man is the perfect example of this. He's supposed to convey something that's attempting to look human, but also isn't trying very hard. I think they did a very good job in that regard. I mean, fucking look at him.

Sorry for sperging about this, but I think G-Man is an awesome example of something that falls deep into the uncanny valley.

 

[MayMay]

I think glossy reflective eyes are really creepy. Especially when it's like at night and someone's shining a flashlight and suddenly you see these two little shining back at them. That's probably the main reason why I think pictures of aliens or that one picture of the rake are so damn unsettling

Also depending on how white they are, they might seem like there's no pupils at all which we tend to associate with "dead!" so something up and about with those blank eyes kinda looks like a walking corpse, registers well as just plain wrong. Or even a seeming lack of features...

Probably what unnerves some people about the Wii Fit Trainer.

 

[Linako 2.0]

This. There's all sorts of bodily fluids and other things that is more gross and icky than blood. Like I'd probably be freaked out if I saw someone, say, coughing up pus or something.

Also, for the less-subtle variant of uncanny valley done right:

What makes the Thing so freaky to look at is probably not so much the monstrous parts, but the parts that are clearly human (or dog) like that contrast WILDLY with the monster itself. Yikes.

Not only that, but the fact that anyone could be secretly be the Thing and could eat you.
this movie made me not want to touch anyone for a whole month.

 

[MayMay]

Not only that, but the fact that anyone could be secretly be the Thing and could eat you.
this movie made me not want to touch anyone for a whole month.

Oh yes, the writing, I could sperg about that for a few paragraphs
-Paranoia fuel
-People (with some exceptions) not being completely stupid morons

Two things that are sorely underused in a lot of fiction. I mean let's contrast the characters in The Thing and, say, the protagonist of Sonic.Exe.
Where as the Sonic.exe guy saw some obvious warning signs (which I won't point out due to being so obvious) the humans actually took measures and even learned from encounters. For instance, after finding the remains aren't dead yet, they make a point to completely incinerate it entirely. However in this case said sense is turned against them since there's facts they don't learn (such as every bit being its own life-form) till later in the film that could have saved a few lives.

Rule of thumb for a threatening menace is this: if you can completely nullify it by NOT being a dumbass, it's not that threatening. When it can catch even the common sense people and smart guys to the point where there's little they can even do about their situation? Now that's a threat.