If you’ve read The Shining, seen Poltergeist, or played Amnesia, you know that a house can be more than just a place to live—it can be a source of horror.
The subreddit ‘Evil Buildings‘ and its 1.1 million members regularly share examples of architecture that embodies this sinister vibe—whether it’s a structure that could be chosen by a supervillain as their lair, could serve as the headquarters for a wicked corporation, or simply looks so creepy that it feels as if it’s alive and watching you.
Enter if you dare.
#1 Perhaps The Evilest Of Them All?
RELATED: #2 An Abandoned Mansion In The Swamps Of Louisiana
Frank McAndrew, who is the Cornelia H. Dudley Professor of Psychology at Knox College and an elected Fellow of several professional organizations, including the Association for Psychological Science (APS), says that the portrayal of cinematic haunted houses has remained remarkably consistent over time.
“From a psychological point of view, the standard features of haunted houses trigger feelings of dread because they push buttons in our brains that evolved long before houses even existed,” McAndrew writes. “These alarm buttons warn us of potential danger and motivate us to proceed with caution.”
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Haunted houses give us the creeps not because they pose an obvious threat to us, but rather because it is unclear whether they represent a threat or not.
“This ambivalence leaves you frozen in place, wallowing in unease,” McAndrew explains.
For example, it would be considered bizarre and embarrassing to run screaming out of a house that makes you feel uneasy if there is nothing to fear. But on the other hand, it could be perilous to ignore your intuition and remain in a place that feels dangerous.
#6 The Bailong Elevator. (Supervillain Lair Vibes)
#7 Literally Evil
#8 This Building Looks Cartoonishly Evil
#9 This Building Is Up To Something For Sure
Think of it this way: if you’re walking through the woods alone at night and hear something rustling in the bushes, you’ll respond with a heightened level of arousal and attention. You’ll behave as if there is a willful “agent” who plans to harm you.
If it turns out to be a gust of wind or a stray cat, you lose very little, if anything, by overreacting. But if you fail to activate the alarm response and a true threat is present, the consequences of your miscalculation could be very high.
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#11 Qatar’s Crescent Tower Looking Even More Evil This Morning
#12 Vlasov Roman Is An Architect For Supervillains
#13 Temelin Power Plant With Eyes Projected Onto The Cooling Towers, For Some Reason
“We have evolved to err on the side of detecting threats in ambiguous situations,” McAndrew says.
“Things that activate hypervigilance for malevolent supernatural (or natural) agents abound in large, drafty old houses: rattling or creaking sounds in upstairs rooms; the sighing and moaning of wind passing through cracks; ragged curtains fluttering in the breeze; echoes; and cold spots.”
#14 German Observation Tower At Guernsey
#15 This Is On A Whole New Level
#16 The Remains Of A Concrete Apartment Building In Kirovsky, Kamchatka
#17 Gateway Arch In St. Louis At Night
“Research has consistently shown that we need more personal space while seated than while standing, more space when we are in the corner of a room rather than in the center of it, and more space in rooms with low ceilings,” the psychologist adds.
“We feel uncomfortable when our personal space is violated anywhere, but especially so in situations where we feel as if escape will become difficult.”
Such feelings of discomfort are symptomatic of the fact that we are constantly—even if unconsciously—scanning our surroundings and evaluating our ability to flee if it should become necessary.
Consequently, evil buildings are our worst nightmares.
#18 Cologne Cathedral Last Night
#19 Washington D.c. Temple Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints
#20 Spotted On The Amtrak To NYC
#21 The Oldest House In France Has Been Standing There Since 1478
As you may have noticed from looking at the pictures, the older a place is, the more likely we are to perceive it as haunted. McAndrew believes this is because there’s been much more time for tragic things to have happened.
“Stimuli such as moldy odors, antiquated Victorian or Gothic architecture, wood interiors, and old portraits on the wall reinforce an ambiance of great age,” he says. “Assuming that the house is no longer occupied, signs of life suddenly interrupted and frozen in time only amplify the fear factor.”
#22 A War Memorial In Serbia
#23 When You Design A Building That Looks Evil Yet Gorgeous
#24 Evil Has Taken Root!
#25 Eye Of Sauron, Doest It Count?
At the end of the day, whether or not a building can be labeled as evil depends upon more than the physical features of the house. Just as important are the expectations of the person exploring the area. To continue your investigations, fire up our first article on the subreddit ‘Evil Buildings.’
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#30 Central Bank Of Iraq(The Scheme Provides A 172m-Tall Tower On Top Of A 200 X 100m Podium Box)(414×414)
