Whether you’re a skeptic or a true believer, there’s something intriguing about the things that go bump in the night. Some of the most iconic movies feature paranormal happenings or unexplained abilities. Those interested in the paranormal are fascinated by ghosts, ghouls, demons, aliens and more—the paranormal encompasses anything easily dismissed as incompatible with the rules of known science. Yet the questions remain.
From paranormal kids films like the notable Goosebumps series, Casper the Friendly Ghost, and Beetlejuice to more mature options like The Conjuring, Midsommar, and Paranormal Activity, the paranormal is often explored in a range of horror movies and other media like books, comics, and podcasts.
But the realm of the paranormal is not limited to fiction only. There are entire swaths of paranormal researchers and lifelong searchers. From real-life accounts of hauntings and demon possession to a myriad of documentary-style ghost-hunting tv shows, we are drawn to the paranormal in search of answers. But will we ever find them?
If you’re a paranormal junkie or just curious about what could be out there, here are some intriguing places to start:
And once you’ve finished with these, explore the stories below for a fascinating deep dive into all things paranormal.
In the sleepy parish of Borley stood a dark Victorian manse plagued by reports of the paranormal.
From the Devil's tramping ground to a wooded Bermuda Triangle, you do not want to take a stroll through these freaky forests.
By Michael Koh
From witch hunters and vampire killers to haunted childhood homes, cap off the year with 2015's scariest books.
By Adam Karlin
On a quiet street in Texas sits the most haunted home in the Lone Star State.
By DeAnna Janes
Mysterious fishing boats strewn with rotting corpses are washing up along the shores of Japan, and officials are baffled.
By Crime Feed
In 1836, an unsuspecting passerby entered the Gardette-LePrete mansion and uncovered a scene of unimaginable horror.
By Adam Karlin
Step inside San Antonio's historic Menger Hotel, where former guests still linger long after they checked out.
The famed minister is said to still haunt his church in Brooklyn, where a 19th century sex scandal nearly destroyed his career.
These first-hand out-of-body experience stories will completely change your outlook on the otherworldly.
From haunted hotels to abandoned hospitals, these eerie locales prove the Sunshine State has a dark side.
By Adam Karlin
Along the edge of this abandoned Missouri graveyard roams the restless soul of an executed spree killer.
By Orrin Grey
The scariest hotel in the U.S. just got scarier.
By DeAnna Janes
If you're headed to one of these libraries for some peace and quiet, think again.
By DeAnna Janes
Check in with these haunted hotels for a possible paranormal experience on your next trip.
One couple's visit to the misty cliffs of Ireland takes a turn for the supernatural in this fictional ghost story by Alan Derosby.
By Alan Derosby
Across the haunted grounds of this former Civil War prison roam the restless souls of 4,000 Confederate dead.
By Adam Karlin
The dead apparently don’t rest easy in Minnesota. The state boasts some of the most haunted spots in the country.
Reader beware: These eerie tales of cursed houses and restless souls are guaranteed to terrify.
Guillermo del Toro's new nightmare replaces the tired tropes of Gothic romance with ghosts, violence, and kink.
By DeAnna Janes