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Humanity has always been both captivated and terrified by the paranormal. Despite the fear, many still seek out encounters with the unknown. However, there are times when the last thing they expect is to face something beyond explanation.
It’s no surprise that there’s a whole genre of paranormal reality TV shows exploring real-life ‘meetings’ with spirits, demons, and other supernatural beings. While many of these shows feature cringeworthy moments, awkward acting, or outlandish re-enactments, now and then, they deliver a truly spine-chilling episode that will give you real goosebumps.
Be warned: spoilers ahead!
10. Terror in the Woods
The woods can be unnervingly eerie. It’s difficult to know what dangerous creatures are hidden among the trees or thick brush, and that’s just the real-life ones. Countless people have had chilling experiences while hiking or camping in the wilderness, while others find themselves in remote homes in the woods, only to discover something far darker lurking within.
Bill and Charisse Stark’s own terrifying tale was eventually featured on Destination America’s *Terror in the Woods*. The couple was overjoyed when they purchased a cabin at the edge of a geological reserve in Red River Gorge, Kentucky, a place that seemed perfect for their ‘retirement retreat.’ But their dream quickly became a nightmare as strange occurrences began to unfold inside and around the cabin.
At one point, Bill set up a security camera outside the cabin, which captured a green mist that would appear and disappear mysteriously. The footage also showed a strange light rising from the ground and drifting into the air. Bill later discovered an odd footprint in the snow outside, and the couple’s TV and PlayStation would occasionally switch on by themselves. Upon inspecting the console, they found a slimy residue coating it.
In their *Terror in the Woods* episode, it was later revealed that a woman who had been suffering from a terminal illness had passed away in the cabin. Even after the episode aired, reports continued to surface about bizarre occurrences in the cabin.
9. Ghost Hunters
Ghost Hunters aired from 2004 to 2016, before being revived in 2019. Over the course of its original 11-season run, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson led investigations into haunted locations both in the United States and the United Kingdom. As founders of TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society), they worked alongside a team of dedicated ghost hunters.
Throughout the series, numerous eerie occurrences took place, including faces appearing in darkness, multiple EMF meters spiking simultaneously, disembodied figures roaming, and mysterious voices coming from basements. One particularly chilling incident occurred during 'The Armory' episode, when the crew investigated the New Bedford Armory in Massachusetts. There, sound technician Frank DeAngelis suddenly collapsed backwards and, unable to rise, required medical attention.
The next day, DeAngelis described the sensation of something passing through him, and, deeply shaken by the experience, he decided to leave the crew, feeling too traumatized to continue participating in the investigations.
8. True Terror with Robert Englund
Who better to host a spine-chilling show than Freddy Krueger himself? Premiering in March 2020, True Terror with Robert Englund is a follow-up to the earlier True Terror with George Takei, and it has been well-received by audiences. The show delves into historical paranormal events, bringing them to life through Englund’s unsettling persona and his knack for creating a creepy atmosphere.
One of the stories featured in the pilot episode tells of a man from North Carolina who dreamt of his own death, including a countdown to the tragic event. Another story recounts the terrifying ordeal of a teenager from New Orleans who found himself trapped in a waking nightmare, ultimately meeting a gruesome fate. (Sounds like something Freddy Krueger might have a hand in, doesn’t it?)
Among the creepiest episodes is the one that explores the real-life tale of the Axeman of New Orleans, one of America's most notorious serial killers. The Axeman began a terrifying chain of events by challenging both the public and the police in an open letter. The media soon printed replies from citizens, many of whom boldly confronted the killer. George Columbo, an Italian-American immigrant, intended to confront the Axeman, and what followed could easily be described as a living nightmare.
7. Paranormal Lockdown
Picture spending 100 hours inside a house known for its dark history, facing off with a volatile demonic entity. This is precisely what paranormal investigators Nick Groff and Katrina Weidman did for Paranormal Lockdown in 2016. The Black Monk House episode served as a special two-hour feature bridging the first and second seasons of the show.
Black Monk House, located in Pontefract, England, has drawn the attention of several paranormal investigators. Some have reported objects levitating and individuals being attacked by an unseen force. One particularly horrifying event involved a girl being dragged upstairs in a manner that could have come straight out of a modern horror film. Some ghost hunters who encountered the house's poltergeist refused to remain on the property, and even the caretakers will not stay there alone.
Nick and Katrina dedicated four days to capturing the elusive poltergeist known as The Black Monk on film. The results make this episode one of the most unforgettable (and perhaps most terrifying) of the entire series.
6. Unsolved Mysteries
Before the 2020 reboot of Unsolved Mysteries, there was the original 1987 version, hosted by Robert Stack, among others. True to its name, each episode focused on mysterious cases, ranging from murders and hauntings to disappearances and accidents. Robert Stack's distinctive, deep voice paired with the iconic theme music left a lasting impression, sending chills down the spines of many viewers. Additionally, some of these episodes were so unsettling that they continue to be discussed on forums like Reddit years after their airing.
One of the most haunting and unforgettable episodes aired during Season 7, recounting the tragic tale of Pam and Eric Ellender. In 1991, the couple was found dead in their Sulphur, Louisiana home, their infant daughter found safe but crying in another room. Later, it was revealed that the killers had thrown a party at the home shortly after the murders, with the victims’ bodies still in the bedroom. While the case was eventually solved, the chilling details shared in the episode left viewers on the edge of their seats. It’s a must-watch for anyone seeking a spine-tingling story.
5. The Dead Files
The Dead Files, a show with a surprisingly cheerful title, follows medium Amy Allan and former homicide detective Steve DiSchiavi as they investigate haunted locations at the request of individuals. Each episode centers around Steve and Amy conducting their own separate investigations of a specific site, only to reveal their findings to each other at the conclusion of the episode.
Despite receiving considerable criticism over the years, the show continues to be a favorite among fans, airing its 12th season in early 2020. One of the creepiest episodes, as reported by fans, tells the tale of Annie, who has lived in her home for more than a decade and believes the hooded figures she regularly sees on her property have worsened her existing health issues. Annie also reported seeing the spirits of long-dead Native Americans surrounding her home in Cedar Park, Texas. To make things even eerier, Annie’s friend Joel claimed to have seen what appeared to be paper-like cutouts of people hanging in the trees around the property, moving between the branches.
4. Celebrity Ghost Stories
Even the stars aren’t immune to paranormal encounters. Countless celebrities have shared their stories of inexplicable experiences, leading to the creation of a TV show or two where famous figures reveal their own eerie encounters.
Celebrity Ghost Stories (the American version) first aired in 2009, featuring stars like Belinda Carlisle and Gina Gershon, among others. Throughout its run, the series also spotlighted appearances by Joan Collins, Alice Cooper, Kelly Osbourne, Nene Leakes, who recounted hearing ghostly children’s voices, and Paula Abdul.
One of the episodes feature shock rocker, Marilyn Manson, who related the story of his encounter as a teen with a copy of the Necronomicon. His friend implored him to read the incantations in the book, and Manson believed that doing so caused a disturbance in the energy around them. Manson also claimed that a scary disembodied voiced asked them ‘do you believe in satan?”
Manson stated during his segment that he had read enough of the Bible to know that what was happening was ‘not good’ and that people’s energy stays with the things they were attached to in life after they die.
3. Haunted
Haunted premiered in 2018 on Netflix and recounts terrifying true stories of people who have found themselves face-to-face with evil. One of the episodes in Season 2 of the series details a nurse’s encounter with a possessed patient at a nursing home which caused many viewers to freak out. However, Season 1’s Slaughterhouse episode, in which two sisters reveal that their father was a serial killer, is about as terrifying as they come.
Their childhood was spent listening to the terrible sounds of people being murdered in their house, after their father picked up ‘strays’ from the streets and bars. They lived on a couple of acres of forest land and their father disposed of his victims’ bodies in the woods. The sisters believed that the murders led to their house becoming haunted, and their father also engaged in dark rituals in the woods which led them to believe that he was possessed.
2. Paranormal Witness
Paranormal Witness is one of the most popular spooky TV series, airing for five seasons between 2011 and 2016. The show explores a variety of chilling tales, such as the strange powers of Don Decker, the Capitol Theatre Haunting, encounters with werewolves, haunted dolls, and, of course, terrifying demons.
One of the most unsettling episodes recounts the tragic death of 23-year-old Christene Skubish. She fell asleep at the wheel while driving on Highway 50 in California in 1994, causing her car to crash down a steep incline. Christene was accompanied by her 3-year-old son, Nick. When she failed to reach her destination, her stepfather reported her missing. Five days later, Deborah Hoyt and her husband were driving along Route 50 when Deborah saw a woman lying on the side of the road, naked with her arms covering her head. The couple called the police, but by the time authorities arrived, the woman had disappeared.
This led to the discovery of Christene’s body in the wrecked car, with Nick found in the passenger seat, curled up in a fetal position, weak and dehydrated but alive. Doctors later agreed that if Nick had been in the car for another hour or two, he would not have survived.
The haunting and heartbreaking nature of this story makes it one of the most unforgettable episodes of Paranormal Witness.
1. Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
Similar to Unsolved Mysteries, Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction quickly garnered a devoted fanbase after its 1997 debut. The show presented five stories per episode, blending fact with fiction, and leaving viewers guessing which was which.
The pilot episode, titled 'The Apparition,' is considered one of the most spine-chilling in the series. It tells the story of a woman who, after suffering a nervous breakdown, begins to see the ghost of a deceased woman in a mirror on the second floor of her home. The ghost attempts to speak, but her words never reach the living.
One night, a man breaks into the woman’s house and pursues her as she tries to flee upstairs. When he follows her, he witnesses the ghost in the mirror, sending him into a panic.
Though the episode aired years ago, it remains unsettling to this day. It's a must-see for horror fans, especially since the story was later revealed to be based on real events.
