24 Creepy, Bizarre, And Terrifying Characters Who Ruined Your Childhood

"After watching that Are You Afraid of the Dark? episode with the monster in the pool, I would NEVER swim by myself. I still don't like being in a pool alone."

—meganw71

"When I was a kid, I was terrified of the Wicked Witch of the West. I was convinced she lived in my closet, and I would have dreams she'd grab me and pull me into the closet!"

—viviam

—domoniqueb40c3c7858

"I used to dream about it coming into my house, chasing my family around, and roaring like it did in the movie."

—zicki18

—sjworkma27

"I didn't get in the lake for years because I was afraid of what creatures were in the water."

—webe8841

"I was convinced there was a killer clown living in my closet. I still keep my closet door shut whenever I'm asleep."

—thoeck22

"I thought he lived in my basement."

—mykellh

"I thought Jafar lived at Disney World, so my first time going I cried on the plane ride to Orlando."

—aviansmiles

"I'm still scared of him to this day."

—brannanl

"I was TERRIFIED of the Martians in Mars Attacks!. To this day I won't watch the movie because they freak me out so much. I thought one was hiding in my closet and I had recurring nightmares about it."

—alys4b4e83fd5

—danyllel

"I was afraid that if I didn't turn the bathroom light on before I went in, Slappy the Dummy from Goosebumps would come out of the toilet and attack me."

—lexiey

"One night when I was younger, I thought I heard Grim calling my name and became so scared of him."

—destinybowen44

"My dad let me watch The Leprechaun when I was in third grade. I had a nightmare about it when I stayed at my grandma's so I thought he lived in her basement. It took me years to be able to go down there without fearing he was going to come get me." —vsturgeon

"As a kid, I was downright terrified of Noo-Noo, the vacuum cleaner, from the Teletubbies. Just look at those eyes!"

—linelundsgaardk

"I thought Captain Hook was going to come out of the toilet when I flushed it. But I knew I had to flush, so I would flush the toilet, sprint out of the bathroom, and lock my bedroom door."

—ashhhhhhhhhh

"As a kid, I was terrified of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. His long fingers and extendable neck freaked me out. I ended up putting 'No Alien' signs on all the windows and doors, praying he wouldn't show up at my house. I had nightmares for years."

—lela1211

"I was scared of Danny DeVito. I watched Matilda all the time and had a nightmare that he snuck into my room, bleached my hair, and glued his ugly hat to my head."

—midwayktn

"I loved Pokémon as a kid and the Pokémon Gengar scared me so much. The moment I saw him I was terrified. I was even scared to go to the bathroom because I thought he'd grab me through the toilet."

—sunnis4549ae5c2

"I was deathly afraid that DoodleBob from SpongeBob was real and would erase me with the magic pencil."

—angelaf4c3acf0ac

"After watching Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, I was terrified my parents were going to get abducted by the aliens. I wouldn't let my mom out of my sight for over six months."

—someonestakara

—kelciew3

"Jim Carrey was the root of all my nightmares. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas gave me nightmares for two years."

—kxxksrxsie