"M3GAN" Isn't the Most Terrifying Doll? Listing 9 Creepy Dolls and Places

Directed by renowned filmmaker James Wan, the sci-fi horror movie "M3GAN" tells the story of an AI-powered doll named "M3gan" (pronounced “Megan”) who embarks on a series of chilling actions to protect her young owner. "M3GAN" takes the concept of 'killer dolls' to new heights after "Annabelle," inspiring internet trends and renewing interest in the legends of "supernatural dolls." However, M3gan is just one of many such dolls with eerie stories.

Uncanny Valley: Why Are Dolls So Terrifying?

Despite its intricate design, Megan doesn't look terrifying. However, something is unsettling about her, which can be attributed to the "Uncanny Valley." This is a hypothesis concerning human emotional response to robots and other non-human entities that appear almost human. As the similarity between these entities and humans increases, our emotional response becomes more positive, but at a certain point, a feeling of discomfort or even fear arises. This dip in the positive emotional response is called the "Uncanny Valley."

#1 Annabelle

"The Conjuring" series of horror movies, directed by James Wan, is based on real-life paranormal investigations by the Warrens. It involves the cursed doll, "Annabelle," with its terrifying legend recorded extensively in the Warrens' diaries. In 1968, a student named Donna received a doll as a gift, which soon exhibited strange behaviors. The doll would move inexplicably and even change its posture. When the phenomena escalated, Donna and her roommates consulted a medium who revealed the presence of a restless spirit named Annabelle within the doll. However, when Donna attempted to accept Annabelle's spirit, things took a malevolent turn. The Warrens eventually took possession of the doll to prevent further harm. Today, Annabelle is safely housed in the Warrens' Occult Museum in England to prevent any innocent souls from encountering its dark influence.

#2 Japanese Hanako

Every girl growing up knew the urban legend of "Hanako in the Toilet." According to this story, a girl who died at her school haunts the toilet, and a particular ritual can summon her. People would enter a school bathroom, go to the third stall, knock three times, and ask, "Hanako, are you there?" If Hanako was present, she would respond with, "I am here." This terrifying legend was adapted into a movie called "Phantom of the Toilet" in Japan. In this version, Hanako possesses a doll, adding an extra layer of specificity to the story.

#3 Chrysanthemum Doll

The famous Japanese "Chrysanthemum Doll" legend created a social phenomenon in 1918. It revolves around a doll given to a girl named Kikuko by her brother. Tragically, Kikuko fell seriously ill and passed away. In her memory, her family enshrined her spirit within the doll alongside her altar. Strangely, the doll's hair began to grow longer, instilling fear in Kikuko's family. They eventually decided to send the doll to the Mannen-ji Temple in Sorachi, Hokkaido, where it remains enshrined to this day. This legend resurfaced many years later when a Japanese television station reported on it. However, the eerie tale didn't end there. Several crew members who worked on the story inexplicably died, further enhancing the doll's reputation. Chrysanthemum dolls became a nightmare for many girls in Japan, thus often being abandoned by the roadside.

#4 Kumanthong

In Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand and Vietnam, one of the mainstream beliefs centers around the "Kumanthong." People purchase doll amulets and have spiritual masters summon the souls of deceased children to inhabit these dolls. The Kumanthong is believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and the ability to foresee events, and this tradition remains popular in Thailand to this day. Followers in Thailand report receiving dreams and advice from their Kumanthong, with stories of sudden wealth and good fortune. This belief is deeply ingrained in the culture of Southeast Asia.

#5 Chucky

The most famous supernatural doll in movie history, Chucky, was born out of a simple idea: "What if a doll came to life and started killing people?" This notion led to the production of "Evil Toons," the film that introduced Chucky to the world, and it became a major horror franchise. This idea was partly inspired by the success of "Cabbage Patch Kids," a popular toy in the 1980s. The Cabbage Patch Kids were marketed with the concept that they were born in a cabbage patch and needed love from their owners to have a happy life. Despite the seemingly dated premise, it captivated the imaginations of both children and adults. The famous line "Hi, I'm Chucky, wanna play?" was coined by Don Mancini's father, one of the screenwriters. This father-son collaboration led to the creation of the iconic character, Chucky, showing that even dolls can become cultural phenomena.

#6 Nagoro of Shikoku , Japan

In Nagoro, Shikoku, Japan, a unique and eerie sight awaits visitors. In this small village of only a few dozen people, there are over 300 life-sized dolls scattered throughout. The dolls have given the village a nickname: "The Doll Village." The village's appearance may be creepy, but the story behind it is rather poignant. The "Doll Village" phenomenon came about thanks to Tsukimi Ayano, an elderly artist living in Nagoro. She began crafting life-sized scarecrow dolls to “repopulate” her village. Over the course of 16 years, she made hundreds of these dolls, initially for “companionship”. However, this resulted in an unexpected explosion of tourism and the moniker "The Doll Village." As is often the case with horror movies, the dolls reflect deeper societal issues and human nature. Visiting the Doll Village in Shikoku offers a chance to experience the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere of a place transformed by a unique art form.

#7 Doll Island (Isla de las Munecas), Mexico

Located near the town of Xochimilco in southern Mexico City, there's a small island known as "Doll Island" or "Isla de las Munecas." The island is covered with thousands of broken and decaying dolls, hung from trees, branches, and eaves. The scene is eerie and unsettling, resembling an offering to some dark force. As a result, Doll Island joins the ranks of world-famous eerie sites like the Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital in South Korea and Aokigahara in Japan. The legend of Doll Island is tied to its previous caretaker, Don Julian Santana. He discovered a drowned girl in the canal and, close by, a floating doll. To honor the girl's memory, he hung the doll in a tree. Santana later claimed to hear whispers, footsteps, and even the girl's laughter. The phenomenon scared him, so he began hanging more dolls, hoping to appease the spirit of the girl. Years later, after Santana's death, strange occurrences continued occurring on the island, further solidifying its reputation. Today, Doll Island is a popular tourist attraction. Visitors venture there to explore its mysteries and often leave dolls as offerings to Don Julian and the spirit of the drowned girl. While some believe the legend to be an exaggeration to draw in tourism, the unsettling scenery remains a frightening spectacle.

#8 Robert Doll

In American history, Robert Doll, often considered as terrifying as Annabelle, has earned a fearsome reputation. Robert Doll stands at 101 centimeters (about 40 inches) tall and was once owned by an artist named Robert Otto in the late 19th century. After Robert Otto's passing, the doll went through several owners and is now displayed in the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida. Legend has it that Robert Doll was possessed by an evil spirit. Supposedly, the doll exhibited strange behaviors when owned by young Robert, such as moving on its own and damaging household furniture. Even neighbors claimed to see the doll move through windows. The legend continued that after Robert Otto and his wife passed away, subsequent occupants of their home reported hearing the sound of little footsteps and children's laughter, leading to speculation that the doll might still be causing trouble. To this day, many believe that Robert Doll remains possessed, and it's said that impolite visitors who disrespect the doll may encounter bad luck, such as car accidents, financial ruin, marital discord, or missed flights. Thus, many visitors leave candy and write letters to Robert Doll, seeking forgiveness and protection.

#9 Singapore Hantu Doll

Parents have often warned children not to pick up objects found on the ground, due to the fear of picking up something that don’t belong to themselves and encountering something that doesn't belong to this world, much like the "Hantu Doll" that appeared in Singapore. In June 2014, a peculiar set of images circulated online. Under a tree by the side of a road in Hougang, Singapore, a sinister sight was discovered: a pink doll adorned with lace, with a white blindfold obscuring its face. The cloth had the word "Bismillah" written on it, an Arabic phrase that translates to "In the name of God." The person who posted the photos stated that removing the blindfold from the doll would get cursed or tether the doll's spirit to the person responsible. Subsequently, it appeared that the doll's owner commented online, explaining that the doll was blindfolded for a reason. When someone removed it, the spirit within the doll became unhappy. No matter who uncovered the doll, one could only wish them good luck. These images triggered discussions among netizens, and the legend of the Hantu Doll began to spread. There were claims that on the day the doll was found, a resident committed suicide under mysterious circumstances. Some stories said the doll was haunted and brought bad luck. Whether fact or fiction, the doll's whereabouts are unknown today, and it may have found a new host to haunt.