By Tim Binnall
Whether it was by way of the spirits themselves or the humans trying to 'hunt' them, 2021 saw no shortage of strange, unusual, and downright spooky ghost stories. From first-hand encounters with potential apparitions to chilling home videos of inexplicable and eerie activity, the spirit world was well represented in the news of the weird this past year. To that end, here's our selections for the spookiest ghost stories of 2021:
'Ghost Pants' Caught on Film? - The weirdest ghost video from this past year was unquestionably a bizarre piece of footage that popped up online towards the end of the summer. Filmed in an unknown country, the peculiar scene shows a pair of pants running down the side of a road and it appears as if there is no one wearing them! We're still wondering if the witness who captured the video encountered some possessed trousers or if it was simply some kind of clever hoax.
Eerie Viral Video Shows 'Ghost' Removing Collar From Dog's Neck - While a home security system can often serve as a fun way to check-in on pets while their 'fur parents' are away at work, one particular homeowner found that the technology can also produce some rather frightening footage. The video, which went viral on social media and amassed a whopping 13 million views, shows what seems to be an invisible force, suspected by some to be a ghost, violently removing the collar from her dog's neck.
Jogger Encounters Ghost Sitting on Bench at Haunted Park in Singapore? - This hair-raising account from a woman in Singapore saw her spot an unsettling stranger inexplicably sitting on a bench as she passed through a pitch-black portion of a purportedly haunted park. The tale got creepier as, upon passing the curious individual, the jogger suddenly heard her name being called and an unimaginable sense of dread washed over her until she managed to safely escape the area.
Urban Explorers Film Ghostly Figure in Abandoned Nursing Home - One of the most compelling potential ghost videos from 2021 came via a group of individuals who visited an infamous nursing home that had been shut down around 5 years earlier due to shocking revelations of patient mistreatment. As they venture towards a stairwell with their camera rolling, the distinct shape or shadow of a figure can briefly be seen seemingly spying on them before disappearing out of view.
Ohio Cop Encounters Ghost Girl? - This particularly puzzling ghost story from back in March occurred in the Ohio city of Mentor when police received a call about a little girl seen wandering around near an elementary school at close to midnight. When the responding officer arrived on the scene, he spotted what appeared to be a small child running in a strange fashion. A subsequent search of the area failed to find the person and, when the cop checked the dashcam footage from his cruiser, there was no sign of the little girl he had seen earlier.
'Haunted' Doll Terrifies Australian Town - A look back at the spookiest ghost stories from 2021 would not be complete without the requisite tale of a haunted doll. In this case, the terrifying toy 'resides' in the tiny town of Lucinda, which boasts a population of just 405 people. Back in June, talk among the locals concerned a mysterious doll that suddenly appeared one morning sitting on a swing near a swamp and that anyone who dared to acknowledge the 'visitor' was stricken with terrible luck.
Ghost Pulls Girl Under Bed? - Perhaps the most disquieting of the different types of perceived ghost videos to cross our desk this year were those that were captured by baby monitors. Such was the case with this piece of anxiety-inducing footage which shows a little girl seemingly investigating a noise coming under their bed and then being pulled beneath it. The toddler's mother insisted that the video was not fake and was understandably left rather uneasy about the footage.
Ghost Hunter Injured in Fall Through Roof of Buffalo Train Station - Given the enormous popularity of on-site ghost hunting, it's understandable that the practice would give rise to a number of investigations that ultimately turn into misadventures. Although 2021 saw several instances of trespassing thrill-seekers winding up in trouble with the law, none were as unfortunate as this case from Buffalo wherein a ghost hunter plunged through the roof of a historic train station and suffered significant injuries from the fall.
Ship's Security Camera Films Ghost? - Proving that a ghost sighting can happen in just about any location, no matter how unique or unusual, was this piece of footage said to have been captured on a ship sailing past the coast of Somalia. According to the individual who shared it online, the vessel had entered into a proverbial 'lock down' to thwart being noticed by pirates and, during that period of non-activity, the security system caught sight of what seems to be a full-bodied apparition roaming around the boat.
Colombian Mayor Shares Video of Ghost Attacking Security Guard - In a rare instance of the paranormal and politics crossing paths, the mayor of a city in Colombia took to social media to share a curious video wherein a government worker appeared to be attacked by a ghost. Adding a layer of absurdity to the whole affair, Jose Manuel Rios Morales, who presides over the community of Armenia, assured residents that the city was doing everything in its power to eradicate the aggressive apparition.