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* The ''Literature/{{Goosebumps}}'' Book ''Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb'' has a big case of this: the danger is not actually a mummy or curse but Ahmed, who is basically a [[TheFundamentalist religious fanatic]] SerialKiller who's part of a long line of people who kill and mummify anyone who "desecrates" the tomb in the pyramid. At one point he tries to kidnap the protagonist and his cousin (likely planning to either kill them or take them hostage.) After they escape they tell Uncle Ben about Ahmed and the three of them go to the tomb to investigate, only to get ambushed by Ahmed who plans to [[WouldHurtAChild kill and mummify all three of them]]. The only actual supernatural stuff happens in two pages near the end where some mummies come to life in order to ''save'' the heroes and scare off Ahmed. as ''WebVideo/ThePopArena'' puts it in his review "The threat just seems too human and real for this kind of series."
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* ''Literature/{{Goosebumps}}'':
** The''Literature/{{Goosebumps}}'' Book ''Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb'' book has a big case of this: the danger is not actually a mummy or curse but Ahmed, who is basically a [[TheFundamentalist religious fanatic]] SerialKiller who's part of a long line of people who kill and mummify anyone who "desecrates" the tomb in the pyramid. At one point he tries to kidnap the protagonist and his cousin (likely planning to either kill them or take them hostage.) After they escape they tell Uncle Ben about Ahmed and the three of them go to the tomb to investigate, only to get ambushed by Ahmed who plans to [[WouldHurtAChild kill and mummify all three of them]]. The only actual supernatural stuff happens in two pages near the end where some mummies come to life in order to ''save'' the heroes and scare off Ahmed. as ''WebVideo/ThePopArena'' puts it in his review "The threat just seems too human and real for this kind of series."
** The
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Formatting, spelling.
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* The ''Literature/Goosebumps'' Book ''Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb'' has a big case of this: the danger is not actually a mummy or curse but Ahmed, who is basically a [[TheFundamentalist religious fanatic]] SerialKiller who's part of a long line of people who kill and mummify anyone who "desecrates" the tomb in the pyramid. At one point he tries to kidnap the protagonist and his cousin (likely planning to either kill them or take them hostage.) After they escape they tell Uncle Ben about Ahmed and the three of them go to the tomb to investigate, only to get ambushed by Ahmed who plans to [[WouldHurtAChild kill and mummify all three of them]]. The only actual supernatural stuff happens in two pages near the end where some mummies come to life in order to ''save'' the heroes and scare off Ahmed. as ''WebVideo/ThePopArena'' puts it in his review "The threat just seems to human and real for this kind of series."
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* The ''Literature/Goosebumps'' ''Literature/{{Goosebumps}}'' Book ''Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb'' has a big case of this: the danger is not actually a mummy or curse but Ahmed, who is basically a [[TheFundamentalist religious fanatic]] SerialKiller who's part of a long line of people who kill and mummify anyone who "desecrates" the tomb in the pyramid. At one point he tries to kidnap the protagonist and his cousin (likely planning to either kill them or take them hostage.) After they escape they tell Uncle Ben about Ahmed and the three of them go to the tomb to investigate, only to get ambushed by Ahmed who plans to [[WouldHurtAChild kill and mummify all three of them]]. The only actual supernatural stuff happens in two pages near the end where some mummies come to life in order to ''save'' the heroes and scare off Ahmed. as ''WebVideo/ThePopArena'' puts it in his review "The threat just seems to too human and real for this kind of series."
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** One of the most horrifying aspects of ''Apt Pupil'' from ''Novella/DifferentSeasons'' is that there are ''no'' supernatural elements at all, and the possibility that the old man living on your street could have been instrumental in one of the worst atrocities in human history while seeming like a charming, grandfatherly type.
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** One of the most horrifying aspects of ''Apt Pupil'' from ''Novella/DifferentSeasons'' ''Literature/DifferentSeasons'' is that there are ''no'' supernatural elements at all, and the possibility that the old man living on your street could have been instrumental in one of the worst atrocities in human history while seeming like a charming, grandfatherly type.
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** One of the most horrifying aspects of ''Literature/AptPupil'' is that there are ''no'' supernatural elements at all, and the possibility that the old man living on your street could have been instrumental in one of the worst atrocities in human history while seeming like a charming, grandfatherly type.
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** One of the most horrifying aspects of ''Literature/AptPupil'' ''Apt Pupil'' from ''Novella/DifferentSeasons'' is that there are ''no'' supernatural elements at all, and the possibility that the old man living on your street could have been instrumental in one of the worst atrocities in human history while seeming like a charming, grandfatherly type.
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** One of the most horrifying aspects of ''Literature/AptPupil'' is that there are ''no'' supernatural elements at all, and the possibility that the old man living on your street could have been instrumental in one of the worst atrocities in human history while seeming like a charming, grandfatherly type.
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Maybe the BigBad is trying to take over the world, but the main character's mother is considered more upsetting due to being realistically {{abusive|Parents}}. Maybe much of the story is exaggerated and surreal, perhaps even outright comedic, but there's a moment that portrays some jarringly realistic suffering. Maybe the creator has ShownTheirWork as much as possible, and the result is uncomfortably close to reality. Whatever it is, some of the audience react to these scenes with horror, finding them uncomfortably close-to-home.
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Maybe the BigBad is trying to take over the world, but the main character's mother is considered more upsetting due to being realistically {{abusive|Parents}}. Maybe much of the story is exaggerated and surreal, perhaps even outright comedic, but there's a moment that portrays some jarringly realistic suffering. Maybe the creator has ShownTheirWork as much as possible, and the result is [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything uncomfortably close to reality.reality]]. Whatever it is, some of the audience react to these scenes with horror, finding them uncomfortably close-to-home.
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** In the same series, there are multiple books were the protagonist has a sibling who bullies or otherwise abuses them, often times causing them more suffering than the scary/supernatural thing in the book, with ''The Cuckoo Clock Of Doom'' being the most extreme example. Disturbingly, it often seems like the parents are aware of this but don't do anything to stop it.
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* The ''Literature/Goosebumps'' Book "Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb'' has a big case of this: the danger is not actually a mummy or curse but Ahmed, who is basically a [[TheFundamentalist religious fanatic]] SerialKiller who's part of a long line of people who kill and mummify anyone who "desecrates" the tomb in the pyramid. At one point he tries to kidnap the protagonist and his cousin (likely planning to either kill them or take them hostage.) After they escape they tell Uncle Ben about Ahmed and the three of them go to the tomb to investigate, only to get ambushed by Ahmed who plans to [[WouldHurtAChild kill and mummify all three of them]]. The only actual supernatural stuff happens in two pages near the end where some mummies come to life in order to ''save'' the heroes and scare off Ahmed. as ''WebVideo/ThePopArena'' puts it in his review "The threat just seems to human and real for this kind of series."
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* The ''Literature/Goosebumps'' Book "Curse ''Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb'' has a big case of this: the danger is not actually a mummy or curse but Ahmed, who is basically a [[TheFundamentalist religious fanatic]] SerialKiller who's part of a long line of people who kill and mummify anyone who "desecrates" the tomb in the pyramid. At one point he tries to kidnap the protagonist and his cousin (likely planning to either kill them or take them hostage.) After they escape they tell Uncle Ben about Ahmed and the three of them go to the tomb to investigate, only to get ambushed by Ahmed who plans to [[WouldHurtAChild kill and mummify all three of them]]. The only actual supernatural stuff happens in two pages near the end where some mummies come to life in order to ''save'' the heroes and scare off Ahmed. as ''WebVideo/ThePopArena'' puts it in his review "The threat just seems to human and real for this kind of series."
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* The ''Literature/Goosebumps'' Book "Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb'' has a big case of this: the danger is not actually a mummy or curse but Ahmed, who is basically a [[TheFundamentalist religious fanatic]] SerialKiller who's part of a long line of people who kill and mummify anyone who "desecrates" the tomb in the pyramid. At one point he tries to kidnap the protagonist and his cousin (likely planning to either kill them or take them hostage.) After they escape they tell Uncle Ben about Ahmed and the three of them go to the tomb to investigate, only to get ambushed by Ahmed who plans to [[WouldHurtAChild kill and mummify all three of them]]. The only actual supernatural stuff happens in two pages near the end where some mummies come to life in order to ''save'' the heroes and scare off Ahmed. as ''Creator/{{Poparena}}'' puts it in his review "The threat just seems to human and real for this kind of series."
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* The ''Literature/Goosebumps'' Book "Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb'' has a big case of this: the danger is not actually a mummy or curse but Ahmed, who is basically a [[TheFundamentalist religious fanatic]] SerialKiller who's part of a long line of people who kill and mummify anyone who "desecrates" the tomb in the pyramid. At one point he tries to kidnap the protagonist and his cousin (likely planning to either kill them or take them hostage.) After they escape they tell Uncle Ben about Ahmed and the three of them go to the tomb to investigate, only to get ambushed by Ahmed who plans to [[WouldHurtAChild kill and mummify all three of them]]. The only actual supernatural stuff happens in two pages near the end where some mummies come to life in order to ''save'' the heroes and scare off Ahmed. as ''Creator/{{Poparena}}'' ''WebVideo/ThePopArena'' puts it in his review "The threat just seems to human and real for this kind of series."
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* The ''Literature/Goosebumps'' Book "Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb'' has a big case of this: the danger is not actually a mummy or curse but Ahmed, who is basically a [[TheFundamentalist religious fanatic]] SerialKiller who's part of a long line of people who kill and mummify anyone who "desecrates" the tomb in the pyramid. At one point he tries to kidnap the protagonist and his cousin (likely planning to either kill them or take them hostage.) After they escape they tell Uncle Ben about Ahmed and the three of them go to the tomb to investigate, only to get ambushed by Ahmed who plans to [[WouldHurtAChild kill and mummify all three of them]]. The only actual supernatural stuff happens in two pages near the end where some mummies come to life in order to ''save'' the heroes and scare off Ahmed. as ''Creator/{{Poparena}}'' puts it in his review "The threat just seems to human and real for this kind of series."
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* [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Pokémon Hunter J]] is one of the anime's best-recieved villains because of how frighteningly realistic she is. While the other villains tend to be over-the-top in both personality and goals, J is simply an EvilPoacher who only cares about money, and won't hesitate to kill anyone, adult or [[WouldHurtAChild child]], who gets in her way. Dawn [[LampshadeHanging lampshades this]] at the end of her debut appearance, saying it's shocking that people like this actually exist.
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* [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Pokémon Hunter J]] J is one of the anime's best-recieved villains because of how frighteningly realistic she is. While the other villains tend to be over-the-top in both personality and goals, J is simply an EvilPoacher who only cares about money, and won't hesitate to kill anyone, adult or [[WouldHurtAChild child]], who gets in her way. Dawn [[LampshadeHanging lampshades this]] at the end of her debut appearance, saying it's shocking that people like this actually exist.
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About unintentional hated. Intentional = not this.
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** As the series began production right when the severity and long-term effects of bullying were becoming a hot-button issue, characters who tend to act cruelly to others tend to be painted less sympathetically compared to more "fantastic" villains like Nightmare Moon and Discord ([[TheScrappy and tend to be greatly disliked within the fandom]]). This is perhaps best exemplified in "Flight to the Finish", in which Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon mock Scootaloo for her inability to fly; this, along with her subsequent downward spiral, is presented as being akin to someone being bullied for being disabled.
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** As the series began production right when the severity and long-term effects of bullying were becoming a hot-button issue, characters who tend to act cruelly to others tend to be painted less sympathetically compared to more "fantastic" villains like Nightmare Moon and Discord ([[TheScrappy and tend to be greatly disliked within the fandom]]).Discord. This is perhaps best exemplified in "Flight to the Finish", in which Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon mock Scootaloo for her inability to fly; this, along with her subsequent downward spiral, is presented as being akin to someone being bullied for being disabled.
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* ''VideoGame/DreamingMary'': The horror in this dream-and-nightmare themed games come from the subtle and horrifying implications of what Mary's home-life is like in the waking world; specifically, the numerous hints about her being a victim of ParentalIncest at the hands of her abusive father. The game has a lot of creepy moments, but it's the realistic portrayal of her father that makes the game as horrifying as it actually is.
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* [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Pokémon Hunter J]] is one of the anime's best-recieved villains because of how frighteningly realistic she is. While the other villains tend to be over-the-top in both personality and goals, J is simply an EvilPoacher who only cares about money, and won't hesitate to kill anyone, adult or child, who gets in her way. Dawn lampshades this at the end of her debut appearance, saying it's shocking that people like this actually exist.
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* [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Pokémon Hunter J]] is one of the anime's best-recieved villains because of how frighteningly realistic she is. While the other villains tend to be over-the-top in both personality and goals, J is simply an EvilPoacher who only cares about money, and won't hesitate to kill anyone, adult or child, [[WouldHurtAChild child]], who gets in her way. Dawn [[LampshadeHanging lampshades this this]] at the end of her debut appearance, saying it's shocking that people like this actually exist.
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[[folder: Anime and Manga]]
* [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Pokémon Hunter J]] is one of the anime's best-recieved villains because of how frighteningly realistic she is. While the other villains tend to be over-the-top in both personality and goals, J is simply an EvilPoacher who only cares about money, and won't hesitate to kill anyone, adult or child, who gets in her way. Dawn lampshades this at the end of her debut appearance, saying it's shocking that people like this actually exist.
[[/folder]]
* [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Pokémon Hunter J]] is one of the anime's best-recieved villains because of how frighteningly realistic she is. While the other villains tend to be over-the-top in both personality and goals, J is simply an EvilPoacher who only cares about money, and won't hesitate to kill anyone, adult or child, who gets in her way. Dawn lampshades this at the end of her debut appearance, saying it's shocking that people like this actually exist.
[[/folder]]
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examples need to be standalone. they should not rely on other examples for context
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* On the subject of Creator/StephenKing, he's very good at this himself. For example.
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* On the subject of Creator/StephenKing, he's Creator/StephenKing is very good at this himself. this. For example.example:
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* One of the reasons why ''Film/Joker2019'' is as scary as it is is because it's the story of a man who goes crazy and becomes a SpreeKiller, a pretty harsh reality that has only become harsher with the sharp rise in these kind of criminals, and it's the most realistic interpretation of the Joker's OriginStory to date.
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* One of the reasons why ''Film/Joker2019'' is as scary as it is is because it's the story of a man who goes crazy and becomes a SpreeKiller, a pretty harsh reality that has only become harsher with the sharp rise in these kind of criminals, criminals (so much that a lot of the film's naysayers believed that this movie would give them another reason to go on a rampage -- that is, to emulate Fleck), and it's the most realistic interpretation of the Joker's OriginStory to date.
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* ''Literature/WarriorCats'': "Spottedleaf's Heart" is one of the most "adult" and uncomfortable books in a children's series known for FamilyUnfriendlyViolence, war, religious issues, and other mature topics. In it, a full-grown warrior named Thistleclaw shows an interested in Spottedleaf starting from when he begins giving her gifts as a kit. When she becomes an apprentice (around the human equivalent of 10-14), he begins showing an interest in her, despite Spottedpaw saying she's too young for him. The entire book has a lot of child grooming allusions
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* ''Literature/WarriorCats'': "Spottedleaf's Heart" ''Spottedleaf's Heart'' is one of the most "adult" and uncomfortable books in a children's series known for FamilyUnfriendlyViolence, war, religious issues, and other mature topics. In it, a full-grown warrior named Thistleclaw shows an interested in Spottedleaf starting from when he begins giving her gifts as a kit. When she becomes an apprentice (around the human equivalent of 10-14), he begins showing an interest in her, despite Spottedpaw saying she's too young for him. The entire book has a lot of child grooming allusions
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** Quite a few of the post-UsefulNotes/DisneyRenaissance movie villains fall into this category. Standouts include vain {{Jerkass}} [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast Gaston]] and {{Manipulative|Bastard}} AbusiveParent [[WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}} Mother Gothel]].
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* ''Literature/WarriorCats'': "Spottedleaf's Heart" is one of the most "adult" and uncomfortable books in a children's series known for FamilyUnfriendlyViolence, war, religious issues, and other mature topics. In it, a full-grown warrior named Thistleclaw shows an interested in Spottedleaf starting from when he begins giving her gifts as a kit. When she becomes an apprentice (around the human equivalent of 10-14), he begins showing an interest in her, despite Spottedpaw saying she's too young for him. The entire book has a lot of child grooming allusions
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* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** Ghetsis from ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' and its sequels ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'' earned his reputation as the "worst Pokémon villain (at the time of release)" largely due to his abuse of his son N. He kept N secluded with little-to-no human contact, dehumanized him, and is implied to [[spoiler:have had plans to [[OffingTheOffspring kill him]] once his plot was done]]. Even the reveal that [[spoiler:N is an orphan boy that Ghetsis adopted]] doesn't ease the horror of the abuse.
** Lusamine from ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' is an effective villain because she's a realistic portrayal of a narcissistic abusive parent. She underwent a SanitySlippage after her husband disappeared years ago. Lusamine became controlling and emotionally abusive towards her two children, to the point where [[TheRunaway both ran away]] from home. Lusamine also shows apathy in general, such as when she [[spoiler:put various Pokémon in a frozen stasis]].
** Ghetsis from ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' and its sequels ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'' earned his reputation as the "worst Pokémon villain (at the time of release)" largely due to his abuse of his son N. He kept N secluded with little-to-no human contact, dehumanized him, and is implied to [[spoiler:have had plans to [[OffingTheOffspring kill him]] once his plot was done]]. Even the reveal that [[spoiler:N is an orphan boy that Ghetsis adopted]] doesn't ease the horror of the abuse.
** Lusamine from ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' is an effective villain because she's a realistic portrayal of a narcissistic abusive parent. She underwent a SanitySlippage after her husband disappeared years ago. Lusamine became controlling and emotionally abusive towards her two children, to the point where [[TheRunaway both ran away]] from home. Lusamine also shows apathy in general, such as when she [[spoiler:put various Pokémon in a frozen stasis]].
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** Quite a few of the post-UsefulNotes/DisneyRenaissance movie villains fall into this category. Standouts include vain {{Jerkass}} [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast Gaston]] and {{Manipulative|Bastard}} AbusiveParent [[WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}} Mother Gothel]].
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* While the payoff of the "Boys Do Get Bruised" story in ''Film/TalesFromTheHood'' is totally fantastical, the horror comes from the brutality of the abusive father (and to some extent the shock of Creator/DavidAllenGrier really PlayingAgainstType).
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* While the payoff of the "Boys Do Get Bruised" story in ''Film/TalesFromTheHood'' is totally fantastical, the horror comes from the brutality of the abusive father (and to some extent the shock of Creator/DavidAllenGrier Creator/DavidAlanGrier really PlayingAgainstType).
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* While the payoff of the "Boys Do Get Bruised" story in ''Film/TalesFromTheHood'' is totally fantastical, the horror comes from the brutality of the abusive father (and to some extent the shock of Creator/DavidAllenGrier really PlayingAgainstType).
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* In ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'', the first zone (Angel Island Zone) starts out as just a tropical island, but Eggman launches a massive napalm attack which in turn creates a huge wildfire. This seems a lot darker in general than his usual goofy plots such a turning people into robots or building giant space stations with his face on them. It's also [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything pretty obviously meant to be reminiscent of the Vietnam War]], and considering you never see the zone after, you also [[OffscreenInertia wonder if the whole place just burned down eventually.]]
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* In ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'', the first zone (Angel Island Zone) starts out as just a tropical island, but Eggman launches a massive napalm attack which in turn creates a huge wildfire. This seems a lot darker in general than his usual goofy plots such a as turning people into robots or building giant space stations with his face on them. It's also [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything pretty obviously meant to be reminiscent of the Vietnam War]], and considering you never see the zone after, you also [[OffscreenInertia wonder if the whole place just burned down eventually.]]
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Not all horror is something fantastical. While people are scared of ghosts, slasher-villains, and zombie outbreaks, they're also afraid of things that can happen in their normal, every day life. A work can add a strong dose of horror by portraying bad and unfortunately-commonplace events in a realistic way.
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Not all horror is something fantastical. While people are scared of ghosts, slasher-villains, and zombie outbreaks, they're also afraid of things that can happen in their normal, every day everyday life. A work can add a strong dose of horror by portraying bad and unfortunately-commonplace events in a realistic way.
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----
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* [[ItWasHisSled It's well-known]] that ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'' undergoes a sudden GenreShift from romance to metafictional horror after the first act. But some players, including Yahtzee of ''WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation'', claim that the most disturbing part of the game can be found before the twist: Sayori's depression and [[DrivenToSuicide eventual suicide]] are presented in a very realistic way, making them very relatable to anyone who has suffered from depression or knows someone who has committed suicide.
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* [[ItWasHisSled It's well-known]] that ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'' undergoes a sudden GenreShift from romance to metafictional horror after the first act. But some players, including Yahtzee of ''WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation'', claim that the most disturbing part of the game can be found before the twist: Sayori's depression and [[DrivenToSuicide eventual suicide]] are presented in a very realistic way, making them very relatable to anyone who has suffered from depression or knows someone who has committed
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Also, credit to War Jay 77 for the trope title as he thought of it on this thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/query.php?parent_id=84269&type=lnf
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-> ''The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.''
-->-- ''Creator/JosephConrad''
-->-- ''Creator/JosephConrad''
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-->-- ''Creator/JosephConrad''
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Created from YKTTW
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->''See, the reason Lusamine gets so much praise as a villain is because, behind all the talk of space travel and intergalactic monsters, there's a very real kind of antagonist that so many people have to deal with every single day: a mother, or a father, or some other close person in someone's life that treats them terribly and disregards their feelings about it. That's such a relatable and real terror for so many people that Lusamine feels so much more villainous than other team leaders because that kind of evil hits hard on a personal level''.
-->--''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAYvWhSLHUU How Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Ruined Lillie's Character Arc]]''
-> ''The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.''
-->-- ''Creator/JosephConrad''
Not all horror is something fantastical. While people are scared of ghosts, slasher-villains, and zombie outbreaks, they're also afraid of things that can happen in their normal, every day life. A work can add a strong dose of horror by portraying bad and unfortunately-commonplace events in a realistic way.
Maybe the BigBad is trying to take over the world, but the main character's mother is considered more upsetting due to being realistically {{abusive|Parents}}. Maybe much of the story is exaggerated and surreal, perhaps even outright comedic, but there's a moment that portrays some jarringly realistic suffering. Maybe the creator has ShownTheirWork as much as possible, and the result is uncomfortably close to reality. Whatever it is, some of the audience react to these scenes with horror, finding them uncomfortably close-to-home.
One genre that attempts to hit this mark every time is FoundFootage, which portrays horrific, fantastical events through the lens of someone's camera, making everything feel just a bit more realistic.
There are a few other tropes and reactions that can lead to this phenomenon. AdultFear can easily cross this line, and if there were disturbing implications turned into AscendedFridgeHorror, the result may be too darkly realistic for the audience to bear. This may happen long after a work was released thanks to HarsherInHindsight or FunnyAneurysmMoment, if the events of the work are too similar to something bad that'd happened weeks, months, or even years later. If the work is normally lighthearted, this reaction can be caused by a VileVillainSaccharineShow scenario. Compare {{Deconstruction}}, which shows the RealLife consequences of a trope, and may also contribute to this feeling.
----
!!Examples:
[[AC:Comic Books]]
* Many fans find ComicBook/TheJoker's [[KickTheDog horrible treatment of Harley]] to be his [[HateSink most despicable trait]], as while him trying to, say, turn fish evil by putting poison in the water seems like your typical hokey comic villain plot, his abuse of Harley is all too much like real DomesticAbuse, and, even in the kid-friendly works, doesn't have any AmusingInjuries or the like as cartoon violence often does.
[[AC: Film- Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'': Judge Claude Frollo is often considered one of Disney's most disturbing villains due to being a surprisingly realistic portrayal of fanaticism and xenophobia, in contrast to other Disney villains, who often have more simply (if not cartoonishly) evil goals and personalities. Ironically, his own fears of hell and eternal punishment lend him even more humanlike qualities, although he eventually puts these fears aside to focus on his KnightTemplar mission to eradicate the gypsies.
[[AC:Film - Live Action]]
* In ''Film/FridayThe13thPartVIIIJasonTakesManhattan'', Rennie's AttemptedRape at the hands of some gangsters once the group gets to New York is far more disturbing than anything Jason does. Indeed, his appearance almost seems like a relief, as he does an unintentional VillainousRescue (he kills the rapists and Rennie runs away while he's pre-occupied.)
* This trope is what separated ''Film/TheTerminator'' from other {{Slasher Movie}}s of its time. Unlike the incredibly unlikely idea of a masked, supernatural knife-wielding stalker chasing a bunch of idiot kids around a small suburban neighborhood or isolated forest, the titular killer is deceptively [[RidiculouslyHumanRobot "normal"-looking]], is chasing his prey through one of the most populous cities in the world, will use any weapon or means available to do so, is capable of [[ItCanThink outsmarting or outwitting]] anyone trying to stop it, and last...but not least...is built upon [[AIIsACrapshoot a highly plausible]] fear about [[RobotWar artificial intelligence]].
* Defenders of the Kubrick version of ''Film/TheShining'' often feel that the ambiguous nature of the Overlook Hotel's haunted nature make the film scarier, in that it makes it seem like a similar scenario could happen in the real world.
* In ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968'', the use of grainy black-and-white footage made the film to some viewers look less like a movie and more like a newsreel or documentary.
* ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'': What makes Buffalo Bill such a terrifying and memorable villain (although he is admittedly second-fiddle to Hannibal Lector) is that he isn't an extremely intelligent or grandiose villain. He's a nutcase serial killer who kidnaps women, locks them in a hole, and tortures them unless they cooperate with his murder preparations. If one places themselves in the position of his captives, it is absolutely terrifying to be locked away in some dark pit with no hope of escape, while your captor tortures you and makes you do something that you're well aware will only lead to your inevitable death. Also keep in mind that Bill was based on ''real life serial killers'', meaning that somewhere at sometime, a real person was put through this and in fact could be going through it right now. [[NightmareFuel Sleep tight.]]
* One of the reasons why ''Film/Joker2019'' is as scary as it is is because it's the story of a man who goes crazy and becomes a SpreeKiller, a pretty harsh reality that has only become harsher with the sharp rise in these kind of criminals, and it's the most realistic interpretation of the Joker's OriginStory to date.
[[AC:Literature]]
* In the (now defunct) ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'', the [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Yuuzhan Vong]] seem uncomfortably similar to real world terrorist groups in terms of mindset, in particular their [[BlueAndOrangeMorality weird religious rules]] and [[FeelingOppressedByTheirExistence murderous hatred of unbelievers]].
* Umbridge from ''Literature/HarryPotter'' is perhaps the most universally despised character in the series. Her authoritarianism, child abuse, and SadistTeacher VillainWithGoodPublicity status make her hit home in a personal way. While people like the BigBad Voldemort are unlikely to be encountered in real life, Umbridge represents a far more mundane, far more common kind of villainy. Creator/StephenKing, [[https://ew.com/books/2009/08/01/harry-potter-and-order-phoenix-4/ reviewing]] the [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix book that introduced her]], wrote:
-->'''Stephen King:''' A great fantasy novel can't exist without a great villain, and while You-Know-Who (sure we do: Lord Voldemort) is a little too far out in the supernatural ozone to qualify, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts does just fine in this regard. The gently smiling Dolores Umbridge, with her girlish voice, toadlike face, and clutching, stubby fingers, is the greatest make-believe villain to come along since Franchise/HannibalLecter. One needn't be a child to remember The Really Scary Teacher, the one who terrified us so badly that we dreaded the walk to school in the morning, and we turn the pages partly in fervent hopes that she will get her comeuppance... but also in growing fear of what she will get up to next. For surely a teacher capable of banning Harry Potter from playing Quidditch is capable of anything.
* On the subject of Creator/StephenKing, he's very good at this himself. For example.
** While the telekinesis aspects of ''Literature/{{Carrie}}'' are firmly grounded in fantasy, the school bullying aspects are very much not, and people like Chris Hargensen exist in real life. If anything, with the attention on bullying in recent years, this aspect of the story has become ''scarier'' as time goes on.
** Whenever there's a major wave of sickness going around (such as SARS or the Coronavirus), the beginning part of ''Literature/TheStand'' with a disease killing 99% of the population starts seeming much scarier (and more plausible) than Randall Flagg's supernatural menace.
** If you're a dog owner, or know a dog owner, the premise of ''Literature/{{Cujo}}'', which centers around a rabid St. Bernard violently attacking its owners, comes off as extremely unsettling.
** In a lot of ways, the scariest part of ''Literature/PetSematary'' isn't the titular corpse-reanimating graveyard. It's the scene where three-year-old Gage Creed gets run over by a truck while playing in the street. It's described in gruesome detail, and puts readers in the shoes of a parent watching their child die, unable to do anything about it.
[[AC:Web Video]]
* ''WebVideo/ElectronicGameInformation'': Alan and Robby's fighting in season 2 is entirely scripted, as evidenced by the sheer fact that Alan had an entire post-credit scene talking to "Birdo" about it; but that doesn't make it feel any less real. With the entire show being portrayed as a live-streamed discussion about video games and video game conventions, having the co-hosts break into a major, on-screen argument seemed too genuine, especially with it being portrayed as a serious falling out. This genuine portrayal made the scenes a bit uncomfortable to watch.
* ''WebVideo/{{alantutorial}}'' is already a horror series, and the second half is less realistic than the first, with things being exaggerated. However, the first real bit of horror is in the very beginning, when all the audience knows is that Alan is a mentally handicapped man living in an abusive, or at least neglectful, household. The horror at this stage comes from watching Alan do his tutorials alone, some of them dangerous, while we receive numerous hints about his bad home life. It makes the series start off in a very unsettling way that slowly ''becomes'' more exaggerated and blatantly horrific.
[[AC: Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' has the premise of Calamity Ganon, an EldritchAbomination incarnation of the series' BigBad, using an army of [[DemonicPossession possessed]] StarfishRobots to destroy Hyrule's civilization a century before the beginning of the game. But one optional encounter with a character named Brigo managed to unnerve players because of the subtle and realistic FridgeHorror it involves. If you stand on the ledge of the bridge he patrols near the Great Plateau, he'll start TalkingDownTheSuicidal, assuming that you plan to drown yourself in the river below. The way he brings this up implies that this is a fairly regular task he carries out. While the main AfterTheEnd premise of the game is pretty fantastical, the implication that people living in such a setting would pass the DespairEventHorizon and try to kill themselves unnerved a lot of players.
* ''VideoGame/SpidermanPS4:'' The game has its fair share of darker moments, but the City Hall bombing sequence is often cited as the most horrific, as the entire sequence was noted to be ''heavily'' reminiscent of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. As if to hammer the parallels further, the Demons (the gang responsible for the bombing) act more and more like a terrorist organization from that point on, and are outright treated and labelled as such in-universe.
* In ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'', the first zone (Angel Island Zone) starts out as just a tropical island, but Eggman launches a massive napalm attack which in turn creates a huge wildfire. This seems a lot darker in general than his usual goofy plots such a turning people into robots or building giant space stations with his face on them. It's also [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything pretty obviously meant to be reminiscent of the Vietnam War]], and considering you never see the zone after, you also [[OffscreenInertia wonder if the whole place just burned down eventually.]]
* ''VideoGame/BaldisBasicsInEducationAndLearning'': It's generally agreed among fans that one of the scariest things about the game is the anxiety and ParanoiaFuel that comes from having a teacher get furious at you and chase you down simply for failing to solve a math problem you don't understand. This has led to multiple fan theories, such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-k0NW9z-_U&feature=youtu.be this]], suggesting that the protagonist is a child in the real world, possibly with a disability of some kind, and they're imagining themselves being cased by an EvilTeacher in an EdutainmentGame world either as a result of general anxiety from school, or possibly from traumatic experiences with an actual abusive teacher.
[[AC: Visual Novel]]
* [[ItWasHisSled It's well-known]] that ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'' undergoes a sudden GenreShift from romance to metafictional horror after the first act. But some players, including Yahtzee of ''WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation'', claim that the most disturbing part of the game can be found before the twist: Sayori's depression and [[DrivenToSuicide eventual suicide]] are presented in a very realistic way, making them very relatable to anyone who has suffered from depression or knows someone who has committed suicide.
[[AC:Western Animation]]
* In [[https://mctoonreviews.blogspot.com/2019/04/roadie-to-nowhere-fridge-too-far-loud.html this]] review for ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' episode "A Fridge Too Far", the reviewer mentions that while he enjoys the episode as a whole, one problem he has with it is that when the Loud children get injured by each other's booby traps, instead of being beat up in a cartoony way and being fine the next scene, some of them are realistically injured (Luan has to wear a cast for instance).
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Ozai is a tyrannical king who heads a war against the entire planet and tries to become the ruler of all the kingdoms. His most reprehensible behavior is his DomesticAbuse of his wife, [[AbusiveParents children]], and to a lesser extent his older brother. The [[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheSearch comics]] made it worse by revealing [[spoiler:he and Ursa were never in love. He forced her to marry him and the children were [[ChildByRape conceived under dubious consent]].]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' enters this territory quite frequently, most frequently with it's fairly realistic depictions of abuse, addiction, and mental illness, which helps further the show's central themes of how celebrity can be damaging (particularly for [[FormerChildStar someone who entered stardom very young]]) and how trauma can often be passed from one generation to the next.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
** As the series began production right when the severity and long-term effects of bullying were becoming a hot-button issue, characters who tend to act cruelly to others tend to be painted less sympathetically compared to more "fantastic" villains like Nightmare Moon and Discord ([[TheScrappy and tend to be greatly disliked within the fandom]]). This is perhaps best exemplified in "Flight to the Finish", in which Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon mock Scootaloo for her inability to fly; this, along with her subsequent downward spiral, is presented as being akin to someone being bullied for being disabled.
** Similarly, the episode "Hurricane Fluttershy" reveals that Fluttershy was bullied as a filly for being a weak flyer, the memories of which give her PTSD-like panic attacks even as a full-grown mare.
Also, credit to War Jay 77 for the trope title as he thought of it on this thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/query.php?parent_id=84269&type=lnf
-->--''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAYvWhSLHUU How Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Ruined Lillie's Character Arc]]''
-> ''The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.''
-->-- ''Creator/JosephConrad''
Not all horror is something fantastical. While people are scared of ghosts, slasher-villains, and zombie outbreaks, they're also afraid of things that can happen in their normal, every day life. A work can add a strong dose of horror by portraying bad and unfortunately-commonplace events in a realistic way.
Maybe the BigBad is trying to take over the world, but the main character's mother is considered more upsetting due to being realistically {{abusive|Parents}}. Maybe much of the story is exaggerated and surreal, perhaps even outright comedic, but there's a moment that portrays some jarringly realistic suffering. Maybe the creator has ShownTheirWork as much as possible, and the result is uncomfortably close to reality. Whatever it is, some of the audience react to these scenes with horror, finding them uncomfortably close-to-home.
One genre that attempts to hit this mark every time is FoundFootage, which portrays horrific, fantastical events through the lens of someone's camera, making everything feel just a bit more realistic.
There are a few other tropes and reactions that can lead to this phenomenon. AdultFear can easily cross this line, and if there were disturbing implications turned into AscendedFridgeHorror, the result may be too darkly realistic for the audience to bear. This may happen long after a work was released thanks to HarsherInHindsight or FunnyAneurysmMoment, if the events of the work are too similar to something bad that'd happened weeks, months, or even years later. If the work is normally lighthearted, this reaction can be caused by a VileVillainSaccharineShow scenario. Compare {{Deconstruction}}, which shows the RealLife consequences of a trope, and may also contribute to this feeling.
----
!!Examples:
[[AC:Comic Books]]
* Many fans find ComicBook/TheJoker's [[KickTheDog horrible treatment of Harley]] to be his [[HateSink most despicable trait]], as while him trying to, say, turn fish evil by putting poison in the water seems like your typical hokey comic villain plot, his abuse of Harley is all too much like real DomesticAbuse, and, even in the kid-friendly works, doesn't have any AmusingInjuries or the like as cartoon violence often does.
[[AC: Film- Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'': Judge Claude Frollo is often considered one of Disney's most disturbing villains due to being a surprisingly realistic portrayal of fanaticism and xenophobia, in contrast to other Disney villains, who often have more simply (if not cartoonishly) evil goals and personalities. Ironically, his own fears of hell and eternal punishment lend him even more humanlike qualities, although he eventually puts these fears aside to focus on his KnightTemplar mission to eradicate the gypsies.
[[AC:Film - Live Action]]
* In ''Film/FridayThe13thPartVIIIJasonTakesManhattan'', Rennie's AttemptedRape at the hands of some gangsters once the group gets to New York is far more disturbing than anything Jason does. Indeed, his appearance almost seems like a relief, as he does an unintentional VillainousRescue (he kills the rapists and Rennie runs away while he's pre-occupied.)
* This trope is what separated ''Film/TheTerminator'' from other {{Slasher Movie}}s of its time. Unlike the incredibly unlikely idea of a masked, supernatural knife-wielding stalker chasing a bunch of idiot kids around a small suburban neighborhood or isolated forest, the titular killer is deceptively [[RidiculouslyHumanRobot "normal"-looking]], is chasing his prey through one of the most populous cities in the world, will use any weapon or means available to do so, is capable of [[ItCanThink outsmarting or outwitting]] anyone trying to stop it, and last...but not least...is built upon [[AIIsACrapshoot a highly plausible]] fear about [[RobotWar artificial intelligence]].
* Defenders of the Kubrick version of ''Film/TheShining'' often feel that the ambiguous nature of the Overlook Hotel's haunted nature make the film scarier, in that it makes it seem like a similar scenario could happen in the real world.
* In ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968'', the use of grainy black-and-white footage made the film to some viewers look less like a movie and more like a newsreel or documentary.
* ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'': What makes Buffalo Bill such a terrifying and memorable villain (although he is admittedly second-fiddle to Hannibal Lector) is that he isn't an extremely intelligent or grandiose villain. He's a nutcase serial killer who kidnaps women, locks them in a hole, and tortures them unless they cooperate with his murder preparations. If one places themselves in the position of his captives, it is absolutely terrifying to be locked away in some dark pit with no hope of escape, while your captor tortures you and makes you do something that you're well aware will only lead to your inevitable death. Also keep in mind that Bill was based on ''real life serial killers'', meaning that somewhere at sometime, a real person was put through this and in fact could be going through it right now. [[NightmareFuel Sleep tight.]]
* One of the reasons why ''Film/Joker2019'' is as scary as it is is because it's the story of a man who goes crazy and becomes a SpreeKiller, a pretty harsh reality that has only become harsher with the sharp rise in these kind of criminals, and it's the most realistic interpretation of the Joker's OriginStory to date.
[[AC:Literature]]
* In the (now defunct) ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'', the [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Yuuzhan Vong]] seem uncomfortably similar to real world terrorist groups in terms of mindset, in particular their [[BlueAndOrangeMorality weird religious rules]] and [[FeelingOppressedByTheirExistence murderous hatred of unbelievers]].
* Umbridge from ''Literature/HarryPotter'' is perhaps the most universally despised character in the series. Her authoritarianism, child abuse, and SadistTeacher VillainWithGoodPublicity status make her hit home in a personal way. While people like the BigBad Voldemort are unlikely to be encountered in real life, Umbridge represents a far more mundane, far more common kind of villainy. Creator/StephenKing, [[https://ew.com/books/2009/08/01/harry-potter-and-order-phoenix-4/ reviewing]] the [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix book that introduced her]], wrote:
-->'''Stephen King:''' A great fantasy novel can't exist without a great villain, and while You-Know-Who (sure we do: Lord Voldemort) is a little too far out in the supernatural ozone to qualify, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts does just fine in this regard. The gently smiling Dolores Umbridge, with her girlish voice, toadlike face, and clutching, stubby fingers, is the greatest make-believe villain to come along since Franchise/HannibalLecter. One needn't be a child to remember The Really Scary Teacher, the one who terrified us so badly that we dreaded the walk to school in the morning, and we turn the pages partly in fervent hopes that she will get her comeuppance... but also in growing fear of what she will get up to next. For surely a teacher capable of banning Harry Potter from playing Quidditch is capable of anything.
* On the subject of Creator/StephenKing, he's very good at this himself. For example.
** While the telekinesis aspects of ''Literature/{{Carrie}}'' are firmly grounded in fantasy, the school bullying aspects are very much not, and people like Chris Hargensen exist in real life. If anything, with the attention on bullying in recent years, this aspect of the story has become ''scarier'' as time goes on.
** Whenever there's a major wave of sickness going around (such as SARS or the Coronavirus), the beginning part of ''Literature/TheStand'' with a disease killing 99% of the population starts seeming much scarier (and more plausible) than Randall Flagg's supernatural menace.
** If you're a dog owner, or know a dog owner, the premise of ''Literature/{{Cujo}}'', which centers around a rabid St. Bernard violently attacking its owners, comes off as extremely unsettling.
** In a lot of ways, the scariest part of ''Literature/PetSematary'' isn't the titular corpse-reanimating graveyard. It's the scene where three-year-old Gage Creed gets run over by a truck while playing in the street. It's described in gruesome detail, and puts readers in the shoes of a parent watching their child die, unable to do anything about it.
[[AC:Web Video]]
* ''WebVideo/ElectronicGameInformation'': Alan and Robby's fighting in season 2 is entirely scripted, as evidenced by the sheer fact that Alan had an entire post-credit scene talking to "Birdo" about it; but that doesn't make it feel any less real. With the entire show being portrayed as a live-streamed discussion about video games and video game conventions, having the co-hosts break into a major, on-screen argument seemed too genuine, especially with it being portrayed as a serious falling out. This genuine portrayal made the scenes a bit uncomfortable to watch.
* ''WebVideo/{{alantutorial}}'' is already a horror series, and the second half is less realistic than the first, with things being exaggerated. However, the first real bit of horror is in the very beginning, when all the audience knows is that Alan is a mentally handicapped man living in an abusive, or at least neglectful, household. The horror at this stage comes from watching Alan do his tutorials alone, some of them dangerous, while we receive numerous hints about his bad home life. It makes the series start off in a very unsettling way that slowly ''becomes'' more exaggerated and blatantly horrific.
[[AC: Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' has the premise of Calamity Ganon, an EldritchAbomination incarnation of the series' BigBad, using an army of [[DemonicPossession possessed]] StarfishRobots to destroy Hyrule's civilization a century before the beginning of the game. But one optional encounter with a character named Brigo managed to unnerve players because of the subtle and realistic FridgeHorror it involves. If you stand on the ledge of the bridge he patrols near the Great Plateau, he'll start TalkingDownTheSuicidal, assuming that you plan to drown yourself in the river below. The way he brings this up implies that this is a fairly regular task he carries out. While the main AfterTheEnd premise of the game is pretty fantastical, the implication that people living in such a setting would pass the DespairEventHorizon and try to kill themselves unnerved a lot of players.
* ''VideoGame/SpidermanPS4:'' The game has its fair share of darker moments, but the City Hall bombing sequence is often cited as the most horrific, as the entire sequence was noted to be ''heavily'' reminiscent of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. As if to hammer the parallels further, the Demons (the gang responsible for the bombing) act more and more like a terrorist organization from that point on, and are outright treated and labelled as such in-universe.
* In ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'', the first zone (Angel Island Zone) starts out as just a tropical island, but Eggman launches a massive napalm attack which in turn creates a huge wildfire. This seems a lot darker in general than his usual goofy plots such a turning people into robots or building giant space stations with his face on them. It's also [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything pretty obviously meant to be reminiscent of the Vietnam War]], and considering you never see the zone after, you also [[OffscreenInertia wonder if the whole place just burned down eventually.]]
* ''VideoGame/BaldisBasicsInEducationAndLearning'': It's generally agreed among fans that one of the scariest things about the game is the anxiety and ParanoiaFuel that comes from having a teacher get furious at you and chase you down simply for failing to solve a math problem you don't understand. This has led to multiple fan theories, such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-k0NW9z-_U&feature=youtu.be this]], suggesting that the protagonist is a child in the real world, possibly with a disability of some kind, and they're imagining themselves being cased by an EvilTeacher in an EdutainmentGame world either as a result of general anxiety from school, or possibly from traumatic experiences with an actual abusive teacher.
[[AC: Visual Novel]]
* [[ItWasHisSled It's well-known]] that ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'' undergoes a sudden GenreShift from romance to metafictional horror after the first act. But some players, including Yahtzee of ''WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation'', claim that the most disturbing part of the game can be found before the twist: Sayori's depression and [[DrivenToSuicide eventual suicide]] are presented in a very realistic way, making them very relatable to anyone who has suffered from depression or knows someone who has committed suicide.
[[AC:Western Animation]]
* In [[https://mctoonreviews.blogspot.com/2019/04/roadie-to-nowhere-fridge-too-far-loud.html this]] review for ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' episode "A Fridge Too Far", the reviewer mentions that while he enjoys the episode as a whole, one problem he has with it is that when the Loud children get injured by each other's booby traps, instead of being beat up in a cartoony way and being fine the next scene, some of them are realistically injured (Luan has to wear a cast for instance).
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Ozai is a tyrannical king who heads a war against the entire planet and tries to become the ruler of all the kingdoms. His most reprehensible behavior is his DomesticAbuse of his wife, [[AbusiveParents children]], and to a lesser extent his older brother. The [[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheSearch comics]] made it worse by revealing [[spoiler:he and Ursa were never in love. He forced her to marry him and the children were [[ChildByRape conceived under dubious consent]].]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' enters this territory quite frequently, most frequently with it's fairly realistic depictions of abuse, addiction, and mental illness, which helps further the show's central themes of how celebrity can be damaging (particularly for [[FormerChildStar someone who entered stardom very young]]) and how trauma can often be passed from one generation to the next.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
** As the series began production right when the severity and long-term effects of bullying were becoming a hot-button issue, characters who tend to act cruelly to others tend to be painted less sympathetically compared to more "fantastic" villains like Nightmare Moon and Discord ([[TheScrappy and tend to be greatly disliked within the fandom]]). This is perhaps best exemplified in "Flight to the Finish", in which Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon mock Scootaloo for her inability to fly; this, along with her subsequent downward spiral, is presented as being akin to someone being bullied for being disabled.
** Similarly, the episode "Hurricane Fluttershy" reveals that Fluttershy was bullied as a filly for being a weak flyer, the memories of which give her PTSD-like panic attacks even as a full-grown mare.
Also, credit to War Jay 77 for the trope title as he thought of it on this thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/query.php?parent_id=84269&type=lnf
