The Most Surprisingly Dark Fairy Tales

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Bedtime stories are supposed to be charming and adequate for a child’s innocent mind, but the most surprisingly dark fairy tales don’t really fit this mould. In fact, the majority of our beloved childhood books and movies were reconstructed and edited to the point where a happy ending is the only possible ending. But the reality is that Disney’s version of events is far from what the original authors planned for their characters and plot.

Unlike 7 of the most scary urban legends, which we compiled in a previous article, many of us never knew about the truly disturbing nature of the famous fairy tales, where rape, murder, and cannibalism are the norm. For those of you who wish to retain your blissful idea of princesses, fairy godmothers, and magical creatures, I warn you now: shy away from this list, because it may scar you for life. But for truth seekers, take a look at the most surprisingly dark fairy tales and how they’ve been modified over the years.

4. Little Red Riding Hood

The only thing sweet about this fairy tale is little red riding hood, who is foolishly tricked into telling the big bad wolf where her grandmother is, who he then proceeds to eat. Now, the commonly known story says that the wolf then lies in grandma’s bed dressed like her, awaiting the child. When she arrives he eats her and then a woodsman finds the wolf and cuts him open, saving both victims. However, there are several original versions that take a different approach to this tale, one where the woodsman doesn’t exist and little red riding hood escapes by distracting the wolf with a striptease. And in another version, the wolf invites the child into the home and serves her grandmother’s flesh as a meal, before eating her too.

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