What started as a peaceful whale-watching trip in Monterey turned eerie when a group spotted a strange, blood-red creature wriggling on the dock—something straight out of a horror movie.

The group filmed the bizarre sight and carefully placed the creature back into the water. When the video hit social media, it went viral, with people calling it “nightmare fuel” and comparing it to monsters from Resident Evil.

Experts soon identified the “sea monster” as a bloodworm—a real but harmless marine worm with translucent skin and a venomous bite used to catch prey. Though it looks terrifying, its sting is no worse than a bee’s.

For the whale watchers, it was a reminder that the ocean still holds plenty of mysteries—and that sometimes, the scariest creatures are the real ones.