The unpredictability. In a scary true crime story, you never know when or where the crime will occur. Like in the case of the Golden State Killer. He would break into homes randomly, and his victims had no way of knowing he was coming. This element of surprise is what makes it so scary.
Often, it's the lack of resolution. In the case of the Black Dahlia murder, the killer was never found. This leaves a sense of unease and fear. We don't know if the killer is still out there or if there could be more victims. The mystery surrounding these unsolved cases keeps people up at night, wondering about the who, what, and why of these heinous crimes.
The brutality of the crimes. Take Jack the Ripper for example. His murders were extremely violent and gruesome. The way he mutilated his victims was so inhumane. It's this kind of extreme violence that makes a true crime story truly terrifying. Also, the fact that these are real events makes it even more chilling, because it shows the dark side of humanity that actually exists.
The sense of helplessness. In many of these true stories, the people involved are powerless against whatever is scaring them. Like in the story of the cursed object, the person couldn't stop the bad things from happening no matter what they did. This lack of control is really frightening. And also, the fact that these are true stories gives them an extra edge of fear. It makes you think that such things could actually happen to you.
The unknown elements in them. When we don't know what's causing the strange happenings, it scares us. For example, in a story where there are unexplained noises, our minds start to imagine all sorts of terrifying things.
The unknown. In a scary story, not knowing what's going to happen next or what the strange thing really is makes it scary. For instance, if there's a noise in the attic, but you don't know if it's a ghost or just a rat, the mystery creates fear.
The unknown aspect makes true scary campfire stories so frightening. When you're in a camping setting, you're already in an environment that's a bit wild and less controlled. In these stories, there are often things like strange noises, unexplained movements, or unseen presences. It plays on our natural fear of the unknown. For example, in the story of the hiker in the abandoned cabin, not knowing what was outside with the glowing eyes creates a sense of dread.
The fact that they are true stories. Knowing that these horrible things actually happened in real life makes it much scarier than fictional horror. It makes you wonder if something similar could happen to you or someone you know.
Scary true haunted stories often tap into our primal fears. They might involve death, the afterlife, or the idea that there are things out there that we can't see or comprehend. When we hear about a place where people have died and then strange things start to happen, it makes us think about our own mortality and the possibility that there could be something waiting for us on the other side. Also, the historical context of some of these stories, like the tragedies that occurred in a haunted location, adds to the overall sense of dread.
True scary ghost stories are frightening because they tap into our fear of the unknown. We don't fully understand what ghosts are or if they truly exist, so the idea that there could be an otherworldly entity lurking around is scary. For example, in stories where people hear strange noises at night and can't explain them, it plays on our natural fear of the dark and the unseen.
The unknown factor. Since demons are often associated with the supernatural, we don't fully understand them. We can't predict what they might do or why they are doing it, which scares us.
They often involve the unknown. In completely true scary stories, there are elements that science can't explain. Like people seeing strange figures in the middle of the night and then finding out there was no logical explanation for it. This makes us feel vulnerable because we don't know what could happen to us in similar situations. Also, they can play on our deepest fears such as the fear of death or the fear of the dark.
The fact that they are true. Knowing that these events actually happened makes it scarier. For example, if a story is about a real - life encounter with a malevolent spirit, it's not just a made - up horror for entertainment.