The scariest element is often the presence of vengeful spirits. These spirits are usually the result of some injustice or tragic death in their past lives. For example, a woman who was wronged and killed might come back as a ghost to seek revenge on those who wronged her.
The use of local superstitions and beliefs in the stories can be really terrifying. Things like the significance of certain trees or bodies of water being haunted. In Vietnamese culture, there are many such beliefs, and when they are incorporated into horror stories, it adds an extra layer of fear. For instance, the idea that if you don't pay respects to a certain deity or spirit associated with a place, you will be haunted. It plays on people's fear of the unknown and the power of the supernatural within their own cultural context.
The setting in Vietnamese horror stories can be quite scary. Many stories are set in rural areas, with thick jungles, dark swamps, or old, dilapidated houses. These settings create a sense of isolation and danger. The jungles are full of mystery, and the old houses hold the secrets of the past. The combination of the spooky setting and the supernatural elements makes for a truly frightening experience.
The idea of revenge is a very scary element. In many Vietnamese ghost stories, the ghosts are seeking revenge for their unjust deaths. For example, like the Ma cà rồng, her brutal murder led to her becoming a vengeful spirit. This sense of the dead having unfinished business and a thirst for retribution is quite terrifying.
One common element is the presence of vengeful spirits. For example, in many stories, a spirit is wronged during its lifetime, like a young woman who was mistreated and then comes back to haunt those who wronged her or the place where she died. Another element is the role of nature. Vietnamese horror stories often use elements of nature such as swamps, forests, and old trees as settings for the horror to unfold. These places are seen as having their own energies and can be home to malevolent forces.
The unknown is the scariest. In 'as is horror stories', things are often left in their natural state, so you don't really know what's lurking in the shadows or what's causing those strange noises. It's that sense of not having all the answers that makes it terrifying.
Isolation is also a key element. When characters are alone in a spooky place, like an abandoned asylum in one of the stories. They have no one to turn to, and that makes the situation even more terrifying as the horror unfolds around them.
The unknown is one of the scariest elements. When things are not clearly defined, like a strange figure in the fog in some stories from '1001 horror stories', it makes our imagination run wild. We start to create the most terrifying scenarios in our minds.
The scariest element could be the sense of the unknown. For example, in many stories, there are strange noises or happenings that the characters can't explain. It's that not - knowing what is causing the fear that really gets to you.
The isolation in many of the stories is really scary. Like when a character is alone in an old, abandoned building, cut off from the outside world, and they start to feel like they're being watched by something malevolent. There's also the fear of the supernatural, such as ghosts or demons that defy the laws of nature. This makes the characters, and the readers, feel powerless against them.
Some people may share stories where there are cultural misunderstandings. For example, in some cases, a Western man might not fully understand the importance of family hierarchy in Vietnamese culture when marrying a Vietnamese woman. He could misinterpret her respect for elders as being too submissive to family demands, which can lead to relationship issues.
The sudden movement of the LPS toys when they're not supposed to be able to move is really scary. It goes against what we know about them as inanimate objects.
The unknown and the supernatural. Take the Black Shuck for instance. A huge, black spectral dog just appearing out of nowhere is terrifying. There's no rational explanation for such a thing, and that's what makes it so spooky in UK horror stories.