One theme could be fear. The stories might explore different kinds of fears that people have, like the fear of the unknown or the fear of losing one's sanity.
Another theme might be isolation. In a dark and strange world, characters could be isolated from others, and this isolation could lead to different outcomes, either self - discovery or complete despair. There could also be a theme of redemption. A character who has made mistakes in the past tries to make up for them in the dark and difficult circumstances of the story.
In the movie 'The Matrix', the deja vu that Neo experiences could be considered a form of glitch. It has a bit of a 'dark somnium' feel as it's an unexpected and slightly unsettling break in the normal flow of his perceived reality, and it ultimately leads him down the path of uncovering the truth about the matrix.
One great 'dark somnium story' could be 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. It's a disturbing tale about a woman's descent into madness while confined in a room. The dark and oppressive atmosphere, along with the psychological breakdown of the protagonist, makes it a classic in the realm of dark stories. Another could be Poe's 'The Tell - Tale Heart', with its exploration of guilt and madness, and the narrator's dark obsession.
Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Cask of Amontillado' is among the best. It's a tale of revenge where the narrator lures his so - called friend into the catacombs under the pretext of tasting a rare wine. He then walls his friend up alive, which is a very dark and disturbing plot. 'The Masque of the Red Death' is also a great one. It shows how death is inescapable even for the wealthy and privileged as they try to hide from the plague in their abbey, but death still finds them in the form of a mysterious figure.
For horror fans, 'It' by Stephen King is a must - read. The shape - shifting entity that preys on children in the town of Derry every few decades is terrifying. There are so many disturbing scenes like the sewer scenes. Also, 'The Exorcist' is a well - known dark somnium story. The possession of a young girl and the attempts to exorcise the demon are extremely frightening.
Sure. 'The Shining' by Stephen King is a great one. It has a dark and foreboding setting in the Overlook Hotel. The psychological horror of Jack Torrance's descent into madness and the creepy events that unfold there make it a top choice. Another is 'Rosemary's Baby' which is filled with a sense of dread and paranoia as Rosemary slowly realizes the dark truth about her pregnancy.
One of the interesting stories might be about a character's journey through a mysterious and dark realm. They face various challenges and encounter strange creatures.
Sure. The relationship between the Chosen Undead and Firelink Shrine can be seen as a love story of sorts. The Shrine is like a home base, and as the player returns there time and time again, there's a sense of attachment and love for this safe haven in the otherwise unforgiving world of Dark Souls.
Well, corruption could be a significant theme. Phil's dark side might lead him to become corrupt, whether it's in terms of morals, values, or actions. For instance, he could start taking bribes or using underhanded methods to get what he wants. Another theme could be self - destruction. His dark side could be leading him down a path of self - destruction, and the fanfiction could explore how he deals with this, or if he even realizes what he's doing to himself.
Sure. '101 Dalmatians' has a dark element with Cruella de Vil's obsession with fur. She is willing to kill a bunch of innocent puppies just to make a fur coat. It's a very cruel and dark idea in a Disney movie.
One example could be a story where angels with light halos are at war with demons with dark halos. The angels are fighting to protect the human world from the demons' evil plans. Another could be a story about a hero with a light halo who has to face a villain with a dark halo in a magical realm. The hero uses his light - related powers to defeat the villain's dark magic.