The fact that they are based on true stories gives them an extra layer of spookiness. We know that these things might have actually happened to someone, so it makes the horror seem more real and immediate.
These films also make us question our own beliefs. If such supernatural events can occur in real life, then it shakes our perception of the world as a safe and rational place. Take 'The Amityville Horror' for instance. The thought that a family could be terrorized by unseen forces in their new home makes us feel vulnerable, and that's what makes these films so frightening.
Often, these true stories involve things that are beyond our understanding, like hauntings or possessions. When a film is based on such stories, it taps into our primal fears of the unknown. For example, in 'The Conjuring', the real - life accounts of the Warrens' investigations add authenticity to the scares. The idea that there could be malevolent spirits lurking in a normal - looking house is truly terrifying.
They often play on our existing fears of the unknown. Since real - life events are the basis, we may already have some underlying fear about the things that happened in real life. For example, the idea of a haunted house like in 'Amityville Horror' taps into our fear of the supernatural that might exist in our own homes. In addition, these films usually bring out the worst in human nature or the scariest aspects of the spiritual world which are already lurking in our subconscious. So, when presented in a movie, it heightens our sense of dread.
It plays on our fear of the unknown in a very real way. Since these things supposedly happened to real people, it makes the supernatural or the dangerous seem more likely to touch our own lives. In movies like 'The Blair Witch Project', the idea that it was based on a local legend made it feel more immediate and threatening. The shaky camera work and the sense of being lost in the woods were things that could happen to anyone who got lost in an unfamiliar forest, and the thought of some malevolent force being there was terrifying.
True horror stories are terrifying because they can actually happen. When we know that something like a haunted house or a strange encounter has occurred in real life, it hits closer to home. For example, if you hear about a real - life serial killer on the loose in your area, it creates a sense of immediate danger that fictional horror doesn't always have.
It could be the fact that they are true. Knowing that these events actually happened to real people makes it more terrifying. It brings the horror closer to home, so to speak.
The unknown elements in true horror stories are often what make them terrifying. In real - life horror, there's no clear - cut explanation. For example, if it's a story about a person who feels a presence in their new apartment but can't find any logical reason for it. There's no monster to fight or evil wizard to defeat. It's the fear of the unseen and the unexplainable that gets to you.
The fact that they might be true makes them terrifying. For example, in real - life crime - related horror stories, the knowledge that such cruel and inhumane acts actually happened in the world we live in is spine - chilling.
True horror short stories are terrifying because they tap into our primal fears. These stories can make us feel vulnerable, like in 'The Black Cat' where the main character's actions seem out of his control. They also use elements like suspense and surprise effectively. In 'The Cask of Amontillado', the victim has no idea what's coming until it's too late. The brevity of the stories makes them concentrated doses of horror that can leave a lasting impression.
The fact that they are true. Knowing that these events actually happened in real life makes it much scarier than fictional horror.
The isolation of Vermont's landscapes. When something bad happens in a remote area, help is far away. This sense of being alone and vulnerable makes the horror stories scarier.
The unknown. When you don't know what's really out there in those Texas landscapes, it's scary. It could be the idea of some ancient evil that has been hidden for years.