Atmospheric horror novels create a sense of fear mainly through setting. For example, in 'The Haunting of Hill House', the old, creaking house with its dark corners and strange noises immediately sets an uneasy mood. The use of descriptive language is also key. Writers will describe things like the cold wind that seems to carry an unspoken threat. Another way is through the build - up of mystery. In 'Dracula', the slow revelation of the vampire's powers and intentions keeps the reader on edge.
They create fear in multiple ways. Firstly, the isolation of the settings. In 'The Shining', the isolated Overlook Hotel cut off from the outside world makes the characters (and readers) feel trapped. Secondly, the use of the unknown. Novels like 'The Woman in Black' introduce elements that are not fully understood, like the apparition of the woman in black herself. And thirdly, the manipulation of the characters' psychological states. In 'It', the fear of the characters as children is palpable and it transfers to the reader as they face the terrifying Pennywise.
Horrorscope novels often create a sense of fear by playing with the reader's emotions and fears. They can use settings that are inherently scary, like abandoned asylums or haunted houses. In 'The Exorcist', the idea of a young girl being possessed by a demon is terrifying because it taps into our fear of the supernatural. They also use character development to create fear. For instance, in 'Carrie', we see Carrie's transformation from a bullied girl to a vengeful force, which is quite frightening. Additionally, the use of sudden scares and jump - cuts in the narrative, like in many horror - scope novels, can make the reader jump in fright.
IT horror novels often create fear by using the unknown aspects of technology. For example, in 'It', the entity Pennywise can manipulate technology in the town, like making the sewers seem even more menacing, which scares readers as it's something that could potentially happen in real life.
Poltergeist novels create fear through the use of the unknown. For example, objects moving on their own suddenly. The reader doesn't know when or where it will happen next.
Horror gothic novels create fear through various means. The atmosphere is crucial. They build an atmosphere of gloom and doom, with elements like mist, howling winds, and creaking doors. The use of foreshadowing also plays a big role. In 'Dracula', there are many hints about the vampire's arrival and his evil deeds before he actually shows up. The characters' psychological states are another factor. For instance, the madness that overcomes Dr. Jekyll as he transforms into Mr. Hyde is terrifying. And the way these novels often isolate their characters, whether in a remote castle or on a lonely island, makes the reader feel their vulnerability and thus heightens the sense of fear.
Wilderness horror novels create fear through isolation. When characters are alone in the vast wilderness, far from help, it amps up the tension. For example, in 'The Ruins', the characters are trapped in the jungle with no easy way out. Also, the unknown elements in the wilderness, like strange noises or unseen creatures, play a big role. In 'Annihilation', the Area X is full of things that are not clearly defined, making the reader feel uneasy.
They often create fear by having the cryptids be unknown and unpredictable. For example, a cryptid that can appear and disappear suddenly. It makes the reader constantly on edge.
The use of the unknown and the unexplained is crucial. Ghost stories novels usually don't fully explain the ghosts or the supernatural occurrences right away. This leaves the reader in a state of suspense and fear as they try to figure out what's really going on. For example, in many such novels, there are strange noises or apparitions that are not immediately understood, which keeps the reader on tenterhooks.
They often play on our primal fears. In many cryptid horror novels, the creatures are a threat to our survival. In 'The Ruins', the plant - like cryptid slowly kills and tortures the characters. The isolation of the characters in the face of these cryptids also adds to the fear. When the characters are alone or in a small group, like in 'The Troop', it makes the threat seem more overwhelming.
Horror graphic novels create fear through their visuals. The detailed and often grotesque drawings can be quite shocking. For example, in 'Uzumaki', the distorted and spiraling images are disturbing to look at. They also use pacing. By slowly revealing the horror elements, like in 'The Walking Dead' where the threat of the zombies builds up gradually, it keeps the reader on edge.
The use of military hierarchy and rules also adds to the horror. Soldiers are trained to follow orders, but in a horror situation, these rules might lead them into more danger. For instance, in a novel where they are ordered to stay in a haunted building for some strategic reason. They can't just run away like civilians would. They have to face the horror while still adhering to military discipline. This conflict between survival and duty is a great source of fear. And also, the military equipment which is supposed to protect them might fail in the face of the unknown horror, leaving them vulnerable.