A big factor in what makes these novels terrifying is the psychological aspect. In 'Rosemary's Baby', Rosemary's slow realization that something is wrong with her pregnancy and that she's being manipulated is very disturbing. It plays on our fears of the unknown, especially when it comes to something as precious as a new life. In 'The Haunting of Hill House', the house seems to target the characters' insecurities and fears, which is a very effective way of scaring readers.
The settings in these novels often play a huge role. For example, in 'The Shining', the Overlook Hotel is a character in itself. It's isolated, full of dark secrets and has a history of violence and death. This makes the characters' situation seem hopeless and the horror more intense. Also, the unknown elements like in 'It' with Pennywise's true form being a mystery most of the time, keep readers on edge.
In 'The Exorcist', the realistic portrayal of demonic possession makes it so terrifying. The struggle between good and evil within a young girl's body is really disturbing. In 'Pet Sematary', the violation of the natural order of life and death is what makes it scary. And in 'It', the idea of an evil entity that can take different forms and prey on children is truly nightmarish.
The unknown elements in 'the scariest horror story' often make it terrifying. It could be the appearance of a strange and menacing creature without any explanation. For example, a shadowy figure that lurks in the corners and seems to defy the laws of nature.
The fear of the unknown. In these stories, things happen that can't be easily explained. It makes our minds race with all kinds of possibilities.
The use of cultural elements. For example, in many Korean horror stories, they incorporate traditional beliefs like shamanism and the idea of vengeful spirits. These elements are deeply rooted in Korean culture and add an extra layer of authenticity and fear.
Often, the scariest horror stories play on our deepest fears. In 'most scariest horror story', perhaps it's the sense of isolation. The main character might be all alone in a desolate place, with no one to turn to, and something evil is closing in. This feeling of helplessness is what amps up the terror.
In 'The Shining', the isolation of the hotel and the way the supernatural elements start to affect Jack's mental state make it terrifying. It's like the hotel is a living entity preying on his weaknesses. For 'Dracula', it's the idea of an ancient, powerful vampire that can't be easily killed. He has this allure and menace at the same time. In 'It', Pennywise represents our deepest childhood fears, and the fact that it can take different forms to terrify different people is what makes it so scary.
The brevity. They hit you with the horror quickly without giving you time to prepare. For example, 'The phone rang at 3 am. It was my dead sister's voice.' Just two sentences and it's already very scary.
These stories are scary for multiple reasons. In 'The Monkey's Paw', the unknown consequences of our wishes create a sense of dread. We are always afraid of getting what we want in a way that is far from what we expected. In 'The Masque of the Red Death', it's the inescapability of death. No matter how much we try to avoid it, it will find us. Also, in stories like 'Carmilla', the fear of the unknown and the supernatural elements are what make them terrifying.
The unknown factor makes them terrifying. In many of these stories, there are elements like ghosts or demons that we don't understand. We fear what we can't explain. For example, in a haunted house story, not knowing what is causing the strange noises or apparitions scares us.
The psychological aspect plays a huge role too. Take 'The Shining' for example. The main character's slow descent into madness and the way the hotel seems to feed on his weaknesses makes it terrifying. It's not just about ghosts but about the breakdown of the human mind under pressure.