The connection of the ghosts to places and people. In the story of the haunted beach, the drowned fisherman's spirit is tied to that specific place. It gives the impression that there are parts of the land or sea that are haunted. And if you happen to be in that place, you might be affected by the ghost. This idea that a particular location has a dark history and a lingering spirit is really scary.
The unknown is a very scary element. In Samoan ghost stories, like the ones about the Aitu, we don't really know what they will do. Are they going to be kind or cause harm? That uncertainty is frightening.
The unknown is the scariest. In these stories, things happen without explanation. Like sudden cold spots or objects moving on their own.
The unpredictability in true Filipino ghost stories is quite scary. For example, the White Lady can suddenly appear on a lonely road without any warning. You could be driving along peacefully, and then there she is in your headlights.
The sense of the unknown is really scary. In Japanese ghost stories like those about the Teke Teke, which is a spirit that crawls around on its hands and elbows making a 'teke teke' sound. You don't know when or where it will show up. It creates a feeling of constant unease.
The unknown is the scariest element. In true ghost stories, there are often things that can't be explained by normal means. For example, objects moving on their own. You don't know what force is causing it, and that sense of not knowing is terrifying.
One of the scariest elements is the feeling of being watched. In many true personal ghost stories, people often describe that sudden sense that something is observing them. It could be a cold stare felt in a dark corner of a room. Also, physical sensations like a cold touch when no one is around can be extremely frightening. In a story I know, a woman felt a cold hand on her shoulder while she was alone in a cemetery.
The unknown is the scariest part. In true urban ghost stories, you often don't know what the 'ghost' is or why it's there. For example, in the story of the abandoned building, no one knew who the figure in the window was.
The sense of the unknown is really scary. In true Taiwanese ghost stories, often there are unexplained noises, like creaking doors or whispering voices that no one can account for. It gives a feeling that there's something there but you can't see it.
The feeling of being watched is a common and scary element. In many Philippine true ghost stories, people in haunted places often feel as if there are eyes on them all the time. Also, the idea of ghosts being attached to a place due to some tragic event in their past lives. For example, in the story of the family in the old house, the ghost was there because she died mysteriously in the house. It gives a sense of unease as if the past is still lingering in the present. And the strange smells, like the perfume in the haunted house, that have no source are also very spooky.
The sense of the unknown. In these stories, things happen without explanation. For example, objects moving on their own. It's scary because we can't predict it and don't know what's causing it.
The unexpected appearances are really scary. For example, in many ancient true ghost stories, ghosts just suddenly show up without any warning, like in a dark alley or an empty room. It gives people a huge fright.