The sense of helplessness makes really scary nightmare stories terrifying. In these stories, the characters often find themselves unable to escape or fight back. The girl in the attic couldn't run away, and the camper in the woods was trapped in his tent. This lack of control over the situation taps into our deepest fears, as we all like to feel in control in real life.
Well, the atmosphere plays a huge part. If a story is set in a dark, isolated place like an old abandoned house or a desolate forest, it immediately makes it scarier. The unpredictability of events in these stories is also a factor. You don't know when something bad is going to happen next. And when there are elements of the supernatural involved, like in stories about demons or curses, it takes the scariness to another level because it goes beyond our normal understanding of the world.
The physical and mental transformation of the sick. When people in these stories get sick, they might change in horrible ways. Their appearance could become grotesque, like their skin melting or their eyes turning black. Mentally, they could go insane, doing things that are completely against their normal nature. For example, a kind person might start attacking others due to the illness. This transformation is scary as it shows how the sickness can destroy a person's humanity.
The unknown is a big factor. For example, in stories where there are unexplained noises or figures. You don't know what they are or what they might do, and that scares you. It plays on our natural fear of the unknown.
The element of the unknown makes really scary short Halloween stories terrifying. For example, in a story where there's a strange noise in an abandoned house. You don't know what's making the noise, and that uncertainty creates fear. Another element is the use of spooky settings like graveyards or old, decrepit mansions. These places are associated with death and mystery in our minds.
The unknown elements in nightmare scary stories make them terrifying. For example, in stories about haunted places, we don't know exactly what the entity is that's causing the hauntings. Is it a ghost? A demon? This uncertainty plays on our fears.
The unknown. In scary flash stories, things that are not clearly defined or understood create fear. For example, a strange noise in the dark. You don't know what's making it, and that scares you.
Isolation also plays a role. In many scary stories, the characters are alone, like in an abandoned building or a desolate forest. There's no one to turn to for help, which makes the situation seem more dire. Also, the use of the supernatural, such as ghosts or curses, adds to the terror because it goes beyond our normal understanding of the world. Another element is the sense of impending doom. The feeling that something bad is about to happen and there's no way to stop it.
The unknown. In full scary stories, not knowing what's going to happen next or what that strange noise is really creates fear. For example, in a story about a haunted house, the creaking floorboards could be just old wood, but the idea that it might be something supernatural is scary.
The unfamiliarity of the past periods is a big factor. For example, in stories set in medieval times, the different beliefs, superstitions, and the harsh living conditions create an atmosphere of fear. People didn't have the modern knowledge we have now, and things like diseases were often blamed on the supernatural.
One factor is the element of surprise. In these stories, bigfoot usually appears suddenly, catching people off - guard. The descriptions of its appearance, with long hair and a large, ape - like build, are intimidating. Moreover, the idea that there could be a large, unknown creature lurking in the woods where people often go for recreation or work makes these stories truly terrifying. For example, a hiker may feel safe in the forest until they have a bigfoot encounter, which shatters their sense of security.