He often used spooky settings. For example, in 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', the desolate moors of Dartmoor add to the sense of isolation and danger. The howling of the hound in that vast, empty landscape is really terrifying.
Conan Doyle was good at building suspense. He would slowly reveal the strange happenings in his stories. In many of his horror stories, he would start with a seemingly ordinary situation, like a family having some strange events occur. Then, as the story progresses, more and more disturbing details are uncovered, leading the reader deeper and deeper into a sense of horror.
He used a slow build - up. Doyle would start by introducing a seemingly ordinary situation and then gradually introduce strange elements.
Ray Bradbury often used vivid and detailed descriptions to create horror. For example, in 'The Veldt', he described the lions in the veldt in great detail - their yellow eyes, their menacing growls. This made the threat seem very real. He also used the element of the unknown. In 'The Jar', the unknown contents of the jar create a sense of unease. We don't know what's in it, but we can sense that it's something bad.
Bradbury creates horror through his vivid descriptions. For example, in 'The Veldt', he describes the lions in the virtual veldt so realistically that you can almost feel their hot breath. He also uses the element of the unknown. In 'The Jar', the mystery of what's inside the jar is what scares the characters and the readers. It's that not - knowing that builds the horror.
Mark Twain often used the unknown to create horror. In 'The Mysterious Stranger', the character Satan is so mysterious and his powers are not fully understood. His ability to manipulate the normal world and the characters' fates creates a sense of dread. We don't know what he'll do next.
Poe often used psychological elements. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's own guilt and paranoia create the horror. His detailed descriptions of the character's mental state make the reader feel the unease.
Poe often created unreliable narrators. In many of his stories, the narrators are either mad or on the verge of madness. Their distorted views of the world and events make the reader feel uneasy. Like in 'The Black Cat', the narrator's actions and his attempts to justify them are quite disturbing.
The use of music and sound effects is crucial. The creaking of doors, the howling of wind in the old houses, and the eerie music that plays during tense scenes all heighten the sense of horror. It makes the viewers feel like they are in the middle of the horror story themselves. Also, the plot twists and the unexpected turns in the storylines keep the audience on edge, not knowing what will come next.
The sense of helplessness is a big factor. In many SCP stories, the characters, whether they are the Foundation personnel or the victims, are often in a situation where they have very little control. Take SCP - 999, which seems harmless at first but can cause extreme emotional distress if not handled properly. And there's no easy way to completely stop it from affecting people once it starts.
It uses a lot of disturbing visuals. Like showing grotesque creatures or extremely bloody scenes. This directly shocks the viewers and makes them feel uneasy.
Sixpence Horror Stories also create horror through their settings. Dark forests, abandoned asylums, and old cemeteries are common settings that immediately give off a spooky vibe. The detailed descriptions of these places, like the overgrown weeds in the cemetery or the creaking floors in the asylum, enhance the sense of horror.