The sense of helplessness in the face of overwhelming and alien forces is a very scary element. In his best horror stories, the protagonists usually find themselves up against things they can't possibly fight or even understand. For example, in 'The Call of Cthulhu', the cults and the monstrous Cthulhu are so far beyond human capabilities that the feeling of doom is palpable.
The way Lovecraft blurs the line between reality and madness is also quite scary. His characters often start to question their own sanity as they encounter these strange and otherworldly things. This makes the reader also feel a bit unsteady, as if the world we know could be just a thin veneer over a much more terrifying and chaotic reality.
The scariest elements often include the unknown and the cosmic horror. Lovecraft's stories often deal with entities that are beyond human comprehension, like the Great Old Ones. Their mere existence challenges our understanding of the universe and our place in it, which is truly terrifying.
The immediate threat to life is the scariest. When you have a knife pointed at you, it's a very real and close danger. Just one wrong move could lead to serious injury or death.
The unknown is the scariest. In 'as is horror stories', things are often left in their natural state, so you don't really know what's lurking in the shadows or what's causing those strange noises. It's that sense of not having all the answers that makes it terrifying.
Isolation is also a key element. When characters are alone in a spooky place, like an abandoned asylum in one of the stories. They have no one to turn to, and that makes the situation even more terrifying as the horror unfolds around them.
The unknown is one of the scariest elements. When things are not clearly defined, like a strange figure in the fog in some stories from '1001 horror stories', it makes our imagination run wild. We start to create the most terrifying scenarios in our minds.
The scariest element could be the sense of the unknown. For example, in many stories, there are strange noises or happenings that the characters can't explain. It's that not - knowing what is causing the fear that really gets to you.
The isolation in many of the stories is really scary. Like when a character is alone in an old, abandoned building, cut off from the outside world, and they start to feel like they're being watched by something malevolent. There's also the fear of the supernatural, such as ghosts or demons that defy the laws of nature. This makes the characters, and the readers, feel powerless against them.
The unknown noises are quite scary. Like in the story where there are unexplained bangs and clatters from the kitchen area when no one should be making such a racket.
In terms of horror elements, 'The Call of Cthulhu' is often considered one of the best. The idea of a powerful, sleeping, and indescribable being that could destroy the world at any time is truly terrifying. The cults that worship it and the slow build - up of the horror as the protagonist uncovers more about Cthulhu and its influence is masterfully done.
The unique elements include the Lovecraftian horror atmosphere. It often features strange and otherworldly creatures that defy human understanding. For example, the eldritch abominations that lurk in the shadows.
One of the common main characters is the investigator or the scholar type. They are often the ones who stumble upon the dark secrets. For instance, in some stories, an archaeologist might dig too deep and find something he shouldn't have.