The idea of spirits like the Wewe Gombel having the power to protect or harm based on human behavior is quite scary. It creates a sense of unease as people have to constantly be on their guard about how they act and what they say, especially when it comes to things related to the supernatural in their culture.
The appearance of the ghosts can be really scary. For example, the Kuntilanak with her long hair and pale face. It gives a very creepy visual.
The unknown and the supernatural elements are the scariest. For example, in the stories of ghosts like Kuntilanak, we don't really know what they are capable of. Their appearance out of nowhere, especially in dark and lonely places, is terrifying.
One common element is the use of sound. In Indonesian horror stories, strange noises like howls, whispers, or the sound of chains are often used to create a sense of fear. The element of mystery is also crucial. The stories usually don't reveal everything at once. For instance, when it comes to the origin of a ghost or a curse, it might be gradually uncovered as the story progresses. Moreover, the concept of the afterlife and the idea that the dead can interact with the living are frequently present. This can lead to all kinds of spooky scenarios where the dead seek revenge or try to communicate with the living in a menacing way.
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 sudden movement of the LPS toys when they're not supposed to be able to move is really scary. It goes against what we know about them as inanimate objects.
The unknown and the supernatural. Take the Black Shuck for instance. A huge, black spectral dog just appearing out of nowhere is terrifying. There's no rational explanation for such a thing, and that's what makes it so spooky in UK horror stories.