The unknown nature of the threat in the water. It's just a black, shapeless thing that attacks them. You don't really know what it is, and that's really scary.
The idea of being trapped in a small room with an inescapable horror. You can't just run away easily.
In Stephen King's '1408', several things make it so scary. First, the setting of the haunted room 1408 itself is very eerie. The idea that a normal - looking hotel room can be filled with such malevolent forces is frightening. Also, the psychological aspect plays a big role. As the protagonist experiences the terrors, his mental state deteriorates, and we as readers are drawn into his growing insanity. Moreover, the things that happen in the room, like the changing environment and the appearance of strange entities, all contribute to the overall sense of terror.
It's a combination of things. First, rats are often associated with dirt and disease, so just the idea of them is off - putting. In the 'Rats Story', Stephen King also makes them very aggressive. They don't just scurry away; they actively hunt people. And the way he describes their appearance, their beady eyes and sharp teeth, really adds to the terror. Also, the fact that they can be everywhere, in the walls, under the floors, makes it seem like there's no escape from them.
The unknown. We don't really know what the Boogeyman is exactly, and that's what makes it so scary.
King's use of setting. He often sets the story in normal, relatable places like a family home. So it makes us think that such a horror could happen anywhere. For instance, a child's bedroom which is supposed to be a safe place but in the story becomes a place of terror.
The psychological depth. Stephen King has a knack for getting into the minds of his characters. In his scariest short stories, he often explores the darkest corners of the human psyche. For example, in 'The Mist', the fear of the unknown and the breakdown of society under extreme circumstances play on our deepest insecurities.
Stephen King is a master at creating psychological horror. In novels like 'Misery', he gets into the minds of his characters and the reader. The sense of helplessness and the slow build - up of tension are what make his books so terrifying. He also doesn't shy away from the dark and disturbing aspects of human nature, which adds to the horror. For instance, in 'Carrie', the bullying and the resulting revenge are both very dark elements. He also has a great ability to create monsters that are both physical and symbolic, like Pennywise in 'It', which represents the fears of childhood and beyond.
For novels like 'Salem's Lot', it's the transformation of a normal town into a place full of vampires. The slow takeover, the people you know turning into blood - sucking creatures, and the feeling of being trapped in a place where evil is spreading. Also, King's vivid descriptions make it seem so real, as if it could be your own town that gets infected.
For his scariest novels like 'It', the ability to tap into universal fears is key. Fear of the unknown, fear of something lurking in the shadows. Pennywise represents that unknowable evil that can be anywhere. Also, the detailed descriptions of the town and the sewers where It hides make it seem more real and thus scarier.
The way it plays on common fears. The shape - shifting Pennywise can take on many forms that are disturbing, like a creepy clown. It preys on children, which is a very vulnerable group, and the idea of a hidden evil in a small town is also quite scary.