The idea of vengeful spirits is also quite frightening. In the Pontianak stories, the female ghost is often seen as seeking revenge for her untimely death. Her ability to harm the living and her unpredictable nature make her a very scary figure in these stories. Also, the cultural and historical context adds to the scariness. These stories are often deeply rooted in Singaporean history and culture, so they seem more real and closer to home.
The scariest part for me is the unexplained noises. Like in many of the stories, there are sudden loud bangs or whispers that seem to come from nowhere. It gives this feeling of being watched by an unseen entity.
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.
There is also a story about an abandoned mental asylum in Singapore. Supposedly, the patients there were treated very poorly in the past. Now, those who dare to enter the dilapidated building at night report hearing strange screams and seeing shadowy figures. It is believed that the tortured souls of the former patients still linger there, unable to find peace.
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.
The loss of control. When someone is hypnotized, they are in a vulnerable state. In horror stories, this often means they can be made to do things against their will, like harming themselves or others, which is really scary.