The characters in 'the shadow land ghost stories' are often in vulnerable situations. For example, they might be alone in a dark place when the supernatural events occur. Also, the descriptions of the ghosts are vivid, like their pale faces and cold touches, which add to the scariness.
The unknown. In these stories, there are often elements that are not fully explained, like strange noises or sudden cold spots, which create a sense of fear.
The settings play a big role. Whether it's an abandoned asylum, a dark forest, or an old cemetery, these are all places that we associate with the unknown and death in real life. When combined with the ghostly elements in 'the shadow land ghost stories', it makes the whole atmosphere extremely frightening. The stories also often build up suspense gradually, making the readers or listeners on edge, waiting for the next spooky thing to happen.
The unknown. In a ghost story, we don't know what the ghost will do or where it will appear. This lack of predictability is what makes it scary.
Scary true ghost stories are frightening because they often involve the unknown. We don't fully understand the afterlife or the existence of spirits. When we hear about things like objects moving on their own, voices being heard, or apparitions being seen in a place where there should be no such phenomena, it scares us. It challenges our understanding of the world around us. Also, these stories sometimes involve elements of danger, like in the Bell Witch story where the entity was harming people in the family.
The unknown factor makes seriously scary ghost stories so frightening. We don't know what ghosts really are or what they're capable of. In these stories, they often defy the laws of nature, like passing through walls or appearing out of thin air.
One reason real scary ghost stories are so scary is that they often seem to break the laws of nature. Ghosts can pass through walls, appear and disappear suddenly, and interact with the physical world in ways that are impossible for living beings. Take a story where a family's furniture moves on its own. There's no logical explanation for it in our normal understanding of the world. This violation of what we consider normal and possible makes these stories truly terrifying. Also, the psychological aspect of it, how it makes us question our own beliefs and safety, adds to the fear.
The unknown factor. In personal ghost stories, we don't know what the entity really is. It could be a spirit from the past or something we can't explain. That mystery creates fear.
It's often about the violation of the natural order. Ghosts are supposed to be dead, but they are still around in these stories. Their presence challenges our understanding of life and death. They might be associated with some unfinished business or a tragic past, which makes them both mysterious and terrifying.
The innocence of children is a big factor. When we think of children, we think of purity and vulnerability. So, when a child becomes a ghost, it's a disturbing contrast. It goes against our normal perception of children being safe and alive.
The sense of helplessness is another key. In these stories, the victims often can't do much to stop the hauntings. In the Amityville Horror, the Lutz family tried various things but still couldn't get rid of the evil presence. This lack of control over the situation is terrifying. Also, the idea that the supernatural can invade our normal, safe spaces, like our homes, as seen in many of these stories, is really scary.
The unknown element makes them scary. For example, in the case of Old Changi Hospital, no one really knows what exactly happened during the war there. All we have are rumors and the feeling that something horrible might have occurred, and the spirits of those who suffered are still there. It's the mystery that sends shivers down your spine.
The atmosphere in these stories is usually very gloomy and desolate. Take the story of the lost boys in the cemetery. The setting of a cemetery at midnight is already a very spooky place. And then adding the figures of the ghostly children makes it even more terrifying. The combination of the eerie setting, the tragic backstories of the children (usually involving death and suffering), and the fact that they are in a state between life and death makes these stories extremely frightening.