The unexpected behavior. In horror stories, clowns often do things that are completely out of the ordinary. For example, they might appear in places they shouldn't be, like in someone's bedroom at night, or start acting violently without any warning. This unpredictability is what makes them so terrifying.
The idea of a clown being a symbol of false joy. They are supposed to make people laugh, but in horror stories, they twist that concept. They use the appearance of fun and games to hide their malicious intents. It's like a perversion of the traditional idea of a clown, and that contrast between expected joy and actual horror is extremely frightening. They can be lurking behind the guise of a friendly figure, waiting to strike.
The appearance of the clown is often a very scary element. Their exaggerated makeup, big smiles, and colorful yet often tattered costumes can be quite unnerving. For example, in 'It', Pennywise's white face with red lips and yellow eyes is terrifying.
The overall atmosphere that the clown creates in the game. It could be through making spooky sounds, like a low groaning or a high - pitched laugh that echoes throughout the virtual environment. And the distorted appearance of the clown, with its creepy face paint and abnormal body proportions, adds to the horror. The fact that it seems to have its own motives that are not clear to the players makes it all the more frightening.
The appearance is a big one. The bright, garish makeup that's often smeared or distorted can be really creepy. Their big, exaggerated smiles that seem to hide something sinister. Also, their unpredictable behavior. They might seem friendly at first but then turn on you in an instant.
Well, the contrast between the expected role of a babysitter (someone who is supposed to be caring and safe) and the appearance and behavior of a clown can be extremely scary. A clown is often associated with the circus, a place of entertainment, but when it's in a babysitting role, it's out of place. And if the clown - babysitter has some sort of 'evil' or 'creepy' backstory that is hinted at during the story, that can be really terrifying. For example, if there are rumors that the clown has been involved in strange disappearances in the past while babysitting, that would make the whole situation much scarier.
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.
One of the scariest clown stories is about the 'Killer Clown' sightings. People reported seeing menacing clowns in the streets at night, which caused widespread panic. They would lurk in the shadows and sometimes chase people. Another is the Pennywise from Stephen King's 'It'. Pennywise is a shape - shifting clown that preys on children's fears. It lives in the sewers and lures kids with balloons.
The darkness. When it's a rainstorm, the sky is often dark, and this lack of visibility can be very scary. You can't see what might be lurking around you. For example, in a forest during a rainstorm, there could be wild animals or dangerous terrains that you can't make out.
Isolation is a very scary element in these stories. When a character is all alone in a spooky place, like an old cabin in the woods during a horror nights story, it heightens the sense of danger. There's no one to turn to for help, and any threat seems much more menacing. For example, if there's a strange noise outside, being alone means there's no one to share the fear with or to protect you. Another scary part is the sense of being watched. You can't see the watcher, but you feel their eyes on you, creating a feeling of unease and vulnerability.
The unexpected twists are really scary. For example, when a seemingly normal Valentine's gift turns out to be something horrifying like a body part or a symbol of death.