In landmark horror stories, the element of isolation can be really scary. Take the Lizzie Borden house for example. It stands as a reminder of a gruesome murder, and being in that house alone can make one feel cut off from the outside world. Also, the idea of a place being cursed is frightening. In the case of the Myrtles Plantation, the thought that there is some sort of curse on the land due to its history of slavery and death makes it a very spooky place. Moreover, the physical manifestations like apparitions in these stories are quite terrifying as they seem to defy the laws of nature.
One of the scariest elements in landmark horror stories is the repetition of events. For instance, in the Stanley Hotel which inspired 'The Shining', there are often reports of the same paranormal activities over and over again. It gives the impression that the horror is inescapable. The presence of malevolent entities is also very scary. In the Bell Witch story, the idea that a spirit can actively torment a family, physically harm them and speak in an otherworldly voice is bone - chilling. Additionally, the element of the past bleeding into the present, like in the case of the Amityville Horror where the past murders seem to still have an effect on the present inhabitants, is extremely frightening.
One horror story could be volunteers being sent to a dilapidated building for a 'landmark restoration' project. Once inside, they discovered the building was structurally unsound and parts of it started to collapse while they were working. They had to scramble to get out in a panic.
The story of the Borley Rectory is a well - known landmark horror story. It was said to be the most haunted house in England. There were reports of phantom nuns, strange lights, and unexplained noises. People who visited the rectory often had terrifying experiences. Another one could be the events at the Myrtles Plantation. It has a history of ghostly sightings, including the apparition of a slave girl. The plantation is filled with an eerie atmosphere that gives people the chills.
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.
A common theme is the feeling of being manipulated. People often talk about how they were led to believe things that they later questioned.
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.