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 psychological aspect is also important. Clowns are often associated with childhood, so when they are made into horror figures, it plays on the idea of something that was once innocent being corrupted. This can create a deep - seated fear in the reader, as it challenges the normal perception of clowns as fun and friendly.
The unpredictability of their actions. In many clown horror short stories, the clown might seem friendly at first but then suddenly turn violent or menacing. They can pop up in unexpected places like in 'The Clown Statue' where the statue seems to move on its own, creating a sense of dread as you don't know what they'll do next.
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 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 makeup of the clown in ghost stories is often a very scary element. The bright colors that are usually associated with fun and laughter are distorted in a spooky way when it's a ghost clown. For example, the red nose might seem like a glowing orb in the dark, and the big, painted smile can look menacing.
The unknown is a very scary element. For example, in a short horror story, when you hear strange noises but don't know what's making them. It creates a sense of fear and anticipation.
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.
The unknown. In short horror stories, often what you don't see or understand is the scariest. For example, in 'The Red Room', not knowing what is making the noises in the walls creates a sense of dread. Another element is the isolation. When the characters are alone, like in 'The Yellow Wallpaper', it amplifies the fear.
Ghosts and spirits play a big role in scaring people in these stories. They often come with an eerie presence. Like in a story where a spirit haunts a particular place. It might be an old house or a lonely road. The spirit's actions, like making things move or whispering in a cold voice, are really terrifying. Also, the cultural beliefs and superstitions in Tagalog culture add to the scariness. Things like the idea of vengeful spirits due to wrongdoings in the past are quite spooky. It makes the horror more relatable to those who grew up with these cultural beliefs.
Sudden twists. Like when you think a character is safe and then suddenly they're in mortal danger. In a short story, this can be really shocking. For instance, a person thinking they escaped a haunted place but then finding out they're still trapped in some other way. It plays on our sense of false security.
The ghosts are often really scary. Like the white lady, her pale appearance and sudden appearance in the middle of the night can send shivers down your spine. Also, the idea of being haunted by the spirits of the dead in places like old houses or lonely roads is very frightening.
The appearance of the doll can be very scary. For example, a cracked porcelain face or dull, staring eyes. It gives an uncanny feeling.