Dark spirits play a big role in voodoo horror stories. These spirits are summoned by voodoo practitioners to carry out their will, whether it's to harm an enemy or protect themselves. Also, the idea of a curse is very common. A person might be cursed for various reasons, like stealing from a voodoo temple or disrespecting a voodoo ritual.
One common element is the use of charms or talismans. For example, a small amulet filled with special herbs or inscribed with voodoo symbols is often used to attract love. Another element is the role of the voodoo priest or priestess. They are usually the ones who perform the rituals and give advice. Also, dreams often play a part. In many voodoo love stories, one of the lovers has vivid dreams that are influenced by the voodoo magic, which then affects their feelings in real life.
One common theme is the power of voodoo magic. It can be used to control the dead, like creating zombies, which is a very popular and scary concept in these novels. Another theme is the mystery and secrecy of voodoo cults. They are often depicted as having dark and dangerous knowledge.
One common theme is the power of voodoo dolls. They are often used as a tool for cursing or controlling someone in these novels. Another theme is the idea of the voodoo priest or priestess as a powerful and sometimes malevolent figure.
Another theme is the connection between the spiritual and physical world. Voodoo in these stories is used to bridge the gap between the two. It shows how the spirits can influence the real world and vice versa. In many voodoo fantasy stories, characters use rituals to communicate with spirits for various reasons like getting help or advice.
The idea that the voodoo doll can cause harm just by manipulating it is really scary. For example, if someone sticks a pin in the doll's leg and then the person it represents suddenly has pain in their leg, it's a very spooky concept.
The sense of being haunted or constantly watched is extremely scary in real voodoo stories. Victims often describe a feeling that there are unseen forces around them, influencing their lives in negative ways. And the fact that voodoo is often linked to spiritual powers that seem to operate outside the normal rules of the physical world makes it all the more frightening. It's like there's an invisible enemy that can strike at any time without warning.
Isolation. Often, in IT horror stories, the characters are isolated. For example, a lone system administrator might be the only one in the server room when something strange starts to happen with the servers. Another common element is the loss of control. The technology that is supposed to be under human control suddenly starts acting on its own, like a self - driving car going berserk in an IT - related horror scenario.
Horror stories often feature a protagonist who is in over their head. They might start out as an ordinary person, like in 'Rosemary's Baby' where Rosemary is just a normal woman, but then they are thrust into a terrifying situation. Settings also play a big role. Abandoned asylums, cemeteries, and old mansions are common settings in horror stories as they have an air of mystery and danger already associated with them.
Fear of death is a big element in horror stories. The threat of death, whether it's from a serial killer or a supernatural force, is always present. Also, there's often a sense of helplessness. The characters find themselves in situations where they seem to have little control over what's happening to them. For instance, in 'The Blair Witch Project', the characters are lost in the woods and being hunted by an unknown entity. There's also the use of suspense. Writers build up the tension by delaying the reveal of the horror, making the readers or viewers more and more anxious as the story progresses.
One well - known voodoo horror story is 'The Serpent and the Rainbow'. It's based on real - life accounts of voodoo practices in Haiti. Another is 'Angel Heart', which has elements of voodoo and mystery.