Often, it's the themes that make a short story disturbing. For example, themes of madness, like in 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. The main character's mental breakdown is unnerving. Also, violence and cruelty as in 'The Lottery'. The senseless killing in the name of tradition is quite disturbing. Another factor can be the psychological state of the characters. If the narrator is unreliable and has a warped view of the world, like in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', it can be very disturbing.
Often, it's the unexpected and dark twists. For example, in some of these stories, characters that seem normal at first turn out to be capable of great evil. It goes against our expectations of how people should behave.
Surprise and the unknown often make a short story scary and disturbing. For example, in 'The Landlady' by Roald Dahl, the young man doesn't expect the true nature of the seemingly kind landlady. The unexpected twists and turns, like finding out she stuffs her dead guests, are what create the horror.
For 'The Handmaid's Tale', the subjugation of women is a major factor. Women are stripped of their rights and treated as property. In 'Fahrenheit 451', the destruction of knowledge through book - burning is really scary. It shows a society that is afraid of thinking and learning. And in 'A Clockwork Orange', the random and senseless violence carried out by the main characters makes it a very disturbing read.
The element of the unknown in disturbing horror short stories is a big factor. For example, in stories like 'The Willows' by Algernon Blackwood, the strange and unexplained happenings in the isolated setting create a sense of unease. We don't fully understand what the willows are or what they want, and that's terrifying.
True love and sacrifice often make a short story romantic. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', both characters sacrifice something precious to them for the sake of their beloved. This selfless act is a big part of what makes it so romantic.
A beautiful short story often has a deep emotional core. For example, in 'The Little Match Girl' by Hans Christian Andersen, the girl's loneliness and despair tug at the heartstrings of readers. The ability to evoke strong emotions like pity, love, or hope is a key factor.
One of the most disturbing short stories could be 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It shows how blindly following tradition can lead to horror.
The shock factor. They often present situations that are unexpected and violate our normal sense of safety and order.
'The Amityville Horror' short films are quite disturbing. They are based on the supposed real - life hauntings in the Amityville house. The stories of strange noises, apparitions, and the overall sense of evil in the house make it a very scary watch.
One common theme could be isolation. Many disturbing stories use isolation to heighten the sense of fear and unease, like a character being alone in a big, empty place. Another might be the loss of sanity, as it makes the reader wonder what they would do in such a situation.