The unknown is a very scary element. In unit horror stories, like when there are strange noises but no visible source, it makes people's imaginations run wild. For example, in an old office unit where things move on their own, not knowing what's causing it is really frightening.
The idea of something from the past lingering in a unit is quite terrifying. For instance, if a unit was the site of a murder or a tragic event in the past, and then people start experiencing unexplained phenomena. It's as if the past horror is seeping into the present, and the thought that the place has a dark history that won't stay buried is very spooky.
The presence of the supernatural. For instance, the cursed doll that defies normal explanation. It's terrifying because it goes against what we understand as normal in our world. And the fact that it brings misfortune to those around it makes it even scarier.
There was a case where a tens unit's battery started to leak while it was on a person. The corrosive battery acid started to seep out and made contact with the skin. Along with the potential harm from the acid, the device also malfunctioned and sent erratic shocks. The combination of these two things was a nightmare for the user. They had to quickly remove the device and clean the area, all while being in pain and fear from the shocks and potential chemical burn.
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.
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.
The loss of control. When someone is hypnotized, they are in a vulnerable state. In horror stories, this often means they can be made to do things against their will, like harming themselves or others, which is really scary.