The element of the real also makes these stories frightening. Because they are true stories, not just made - up tales, it makes it seem like it could happen to anyone. We can put ourselves in the shoes of those in the stories. For instance, if a real - life place like Borley Rectory was haunted, it makes us wonder if our own local old buildings could have similar secrets and terrors.
The unknown factor is a big one. In true scary stories, like the real - life hauntings, we don't know exactly what is causing the strange events. Is it a ghost? A malevolent spirit? This uncertainty creates fear. For example, in the story of the Bell Witch, the family had no idea what was attacking them, which made it all the more terrifying.
Another element is the sense of helplessness. When people are in these situations, like the family in the Amityville Horror, they feel like they can't escape the horror. They are in their own homes, the place that should be safe, and yet they are being terrorized. There are no easy solutions, and this feeling of being trapped adds to the scariness.
Often, these stories involve the unknown and the unexplained. Things like ghosts, hauntings, or strange entities that defy our understanding of the natural world. For example, in the story of the Enfield Poltergeist, furniture moving on its own and voices coming from nowhere are really spooky because we can't easily explain them with normal logic.
The sense of isolation also plays a part. When people are alone, like the girl camping in the woods or the man on the lonely road, they feel more vulnerable. It's easier for fear to take over when there's no one around to help. Also, the unexpected. For example, the sudden appearance of the woman in white on the road or the growling outside the tent. It catches people off guard and amps up the fear.
The fact that they are true. When we hear a fictional horror story, we can sometimes distance ourselves by thinking it's just made up. But with true stories, it could have happened to anyone. It makes us realize that such terrifying things are part of the real world, and that makes it scarier.
The connection to real places also adds to the scariness. When we can picture a specific location where something scary occurred, like the Bell Witch haunting a particular farmhouse in Tennessee, it becomes more vivid in our minds. It's not just some fictional haunted castle; it's a real - life place that could be just down the road from where we are, which makes it more menacing.
The element of the unknown. In really scary true stories, often there are things that cannot be easily explained. For example, in a haunted house story, when objects move on their own or strange noises are heard, not knowing what is causing it creates fear. It could be a supernatural entity or some force we don't understand.
The unknown is a big factor. For example, in a true story where people hear strange noises at night but don't know what's causing them. It could be anything from a wild animal to something supernatural, and that uncertainty is terrifying.
The unknown is a big factor. We don't know what ghosts are really like, so when we hear about encounters, it scares us. For example, in those stories where people see strange figures in the dark.
The unknown. In true ghost stories, we don't really know what the entity is. It could be a lost soul or something more malevolent. For example, in many stories, people see just a shape or a figure in the dark, and not knowing what it is makes it scarier.
The atmosphere of the night itself is a key factor. The stillness, the coldness, and the way the normal sounds of the day are replaced by eerie silence or strange noises. In true scary night time stories, this atmosphere is often used to build tension. For instance, when a character is walking at night and the only sound is their own footsteps and then suddenly a strange creaking sound starts, it gives a feeling of dread.
Uncertainty is a big factor. For example, in the Zodiac Killer case, the killer was never caught. We don't know who he really was or if he's still out there. Another element is the violation of the normal. In cases of hauntings like the Borley Rectory in England, things moving on their own or voices with no source go against what we consider normal in our world.