Horrible ghost stories are terrifying because they often play on our deepest fears. For example, the fear of the dark, of being alone, and of things that can't be explained by logic. A ghost can appear anywhere, at any time, and there's no way to predict or control it. It gives a sense of powerlessness that is truly frightening. In addition, the settings in ghost stories, like old abandoned houses or cemeteries, are already associated with a sense of unease in our minds. When a ghost is added to such a setting, it intensifies the fear.
The unknown factor. In very horrible ghost stories, we don't know what the ghost will do next. It could suddenly appear, touch you, or make a terrifying noise. It plays on our fear of the unexpected.
The unknown elements in horrible true ghost stories are what make them so scary. We don't fully understand the nature of ghosts or the afterlife. So when we hear a story about a ghostly encounter, our minds race with all the possibilities. And because these are true stories, there's no easy explanation like there would be in a fictional horror story. This lack of explanation and the mystery surrounding the events send shivers down our spines.
The sense of realism. Many of these stories are set in ordinary places like our own homes or the woods near our neighborhoods. When we can easily picture the setting in our minds, it becomes more terrifying. For instance, the idea of 'Bloody Mary' appearing in our own bathroom is a very chilling thought. Also, the characters in these stories often have disturbing features. Jeff the Killer's disfigured face and his maniacal grin are really scary, and it makes us imagine how horrible it would be to encounter such a being in real life.
The unknown factor. In the terrible it ghost stories, not knowing what 'it' really is can be extremely frightening. It could be anything lurking in the shadows.
The unknown factor. In the craziest ghost stories, we don't know what the ghost really is or what it wants. For example, in the story of the Bell Witch, no one knew exactly why it was haunting the Bell family. This mystery creates fear.
The unknown factor makes scariest ghost stories so terrifying. Ghosts represent the unseen, something that defies our normal understanding of the world. We don't know what they are capable of or when they might appear. For example, in the story of the haunted mirror, you never know when a face might show up in it.
The time itself. 3 am is the middle of the night, a time when most people are asleep and the world is quiet. Our brains are in a more suggestible state. So when we hear a story about something spooky happening at 3 am, it feels more real and terrifying.
The fact that they might be based on real - life experiences, even if not proven, is what makes them terrifying. People claim to have seen or felt these ghosts. It makes you wonder if there really could be something beyond our physical world. And when you think about it, it sends shivers down your spine. Maybe there are entities that can cross over into our realm and interact with us in ways we can't comprehend.
The psychological aspect plays a big role. Take 'The Amityville Horror'. The family moved into a house with a dark past. Just the knowledge of the previous murder makes people on edge. And then when strange things start to happen, like cold spots and apparitions, it preys on our fear of the supernatural. It's the combination of the setting, the history, and the unexplained events that make these stories terrifying.
The unknown aspect makes insanely scary ghost stories terrifying. We don't know what ghosts are really like or what they can do. For example, in a story where a ghost haunts a house, we don't know when it will appear or what it will do when it does.