What makes horror bed time stories so appealing yet scary?

They are appealing because they can make you laugh and relax. After a long day, when you are about to go to sleep, a funny story helps to ease your mind.

Scary stories often touch on our deepest fears. Whether it's the fear of the dark, the unknown, death or something else. They allow us to confront these fears in a fictional setting. For example, in many horror stories, there are elements of isolation which magnify the fear factor. Also, the element of surprise in horror stories keeps us on the edge of our seats. A sudden appearance of a monster or a twist in the plot can be really exciting.

The thrill. People like the adrenaline rush that comes from being scared. When reading a very scary horror story, our body goes into a state of heightened alertness which can be exciting.

The thrill. They give a quick jolt of fear. You can experience intense emotions in a short time.

The suspense. In horror short stories, like 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the build - up of tension keeps readers on edge. You don't know what will happen next. It's that anticipation that makes them appealing.

The suspense. In horror short stories, authors often build up suspense, making readers keep turning the pages to find out what will happen next. For example, in 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, the readers are in suspense about the true nature of the lottery until the very end.

The suspense. In horror short stories, authors build up the tension gradually. For example, in 'The Monkey's Paw', the family doesn't know what will happen when they make a wish with the paw. They are filled with hope at first, but as the story unfolds, the sense of dread grows. Another factor is the unknown. We don't know what the monster or the source of horror really is in many stories, like in 'The Hitchhiker'. It keeps our minds racing and our hearts pounding.

The thrill. People like the adrenaline rush that comes from being scared. Super scary horror stories can make your heart race and give you that jolt of excitement.

They allow us to experience fear in a safe way. We can get the adrenaline rush from the horror without actually being in danger. Also, they often touch on deep - seated fears like the fear of the unknown, death, or being alone. Take 'Alien' for example. The idea of a deadly creature lurking in the dark corners of a spaceship plays on our fear of the unknown and being hunted.

The sense of dread. In a time loop, the characters often face the same horror repeatedly. It's like a nightmare you can't wake up from, which is very appealing in a scary way.