Well, in night terror horror stories, the distortion of reality can be extremely scary. For instance, a character might see a normal object like a mirror, but then it starts to show disturbing images or change shape. This makes the reader or listener question what is real and what isn't. Another factor is the isolation of the characters. They are often alone when these terrifying events occur, with no one to turn to for help. This intensifies the fear as they have to face the horror all by themselves. Additionally, the unexpectedness of events, like a sudden appearance of a ghastly figure out of nowhere, is a key scary element.
The religious undertones can be very spooky. For example, if there are unexplained religious symbols appearing or things like the cross on the altar moving on its own. It gives a sense of the supernatural messing with something that is supposed to be sacred.
Sound plays a huge role in scaring people in these stories. Creaking floors, howling winds, or strange whispers in the night can send shivers down your spine. It's because these sounds create an atmosphere of unease. Also, the element of the supernatural. Ghosts, demons, or otherworldly creatures that come out at night are very scary. They often defy the laws of nature, which makes them unpredictable and frightening.
The lack of light also adds to the horror. In the dark, our imagination runs wild. In night shift horror stories, the limited lighting in places like old buildings or deserted streets makes it easy for the mind to create terrifying scenarios. And when something does happen, it's often hard to see clearly what it is, which is truly frightening.
The sudden appearance of unexplained figures is quite scary. For example, a figure that just pops up in the corner of the frame during a happy scene in the CM. It completely changes the mood from joy to horror.
Common elements include a sense of helplessness. For instance, the dreamer often can't move or call for help. Darkness is also a big part. It sets the mood and makes everything seem scarier. Another element is the presence of unknown threats, like strange noises or shadowy figures that you can't identify.
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.