What are the best horror elements in stories?

One of the best horror elements is the unknown. When things are left unexplained, like a strange noise in the dark or a figure disappearing around a corner, it creates a sense of unease. Another is the use of isolation. A character alone in a big, empty house or a desolate forest makes them seem more vulnerable. Also, the element of psychological terror, such as a character's slow descent into madness, can be really effective.

The immediate threat to life is the scariest. When you have a knife pointed at you, it's a very real and close danger. Just one wrong move could lead to serious injury or death.

The scariest elements often include the unknown and the cosmic horror. Lovecraft's stories often deal with entities that are beyond human comprehension, like the Great Old Ones. Their mere existence challenges our understanding of the universe and our place in it, which is truly terrifying.

The list might have some sort of curse associated with it. Maybe just reading the list unleashes a series of terrifying events. Like it could summon dark spirits that start to torment those who found the list. These spirits could cause hallucinations, making the characters see their worst fears come to life.

A great horror short story usually plays on our fears. Fears of the unknown, death, or the loss of sanity. 'The Cask of Amontillado' by Edgar Allan Poe is a good example. The narrator's cold - blooded revenge and the underground catacombs setting create a sense of dread. The story also has a slow - building tension that keeps the reader on edge until the end.

The chaos is a big factor. The sheer number of people in a small space, all desperate for a deal. It creates a sense of panic. Like when a store has limited stock and everyone is trying to grab it.

Well, in a best horror story, the characters need to be relatable. If we can see a bit of ourselves in them, it makes their fear more palpable. The pacing is important as well. A slow build - up of tension, like the feeling of being watched gradually intensifying, and then sudden scares, like a face popping out of nowhere, are hallmarks of a great horror story.

Horror stories often feature a protagonist who is in over their head. They might start out as an ordinary person, like in 'Rosemary's Baby' where Rosemary is just a normal woman, but then they are thrust into a terrifying situation. Settings also play a big role. Abandoned asylums, cemeteries, and old mansions are common settings in horror stories as they have an air of mystery and danger already associated with them.

In horror stories, the use of mystery is a big part of suspense. We don't know the true nature of the monster or the source of the curse. This keeps our curiosity piqued. Additionally, time pressure can be an element. When the characters have a limited time to escape a deadly situation, it ramps up the suspense. For instance, in movies where the sun is about to rise and the vampires will be unleashed if they're not stopped before then. And the use of false security, where the characters think they're safe for a moment, only to have the horror return with a vengeance.