What are the elements that make really scary true stories so frightening?

The unknown makes really scary true ghost stories frightening. When things happen that can't be explained by normal means, like objects moving on their own or strange noises in an empty house. It plays on our fear of the unseen.

The violation of the natural order. Demonic stories often involve things that go against what we consider normal in our world. Things like objects moving by themselves, voices coming from nowhere, or people having supernatural experiences. This makes us feel like our world is not as safe and predictable as we thought. For instance, a story where a demonic force makes the lights flicker and doors slam shut on their own creates a very unsettling atmosphere.

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 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.

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.

Isolation also plays a role. When you're in a fog, it can feel like you're cut off from the rest of the world. For example, if you're alone in a foggy forest or on a foggy road, it's easy to feel vulnerable. And the fact that sound is muffled in the fog makes it even scarier. You might hear something strange but not be able to tell where it's coming from. All these elements combined make scary fog stories really frightening.

Isolation also plays a role. When characters are alone, like in a big, old, deserted house, they are more vulnerable. It makes the reader feel that there's no one to help them. A good example is in 'The Shining' where the family is isolated in the hotel in the mountains. And the use of the supernatural, like ghosts, vampires or demons, scares people because it defies the laws of nature that we are used to.

The loss of humanity in zombies. They used to be normal people but are now mindless, flesh - eating monsters. It makes us think about how fragile our humanity is. Also, the sense of isolation. When the world is overrun by zombies, the survivors are often alone or in small groups, cut off from the rest of the world. This loneliness adds to the fear.

One element is the unknown. When there are things that can't be easily explained, like strange noises in an empty house or a figure disappearing into thin air, it scares us. For example, in a story where a person hears footsteps in an attic but when they go to check, there's no one there.