What makes a scaries story really scary?

A really scary story often has elements like unexpected twists, creepy settings, and menacing characters.

The sense of something being wrong or unnatural. In a scary boy story, if a boy sees his reflection acting differently in the mirror, or if objects start moving on their own. These things go against the normal order of things and make us, as readers or listeners, feel uneasy. It makes the story scarier because it challenges our understanding of how the world should be.

A sense of invasion. If the caller seems to know things about you, like in the story where the voice on the phone described things in the house. It feels like your privacy has been violated and there could be some malicious entity watching you. Also, when the calls keep coming despite your attempts to stop them, it adds to the scariness. It's like you can't escape this unknown threat.

The unknown. When there are elements in a story that are not fully explained or understood, it makes it scarier. For example, in a haunted house story, if there are strange noises but no clear source, it gives the reader or listener's imagination a lot to work with. Our minds tend to create the scariest scenarios when there's a lack of information.

The use of vivid and disturbing descriptions also helps. Like describing a monster with oozing sores and jagged teeth. It makes the horror more tangible. Another important aspect is the isolation of the characters. If they are alone in a spooky place, like a deserted island or an empty mansion, it intensifies the scariness.

A really scary Halloween story often has elements like spooky settings. For example, an old, abandoned house with creaky floors and broken windows. Darkness also plays a big role. When it's pitch - black and you can't see what's around you, it's terrifying. Strange noises are essential too, like howls in the wind or unexplained scratching sounds. Creepy characters add to the scariness. A ghostly figure in a white sheet or a demonic - looking creature can send shivers down your spine. And the feeling of being alone and helpless in a scary situation makes it even scarier.

The unknown. When you don't know what's lurking in the shadows or what's going to happen next, it creates fear. For example, in a story where there's a strange noise in the attic but you don't know what's making it.

The use of the supernatural elements in a Halloween story can make it truly scary. Things like ghosts, witches, vampires, and demons. When these elements are combined with a sense of danger and a threat to the main characters. For example, a vampire that is hunting a family on Halloween night, and the family doesn't know how to protect themselves. The idea that there are forces beyond our understanding and control preying on the innocent is very frightening.

A really good scary story often has an element of the unknown. For example, a mystery that the characters are trying to figure out. If it's a haunted house story, not knowing what exactly is haunting it creates fear.

Sound plays a crucial role in a scary ghost story. Eerie noises such as creaking floors, howling winds, or disembodied whispers can send shivers down one's spine. In addition, the element of psychological horror, like the slow realization that something is wrong or the feeling of being watched, can make a really scary ghost story. For example, a character in a story who keeps noticing that things in their house are slightly out of place, and then they start to feel a cold presence.