How can scary theatre stories create a terrifying atmosphere?

The art style matters a great deal. Dark, muted colors, and distorted character designs can make the visuals disturbing. In 'Doki Doki Literature Club!', the glitches in the art during the disturbing parts contribute to the overall horror.

Employ words that suggest the unknown or the supernatural. Words like 'paranormal', 'mystical', and 'otherworldly' can be great. For example, 'The otherworldly light that flickered in the abandoned asylum was a sign of something far more sinister at play. The very idea of the paranormal made the characters' skin crawl, and as the story unfolds with more such elements, the atmosphere becomes truly terrifying.'

By using the power of suggestion. Instead of showing the horror directly, these stories let the readers' imagination run wild in the darkness. For instance, just a shadow moving in the dark can be scarier than a fully revealed monster.

You can start by using descriptive language to paint a dark and eerie setting. Maybe describe a creepy old house or a foggy forest at night.

By using vivid descriptions. For example, describing the old, creaking house with dark corridors and cold drafts. The details of a haunted place can immediately set a spooky mood.

The way the stories are told. The narrators often use a slow and suspenseful tone, building up the tension. For example, they might start with a normal situation and then gradually introduce the strange and scary elements, making the listeners feel on edge.

Using the idea of isolation can create a spooky atmosphere. If the story is set in a remote location, like a cabin in the woods, it makes the characters seem vulnerable. There's no one around to help if something goes wrong.

Another way is through the characters' reactions. When a character is really scared, it makes the reader or listener feel the same way. For instance, if a character is trembling and sweating while exploring a dark cellar in one of the stories, it makes us imagine how scary the situation must be. The stories also use elements of the unknown, like a strange symbol on a door that no one can figure out what it means, which adds to the spooky atmosphere.

One way is to combine phrases. For example, start with 'the moonless night was filled with an oppressive silence'. Then add 'and from the inky blackness, a guttural growl emerged'. The first phrase sets the scene of a dark and quiet night which is already a bit eerie. The second phrase then breaks that silence with a menacing sound, creating a more terrifying atmosphere. You can also use phrases to describe the setting in detail, like 'the dilapidated mansion with its broken windows and creaking doors'. This makes the reader imagine a spooky place and the phrases associated with it, like 'the cold drafts that whistled through the halls' can enhance the horror further.

They use things like disturbing visuals. For example, in 'Amnesia: The Dark Descent', the dimly lit corridors and grotesque creatures you encounter create immediate fear. Sound is also crucial. Creaking floors and strange, otherworldly noises in 'Zero Escape' add to the tension. The element of the unknown is another key factor. In 'Danganronpa', not knowing who the real killer is among the group keeps you on edge all the time.