The idea of them being possessed is a very scary element. It gives the sense that there's an evil or unknown force within the doll that can cause harm. Like in Annabelle's story, the doll was believed to be controlled by a malevolent spirit, which led to all sorts of spooky happenings.
The unknown is one of the scariest elements. For example, in a story where there are strange noises in an empty house but you don't know what's making them. It could be anything from a ghost to some kind of monster. Another scary element is the feeling of being trapped. Like when the characters are in a spooky place and can't get out, such as in a haunted cellar. The last one is the element of the uncanny. When things seem almost normal but there's something subtly wrong, like a doll that looks like a normal doll but has an evil presence.
The scariest element is often their appearance. For example, a dog with matted fur, bared teeth, and glowing eyes can be really terrifying. It gives an immediate sense of danger.
The sense of isolation is really scary. In these abandoned places, there's often no one around for miles. For example, in an abandoned factory, being all alone and hearing strange noises makes you feel completely cut off from help.
The appearance of the doll can be very scary. For example, a cracked porcelain face or dull, staring eyes. It gives an uncanny feeling.
The unexpected twists are really scary. For example, when a seemingly normal Valentine's gift turns into something evil. It goes against the normal expectation of love and happiness on Valentine's Day.
The sense of helplessness. When things keep happening and there seems to be no way to stop them. In a story where a family was haunted by a malevolent spirit, they tried everything from religious rituals to moving, but the strange occurrences continued. That feeling of being unable to escape the horror is what makes these stories so scary.
The fact that the doll is in a chair adds to the horror. It gives the impression that it has been sitting there for a long time, perhaps waiting for something or someone. And when it moves, it's as if it's breaking free from that long - time stillness. For example, in some stories, the doll in the chair might start to rock back and forth, which is very creepy.
The idea of the supernatural being inescapable. In the mirror story, the mirror keeps coming back no matter how hard the woman tries to get rid of it. It gives the impression that once you are caught up in the horror of these Gordan Perscate stories, there's no way to truly escape, and that's what makes them so scary.
The sense of the unknown. In these stories, there are often things that can't be easily explained. For example, strange noises in an empty room. You don't know what's causing them, and that makes it really scary.
The sudden and unexplained changes in behavior are really scary. For example, if a roommate who is usually friendly suddenly becomes cold and distant, and starts doing strange things like talking to themselves or staring blankly. It gives a feeling that something is seriously wrong.