These stories are frightening because they often involve the violation of the boundary between human and beast. Werewolves are not just wild animals; they have a human side too. This blurring of the line is deeply unsettling. In many stories, werewolves target the people in their own communities. There's also the element of the full moon, which is often associated with mystery and the unknown. When the moon is full, the werewolf emerges, and there's no escaping it. This sense of inevitability and the power of the werewolf is what makes these stories truly scary.
The mystery around vampires makes them frightening. We don't really know if they exist or not. In the stories, they can be anywhere, lurking in the shadows. They often have superhuman strength and speed, which means they can catch you before you even realize it. Also, their thirst for blood is a disturbing aspect. The idea of someone or something draining you of your life essence is terrifying.
The atmosphere plays a huge role. Dark, damp, and cold places with creaky floors and old, peeling wallpaper create a sense of dread. In these haunted house stories, often there are elements like objects moving on their own. For example, in a story I read, a rocking chair started rocking by itself in the middle of the night. And then there are the stories of disembodied voices, which are really spooky. It makes you feel like you're not alone when you clearly should be. All these factors combined make haunted house stories terrifying.
Another aspect that makes real frightening stories scary is the way they can seem so real. Sometimes, these stories are based on real - life experiences or events that people claim to have happened. When we hear about a place that has a reputation for being haunted, and then we hear a detailed story about someone's encounter there, it makes it more believable. This believability makes the fear more palpable, like the story of an old cemetery where people have reported seeing apparitions. It makes us wonder if we were to visit that place, would we also have a similar encounter?
The unknown. In real scary stories, often there are elements that we can't explain. Like a strange noise in an empty house. We don't know what's causing it, and that scares us.
Their strength and ferocity. In werewolf stories, they are usually depicted as extremely strong and violent. They can rip apart their victims with ease. For example, in many tales, a werewolf can break through doors and overpower several people at once. This raw power is very intimidating. Also, the transformation process is often grotesque. The contorting of the body, the growing of fur and fangs, it's all very disturbing and adds to the horror factor.
One reason real scary ghost stories are so scary is that they often seem to break the laws of nature. Ghosts can pass through walls, appear and disappear suddenly, and interact with the physical world in ways that are impossible for living beings. Take a story where a family's furniture moves on its own. There's no logical explanation for it in our normal understanding of the world. This violation of what we consider normal and possible makes these stories truly terrifying. Also, the psychological aspect of it, how it makes us question our own beliefs and safety, adds to the fear.
The fact that they are real makes them scary. Knowing that these things actually happened to someone, not just made - up in a fictional story. For example, if you hear about a real - life encounter with a ghost, it's much scarier than a fictional ghost story.
Another factor is the cultural and psychological impact. Many scary monster stories are deeply rooted in our cultural heritage. For instance, the vampire stories that have been passed down through generations in various cultures. Vampires are associated with death, blood - sucking, and the undead. They represent a violation of the natural order of life and death. Our upbringing and the cultural context in which we are exposed to these stories make them even scarier. When we hear these stories, they tap into our primal fears of the dark, the unknown, and the threat of being preyed upon.
The unknown factor makes real scary monster stories frightening. We don't know if these monsters truly exist or not. For example, in the Loch Ness Monster stories, no one can be sure if there is actually a huge, prehistoric - like creature in the loch. This uncertainty plays on our fears.
Often, true obscure scary stories are based on real - life events or places, which makes them scarier. Take the story of a particular cemetery where people have seen apparitions. It's a real place, and the thought that there could be something supernatural there is terrifying. Also, these stories are not as commercialized as mainstream horror, so they seem more genuine and raw.