The Mothman sightings in Point Pleasant, West Virginia are quite terrifying. People reported seeing a large, winged humanoid figure with glowing red eyes. Strange events, like a bridge collapse that killed many people, were associated with the Mothman's appearance. It created a sense of dread in the whole town.
The story of the Amityville Horror is also very terrifying. The Lutz family moved into a house where a mass murder had previously occurred. They claimed to experience all sorts of paranormal activities, from cold spots to seeing apparitions of a demonic pig - like figure. The story became famous and was even made into movies, spreading the horror of what they claimed to have experienced in that house across the country.
The case of H. H. Holmes and his 'Murder Castle' in Chicago is truly horrifying. Holmes built a hotel with secret passages, trapdoors, and rooms designed for torture and murder. He lured in victims, mostly young women, and killed them in the most gruesome ways. His actions were so heinous that it became one of the most infamous true crime - horror stories in the USA. It shows the darkest side of human nature and how one man could create such a place of horror.
One such story is about a family who moved into a old farmhouse. Their dog would bark at the attic all the time. One night, the father went up to the attic to check. He saw a pair of red eyes staring at him. He quickly left. After that, things in the house started to move on their own. Plates would fly off the shelves and doors would slam shut. They ended up leaving the house in a hurry.
The story of the abandoned mental asylum in Florida is quite terrifying. People who have dared to enter at night say they hear the screams and moans of the former patients. It gives you chills just thinking about it. There are also reports of shadowy figures moving around the old hallways.
Well, in '20 most terrifying horror stories', there could be a story of a small town haunted by an ancient evil. The townspeople start experiencing unexplainable phenomena like animals acting strangely and people disappearing. There might also be a horror story about a group of friends who go camping in a forest that has a dark history. They encounter something that hunts them down one by one. Additionally, a story about a possessed doll that seems to have a life of its own and causes chaos in a family's home is also a possibility.
The story of the Donner Party is also extremely terrifying. A group of settlers got stranded in the mountains during winter. Due to lack of food, they resorted to cannibalism to survive. It shows the extreme desperation and horror that humans can face in dire situations.
The fact that they might be true makes them terrifying. For example, in real - life crime - related horror stories, the knowledge that such cruel and inhumane acts actually happened in the world we live in is spine - chilling.
A story that always gives me chills is about a group of friends exploring an abandoned asylum. They got separated, and one of them found a room full of old medical equipment covered in blood. He heard a scream and when he ran to find his friends, they were all standing in a trance - like state, staring at a wall. They never talked about what they saw that day.
A camper once told me that while camping in a remote area, he woke up to find his tent surrounded by hundreds of pairs of eyes. He peeked out carefully and saw a huge pack of coyotes. They just stood there staring at him. He was afraid to move in case they attacked. He managed to call for help on his radio, and it took hours for help to arrive. During that time, he was constantly worried they would get into his tent.
The unpredictability of the situation. In war, soldiers can be in a seemingly safe area one moment and then under a sudden and fierce attack the next. For example, a peaceful night in a military camp can turn into chaos within seconds as the enemy launches a surprise raid. This constant state of not knowing what will happen next is very terrifying.
One of the scariest is 'Jeff the Killer'. The idea of a deranged, pale-faced killer with a permanent smile carved into his face is truly horrifying. He's often depicted stalking his victims in the dead of night.
The use of psychological elements. For example, in 'Black Swan', the main character's descent into madness is both fascinating and terrifying. The stories play on our deepest fears, whether it's the fear of being alone, the fear of the dark, or the fear of something malevolent that we can't see. They also often use elements of the supernatural, like ghosts or demons, which are inherently scary to most people. The combination of these factors in the stories of '13 most terrifying horror stories' makes them truly terrifying.