What are some elements that make top scary real stories so frightening?

The sense of isolation also plays a part. When people are alone, like the girl camping in the woods or the man on the lonely road, they feel more vulnerable. It's easier for fear to take over when there's no one around to help. Also, the unexpected. For example, the sudden appearance of the woman in white on the road or the growling outside the tent. It catches people off guard and amps up the fear.

The element of the unknown. When we don't know what's causing the strange events in a real - life scary story, it scares us. For example, in the Bell Witch story, no one could figure out exactly what the entity was.

The unknown is a big factor. In scary myth stories, like the Loch Ness Monster, we don't really know if it exists or not. The mystery around it creates fear. Also, the idea of powerful and malevolent forces. For example, in the story of the Kraken, a huge sea monster that can sink ships. Its power is terrifying.

In the Flying Dutchman story, the superstition around ships and the sea plays a big role. Sailors are already in a dangerous environment, and the thought of a ghost ship that brings bad luck is really scary. With Bloody Mary, it's the interactive aspect. The fact that you can supposedly summon her by doing a simple action in a place that's usually private and a bit spooky like a bathroom. For the Grey Lady, it's the mystery of who she was in life and why she haunts. The idea of an old building having a long - forgotten spirit wandering around gives a sense of unease. The same goes for the Headless Horseman. The setting of a quiet town like Sleepy Hollow being invaded by this terrifying figure at night is very frightening.

The unknown is a big factor. In a scary alone story, like when you hear a noise in an empty house but don't know what it is. It could be anything, and your mind starts to imagine the worst. Another element is isolation. When you're alone, there's no one to turn to for help, which makes the situation scarier. For example, if you're in a spooky forest all by yourself and something strange happens.

The cultural and historical context. Many Mexican scary stories are based on ancient Aztec or Mayan beliefs. These cultures had a deep connection with the spiritual world, and some of their more fearsome deities or spirits find their way into the stories. For instance, the Aztec god of death, Mictlantecuhtli, is often associated with dark and spooky tales. His appearance is often described as terrifying, with a skull face and a body covered in bones, and his domain is the underworld, which adds a lot of horror to the stories.

The unknown. For example, when a character in a story enters a dark, uncharted place like an old cellar, not knowing what's there. It creates suspense.

Well, in many scary bat stories, the association with the night is a big factor. The darkness of night is already spooky, and bats are nocturnal creatures. They come out when it's all dark and quiet, and their sudden appearance can startle people. Moreover, some stories link bats to things like vampires or other supernatural elements, which amps up the scariness. For example, the idea of a vampire bat drinking blood is really terrifying. People are often afraid of things that can harm them in a sneaky way, and bats flying silently in the night can seem like they're up to no good.

Isolation also plays a role. When you're in a fog, it can feel like you're cut off from the rest of the world. For example, if you're alone in a foggy forest or on a foggy road, it's easy to feel vulnerable. And the fact that sound is muffled in the fog makes it even scarier. You might hear something strange but not be able to tell where it's coming from. All these elements combined make scary fog stories really frightening.

Isolation also plays a role. When characters are alone, like in a big, old, deserted house, they are more vulnerable. It makes the reader feel that there's no one to help them. A good example is in 'The Shining' where the family is isolated in the hotel in the mountains. And the use of the supernatural, like ghosts, vampires or demons, scares people because it defies the laws of nature that we are used to.