What makes the scariest dystopian novels so terrifying?

In 'The Exorcist', the realistic portrayal of demonic possession makes it so terrifying. The struggle between good and evil within a young girl's body is really disturbing. In 'Pet Sematary', the violation of the natural order of life and death is what makes it scary. And in 'It', the idea of an evil entity that can take different forms and prey on children is truly nightmarish.

In 'Pet Sematary', it's the distortion of something as natural as death and the afterlife. We expect death to be final, but when that's subverted and the dead return in a wrong way, it messes with our fundamental beliefs. King is a master at taking normal things and making them into sources of horror. He also has a great way of creating a sense of unease and building suspense throughout the story. For instance, in 'The Shining', the slow descent of the father into madness as they are isolated in the hotel is a gradual build - up of horror that keeps the readers on the edge of their seats.

What makes a scariest story terrifying is often the sense of the unknown. When there are elements in a story that we can't explain, like a strange noise in a haunted house with no obvious source, it sends shivers down our spines. It plays on our fears of the dark and the unseen.

The settings in these novels often play a huge role. For example, in 'The Shining', the Overlook Hotel is a character in itself. It's isolated, full of dark secrets and has a history of violence and death. This makes the characters' situation seem hopeless and the horror more intense. Also, the unknown elements like in 'It' with Pennywise's true form being a mystery most of the time, keep readers on edge.

The unknown elements in 'the scariest horror story' often make it terrifying. It could be the appearance of a strange and menacing creature without any explanation. For example, a shadowy figure that lurks in the corners and seems to defy the laws of nature.

The unknown factor makes scariest ghost stories so terrifying. Ghosts represent the unseen, something that defies our normal understanding of the world. We don't know what they are capable of or when they might appear. For example, in the story of the haunted mirror, you never know when a face might show up in it.

One thing that makes them scary is the sense of helplessness. In 'The Monkey's Paw', the characters can't control the outcomes of their wishes. The setting also plays a role. In 'The Masque of the Red Death', the enclosed abbey that is supposed to be a safe haven but is invaded by death creates a claustrophobic and terrifying feeling. Also, the moral ambiguity in some stories, like 'The Black Cat', where the protagonist's actions are both self - destructive and immoral, adds to the scariness.

The fear of the unknown. In these stories, things happen that can't be easily explained. It makes our minds race with all kinds of possibilities.

The build - up of suspense. The stories usually start slow, introducing normal situations like a family moving into a new home. But then, as time goes on, small, creepy things start to happen. For example, objects start disappearing, and then they hear footsteps when no one else is supposed to be in the house. This slow build - up makes it very terrifying. Also, the way the stories play on our deepest fears, such as the fear of the dark or the fear of being alone and helpless in a spooky situation. It makes the reader or listener really feel the horror.

The unknown factor. In scariest true stories, often there are things that can't be easily explained. Like in the Amityville case, the strange noises and apparitions have no clear scientific reason. It's this lack of understanding that sends shivers down our spines.