Midnight Horror Stories are scary mainly due to the psychological factor. Midnight is a time when most people are asleep and the world is quiet. This creates a sense of isolation. The stories often involve things that go against the natural order, like ghosts, demons, and curses. For example, a story about a possessed person at midnight makes us fear for our own safety and sanity. Also, the lack of light at midnight makes it easier for our minds to imagine all kinds of terrifying things.
One characteristic is that they often have a focus on mystery rather than pure horror. For example, in 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow', the mystery of the Headless Horseman and whether he's real or just a superstition drives the story more than the actual scares. Another characteristic is the presence of some humor. In 'The Canterville Ghost', the ghost's attempts to be menacing are constantly thwarted by the family's nonchalant attitude, which adds a humorous touch. Also, not so scary horror stories might have a more positive or redemptive ending. Instead of a full - on tragic and terrifying end, like in 'The Monkey's Paw' where the family learns a valuable lesson, but it's not a completely hopeless and horror - filled conclusion.
The unknown elements in the '13 horror stories' make them scary. For example, in many of the stories, there are things that go bump in the night and you don't know what they are. It could be a ghost, a demon, or some other supernatural entity. The fear of the unknown is a powerful factor in horror.
The unknown. In these stories, a lot of the horror comes from not knowing what's going to happen next. For example, when a character hears a strange noise in the attic but has no idea what's causing it. It creates a sense of fear and anticipation.
Well, true horror stories are often scary because they could happen in real life. In these stories, it might be the sense of the unknown that gets to you. For example, if it's a story about a strange presence in an old building, not knowing what that presence is or what it wants can be terrifying.
The unknown factor makes night horror stories so scary. At night, our vision is limited, and our minds tend to imagine all sorts of terrors in the dark. For example, in a story where something is lurking in the shadows, not being able to clearly see what it is creates intense fear.
The local folklore. The stories that have been passed down from generation to generation add to the scariness. People grow up hearing about haunted places in Dahanu, like the old mansion or the cursed well. So, when they actually visit those places or just think about them, their minds are already filled with fear.
Often, it's the unexpected twists. In such short stories, the writer has to surprise the reader fast. For example, a seemingly normal situation like a person waiting for a bus suddenly turns into a nightmare when a strange figure appears out of nowhere and within six minutes, the person's life is in danger.
The unknown elements in 'hyoa horror stories' are what make them scary. For example, in many of these stories, there are strange creatures or phenomena that are not fully explained. It plays on our fear of the unknown.
The psychological aspect is crucial. Japanese horror stories often play on our deepest fears, like the fear of the unknown, the fear of being alone, and the fear of something that seems normal but is actually very wrong. They slowly build up the tension, making you feel more and more uncomfortable until the final, often very disturbing, reveal.