Well, the themes play a big role. Themes like the loss of sanity, the breakdown of society, or the exploration of the darkest parts of human nature can make a horror novel disturbing and insane. For instance, if a novel delves into the idea of a person slowly losing their grip on reality and starting to do unthinkable things, it's both disturbing and shows a form of insanity. Additionally, the setting can contribute. A desolate and otherworldly setting, like an abandoned asylum or a haunted forest, can enhance the disturbing and insane aspects as it creates an atmosphere of dread.
One such novel could be 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski. It has a very disturbing and complex narrative structure that can seem almost insane at times. The use of footnotes and different typefaces adds to the sense of unease. Another is 'The Haunting of Hill House' by Shirley Jackson. Although not strictly in diary form, it has that sense of a creeping insanity as the characters experience the horror of the house. It's a classic in the horror genre.
It depends. Some might find them disturbing because they often deal with mental illness, which can include dark and difficult themes like hallucinations, severe depression, and abnormal behavior.
Diary entries in horror novels can contribute to the psychological disturbing effect in several ways. Firstly, they often give a direct look into the character's innermost thoughts and fears. For example, in a haunted house scenario, a character's diary might detail their increasing paranoia as strange things start to happen. This makes the reader feel closer to the character's psychological breakdown. Secondly, diary entries can be used to create a sense of authenticity. If it seems like a real - life diary, the horror feels more immediate and personal to the reader.
One such horror novel is 'The Haunting of Hill House' by Shirley Jackson. Although not strictly diary - centered, it has strong psychological disturbing elements. The way the characters' minds are affected by the haunted house is truly chilling. Another one is 'House of Leaves' which has a complex narrative structure that includes disturbing psychological elements and some diary - like entries that add to the overall sense of horror.
Dying Light was a horror novel about a man named Tom Hardy who fell into darkness while writing a horror novel and began a wonderful journey. In his works, he described what happened after his death and communicated with the souls of other deceased people. The horror elements of the book included ghosts, zombies, magic, and mysterious symbols.
Well, in some insane asylum horror stories, there could be patients with unexplained powers. For example, a patient who could make others see their worst nightmares just by looking at them. Also, there might be a story where the asylum was built on an ancient burial ground, and the spirits of the dead torment the living in the asylum. There could also be a story about a cruel experiment that went horribly wrong and created a monster - like creature within the asylum.
The first disturbing horror story could be about a small town. Every few years, a child goes missing. The townspeople suspect a mysterious figure that lurks in the woods on the outskirts. No one has ever seen its face clearly. Another story is of a mirror. A woman buys an antique mirror. But when she looks into it, she sometimes sees a different face, a face full of malice. It starts to seem like there's something malevolent trapped inside the mirror. For the third story, there's an old cemetery. People who visit at midnight claim to see a ghostly figure hovering over certain graves, and they can feel a cold chill that seems to seep into their bones.
One horror story is about a patient who was constantly heard screaming at night in an old insane asylum. The staff could never find the source of the screams. Turns out, there was a hidden, sealed - off room where a former patient had died in a cruel experiment long ago, and it seemed like his spirit was trapped there, still in agony.
One disturbing horror story is 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. It's about a woman who is made to stay in a room with hideous yellow wallpaper while she's suffering from postpartum depression. As time goes on, she becomes obsessed with the wallpaper and starts to hallucinate, seeing a woman trapped behind it. It's disturbing as it shows the descent into madness caused by isolation and lack of proper care.