top 10 scariest horror stories

One of the top scariest horror stories could be 'The Shining' by Stephen King. It's about a family in an isolated hotel where the father slowly goes insane. Another is 'Psycho', the story of Norman Bates and his motel of horrors. And 'The Exorcist' is also terrifying, with a young girl possessed by a demon.

The sense of helplessness. Take the Amityville Horror, for example. The Lutz family tried everything to get rid of the strange occurrences in their house but felt powerless. They couldn't escape the constant fear and the feeling that something was out to get them.

One of the top scariest horror novels is 'The Shining' by Stephen King. It's terrifying as it takes place in an isolated hotel filled with malevolent spirits that drive the main character insane. Another is 'It' also by King, with the evil clown Pennywise preying on children. 'The Exorcist' by William Peter Blatty is also on the list, as the possession of a young girl is truly horrifying.

Sure. 'The Conjuring' is based on real - life paranormal investigators. It has disturbing scenes of hauntings. 'Sinister' is another, with a creepy figure named Bughuul who targets families. 'Insidious' also makes the list, dealing with astral projection and malevolent spirits.

In these top 10 horror stories, one of the scariest elements is the anticipation. It's like when you know something bad is going to happen, but you don't know when or how. For instance, in a story where a character is trapped in a haunted house, and every creak of the floorboards makes you expect a ghost to appear. Unnatural events are also very scary. Things like objects moving on their own, or doors slamming shut when there's no wind. And the feeling of being watched, even when there's no one visible, can send shivers down your spine.

One of the scariest true horror stories is the Amityville Horror. The Lutz family experienced terrifying paranormal events in their new home, like strange noises, slime on the walls, and a demonic presence. Another is the case of the Bell Witch in Tennessee. It haunted the Bell family, causing physical harm and psychological distress. And the story of the Enfield Poltergeist in England, where furniture moved on its own, and a young girl seemed to be possessed.

The element of the unknown. In many of these stories, like in 'The Call of Cthulhu', there are these otherworldly and indescribable entities. We can't fully understand them, and that scares us because it goes beyond our normal perception of the world.

The story of 'The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs' is quite terrifying. A babysitter is taking care of a child at night. She keeps getting strange phone calls from someone asking if she's checked on the children. Then she realizes there's someone upstairs in the house. She tries to call the police, but the phone lines are cut. It creates a lot of suspense as she has to protect the child while being in a really scary situation.

These stories are often considered the scariest because they play on common fears. For example, 'The Hook' plays on the fear of being in a vulnerable situation, like being alone in a car at night, and the threat of a violent and unpredictable attacker. It's a simple yet effective way to create fear.

One of the scariest in the top 10 might be 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is driven mad by the old man's vulture - like eye. He murders the old man and hides his body under the floorboards, but then he starts to hear the heartbeat of the old man, which is actually his guilty conscience haunting him.