The top 10 scary Christmas stories usually have an element of the supernatural. This could be ghosts, demons, or cursed objects. They also tend to play on the expectations of the Christmas season. So, instead of presents bringing happiness, they bring doom. The settings are often familiar Christmas scenes like a family gathering around the fireplace or a church on Christmas Eve. But then something terrifying disrupts the peace. There's also often a sense of mystery, like why is this happening during Christmas? What has been disturbed to cause this horror?
One of the top 10 scary Christmas stories could be about a haunted Christmas tree. People bring it home, and at night, they see strange shadows moving around it as if there are spirits trapped in the branches. Another might be a story of a cursed Christmas present. Whoever receives it has a series of misfortunes befall them. And there could also be a tale of an old, abandoned house where on Christmas Eve, a family hears eerie carols coming from inside, but no one is there.
Well, for top 3 scary stories, 'The Shining' is really up there. A writer and his family stay in an isolated hotel during the winter, and the hotel has a dark past that drives the father crazy and makes him turn on his family. Next is 'It'. The story of a shape - shifting clown named Pennywise that preys on children's fears. And finally, 'Silence of the Lambs'. The serial killer Hannibal Lecter and his mind games with Clarice Starling make this a very scary story.
The first scary true story is about the Winchester Mystery House. Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune, believed she was haunted by the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. She continuously built onto her house in San Jose, California in a very strange and maze - like way. There were staircases leading to nowhere, doors opening to walls, and rooms with no purpose. It was a very spooky place. A second one is the story of the Donner Party. A group of settlers got stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains during the winter. They resorted to cannibalism to survive, which is a truly horrifying thought. And the third scary true story is that of the Dyatlov Pass incident. In Russia, a group of hikers died mysteriously in the mountains. Their tents were cut open from the inside, they were found with strange injuries, and there was no clear explanation for what happened.
One of the top scary stories on IMDB could be 'The Conjuring'. It's based on a true story of paranormal investigators. The movie builds intense suspense with its spooky atmosphere, sudden scares, and great acting. It makes you believe in the existence of the supernatural.
One of the scariest ghost stories is about the Bell Witch. It was a malevolent spirit that tormented the Bell family in Tennessee. There were strange noises, physical attacks on family members, and the witch would even talk and make threats. Another is the story of the Amityville Horror. The Lutz family claimed to experience terrifying paranormal activities after moving into a house where a mass murder had occurred. Doors would open and close on their own, cold spots were everywhere, and there were strange apparitions. The third is the Winchester Mystery House. Sarah Winchester kept building onto her house in a very strange way because she believed it would keep the ghosts of those killed by Winchester rifles at bay. People say there are ghostly figures seen in the many corridors and rooms that seem to lead nowhere.
One of the top 10 scary stories could 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 and eventually murders him. Another might be 'The Monkey's Paw'. A family gets a magical paw that grants wishes but with horrible consequences. And 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' where Ichabod Crane has a terrifying encounter with the Headless Horseman.
There are various types of scary babysitter stories. One common type is when the babysitter realizes that there are things in the house that seem to be watching her. Like the paintings on the wall whose eyes seem to follow her around. In another story, the babysitter might find handprints on the windows that weren't there before. Also, there could be a case where the babysitter is in the kitchen making a snack for the baby and she hears a door slam shut upstairs all by itself. These are the kinds of spooky things that can happen in such stories.
One of the scariest cult stories is that of the People's Temple. Led by Jim Jones, it ended in the mass suicide of over 900 people in Jonestown. The members were brainwashed into believing that death was a better option than facing the outside world. Another is the Manson Family. Charles Manson convinced his followers to commit brutal murders, believing in a coming apocalyptic race war. The third could be the Branch Davidians. Their compound in Waco, Texas, was raided by the FBI, leading to a violent standoff and a tragic end with many deaths.
One story is about a girl who heard strange scratching noises on the window at her sleepover. Every time she looked, there was nothing there. But the scratching got louder and closer. Eventually, she saw a pair of red eyes in the darkness outside. She was so terrified that she hid under the covers until morning. When she told her friends in the morning, they just thought she had a bad dream.