What are some classic frightening ghost stories?

One of the most frightening ghost stories is 'The Bell Witch'. It's about a spirit that haunted a family in Tennessee. The witch would torment the family, making strange noises, moving objects, and even physically attacking them. It was so terrifying that it became a well - known legend in American folklore.

One of the most frightening ghost stories I've read is 'The Turn of the Screw'. The ambiguity of whether the ghosts are real or just the governess's hallucinations is truly terrifying. Another is 'The Shining'. The idea of a haunted hotel and the slow descent into madness of the main character is spine - chilling.

The story of the Flying Dutchman's crew is extremely frightening. Just imagine being trapped in a state of eternal half - life, unable to truly die or live. Their ghostly visages and the fact that they can never escape their cursed existence is quite scary.

Yes, in a way. The bond between twins makes the stories scarier. It's like there's a double presence, even if one is a ghost. Their connection seems to transcend death, which is a spooky concept.

It's hard to say. A ghostwriter may have the ability to craft a very spooky story as they can draw on various sources and ideas. However, a non - ghostwriter who has had a personal encounter with the supernatural might write a more emotionally charged and frightening ghost story. So it's not necessarily that ghost - written ones are more frightening.

In the Flying Dutchman story, the superstition around ships and the sea plays a big role. Sailors are already in a dangerous environment, and the thought of a ghost ship that brings bad luck is really scary. With Bloody Mary, it's the interactive aspect. The fact that you can supposedly summon her by doing a simple action in a place that's usually private and a bit spooky like a bathroom. For the Grey Lady, it's the mystery of who she was in life and why she haunts. The idea of an old building having a long - forgotten spirit wandering around gives a sense of unease. The same goes for the Headless Horseman. The setting of a quiet town like Sleepy Hollow being invaded by this terrifying figure at night is very frightening.

In many of these stories, the element of the unknown is really frightening. For example, in 'The Bell Witch', the family never knew exactly what the witch would do next. It could be a sudden noise or a physical attack out of nowhere. Another scary element is the feeling of being watched. In 'The Amityville Horror', the family constantly felt as if unseen eyes were on them. And apparitions, like the 'Brown Lady of Raynham Hall', are terrifying because they seem so real yet are not of this world.

I think arms length ghost stories have a unique kind of fright. The closeness creates a sense of intimacy with the unknown. It's not just about seeing a ghost in the distance. It's about that moment when you feel it so near, like it could touch you at any moment. It plays on our fear of the unseen and the unexpected right in our personal space.

The unknown. In these stories, there are often elements that are not fully explained, like strange noises or sudden cold spots, which create a sense of fear.

The unknown factor. In extremely creepy ghost stories, we don't know what the ghost really is or what it wants. For example, in a story where a ghost haunts an old house, we don't know if it's a vengeful spirit or just a lost soul. This lack of knowledge creates fear.