in a game, movie, story, or whatelse, what is the element of horror? or an element. they're probably several distinct elements. but too me, this is summarizes what i think makes for wonderful horror (is that a contradiction?): "An example of a well constructed narrative whose primary purpose is to frighten (a real horror story does not have intermittent comedy), or rather to terrify, is to take the reality and life of the presumed audience and present it to them in such a way that it unequivocally convinces them, that life as they know it and breath it, is infinitely populated with unimaginable insanity and detestable grotesqueness. usually this is not very hard, for really to capture the despicable horrors of the world it only suffices to break down the observers denial and then portray life, earnestly with no modification or filters." lolz