Horror Story Elements

     Of the three horror story elements, atmosphere, action and supernatural, I think that atmosphere is the most important and impacting element to any horror story.
     In my opinion, I believe that atmosphere is the most important, and effective, element because it sets the mood for the rest of the story. You cannot simply have a story about a massive zombie monster with an inviting atmosphere, you need the reader to feel as if they are in the lab of a psychotic madman. The Mary Shelley does a phanomanal job on the atmosphere of her book, Frankenstein, or a Modern Day Prometheus. The way she introduces the setting and the current conflict for Frankenstein.