What makes something really spooky?

One of my interests that I hope to turn into a future class at University level, is: The Elements of Fear: in Literature and Film.

Obviously, that is a big heaping helping of thought and consideration and research and I'll spare you that--for now. *heh*

But...

Today, while nursing a burning throat (gotta love strep) we decided to revisit our old pal Hannibal Lector in a triple feature of:

Silence of the Lambs
Hannibal
Hannibal Rising

To begin, I would be remiss if I didn't say that one of the scary parts of Hannibal was the rather horrid portrayal of Clarice Starling by Julianne Moore. Okay all together now: "JUST SAY NO!"
The fact is: No one was going to pull of that role like Jody Foster did in Silence of the Lambs and Julianne Moore can't do a West Virginia accent to save her soul.

But onward:

As I was watching the three movies the themes that truly made Harris' work on Hannibal Lector so frightening and memorable are probably the same themes that have always scared humanity.

Silence of the Lambs
Dark prisons, dark enclosures, sociopaths (or people who have no conscience whatsoever) and the loss of a child.

Hannibal
traitors, darkness, being hunted and then of course the ever gruesome dining of Ray Liotta's character on his own brain. Yup, that will do it every time.

Hannibal Rising
darkness, death of parents, death of siblings, cannibalism, torture, being hunted

As I survey the three all put together: It seems to me that the theme of enclosure
darkness
death and torture
cannibalism
Were the big frighteners of the triad of movies and why wouldn't they be?

In any case.. an enjoyable triple feature movie day, despite a hurting throat.
If you have any thoughts on the elements of fear in literature and movies.. please feel free to pass them on to me.

Soooo..

What REALLY scares you?