Prevalent elements include ghosts, demons, vampires, monsters, zombies, werewolves, the Devil, serial killers, extraterrestrial life, killer toys, psychopaths, sexual deviancy, rape, gore, torture, evil clowns, cults, cannibalism, vicious animals, the apocalypse, evil witches, dystopia, and human-made or natural ...

While both Gothic and horror fiction can be unsettling and dark, Gothic fiction tends to emphasize mystery, atmosphere, and the supernatural, while horror fiction is more focused on eliciting intense fear or disgust.