[MisterSadistro]

Just remember: sound, lighting, camera angles and pacing. Simple stuff, but you'd be surprised (or rather not surprised) how often a horror film doesn't work since these factors are disregarded. You know what a backyard horror film usually ends up looking like without them? A backyard horror film. I love reading people say they're influenced by Carpenter, Argento, etc, but there isn't the slightest indication that they have a clue about why these films were so effective when they make their own. I guess it's easier to splash around some fake blood and call it a homage than to put any real effort into understanding how to make something truly scary. Good luck on it.
CK