Monster in the closet.

So i have been kicking around this idea of a horror mechanism, a monster in the "closet" type of scenario. When we were kids, we some times would be scared of a dark area hallway or closet; but we for the most part would get over it and go to sleep. What if there was a monster in that closet? What if the only thing keeping you from being attacked by that grotesque looking thing was a 2.5 inch wood door with a knob?



I guess what I'm saying is, whats more scary in this instance, knowing that something IS there, or knowing that something MIGHT be there? Now, many games play off of the idea that a monster could pop out of the dark and get you, what if it played off the knowledge that something is there instead. For example, you trap a monster into a room and barricaded it in, now unlike many games this monster would "be there" for the remainder of the game.... locked in a room... What if every time you passed by, it was there starring at you, what if every time you walked by it was screaming and pounding on its enclosure, what if the next time you walk by the room the door to that room was wide open?



This also could lead to plot lines where someone accidentally opens the door, or even purposely opens the door to this room or a container of sorts. Heck, it could even lead to preventative strategies so that you have to monitor the room so someone wont/cant do this. Even having a small instance when two people walk by this room could have more tension then the original contact with the monster. I think that sound could also play a huge role in this, seeing as when you put the thing in its cage it would make one hell of a racket and be very angry from then on. Being able to turn off those sounds for certain times could make for some interesting moments when you are walking down a hall and just feel uneasy because something is "off".

Anyhow, just a though i had running through the head.