History NightmareFuel / FateZero

** [[MadArtist Caster]] deliberately [[InvokedTrope invokes]] [[HopeSpot Hope Spots]] to make his tortures more effective because in his view “terror in its freshest sense, is not a static state but a dynamic one; the sublime moment when shining hope turns to utter despair.” In other words, Caster outright [[Sadist enjoys]] acting as a [[HopeCrusher Hope Crusher]].

* Episode 22: First, it is extremely unsettling to see Kirei [[IncrediblyLamePun snap]] at Irisviel because he can't stand an ArtificialHuman with genuine feelings, when he, a genuine human, can't feel real emotions...

As nightmare-inducing as ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' [[NightmareFuel/FateStayNight is]], there are '''[[NightmareFuel reasons]]''' why ''LightNovel/FateZero'' is considered DarkerAndEdgier--and considering [[Creator/GenUrobuchi the writer]], DarkerAndEdgier indeed.

** It doesn't make Zouken's actions less horrible, but Byakuya and Kariya seems to be doing fine (until the latter signs up for himself), so I guess they don't have the habit of training their heirs in the worm pit unless there is a reason. (The reason for Sakura being she is from another bloodline, and for Kariya his lack of training and needs to become master-material in one year.) For people married into Matou family (e.g. Shinji's mother), however...

* Every time ''[[https://soundcloud.com/gnlu/30-the-dream-fades-before-dawn The Dream Fades Before Dawn #3]]'' begins to play. While the first half is identical to the first iteration of the song, the second half quickly descends into creepy ambience and sounds, culminating with [[OminousMusicBoxTune an off-key, twisted, and haunting version]] of the [[DarkReprise main melody of "Let the Stars Fall Down" and "Manten"]]. Considering that this plays when Irisviel falls into the corrupted Grail and Kiritsugu is shown [[KillEmAll just how his wish will be granted]], it can be said that the song serves as the theme of [[UltimateEvil Angra]] [[TheCorruption Mainyu]].

*** This actually feels like a ShoutOut to ''that scene'' in Episode 23 of ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', only done better. Much "better", for very scary values of "better", since until this scene you actually forgot Irisviel should belong in the UncannyValley.

As nightmare-inducing as ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' [[NightmareFuel/FateStayNight is]], there are '''reasons''' why ''LightNovel/FateZero'' is considered DarkerAndEdgier--and considering [[Creator/GenUrobuchi the writer]], DarkerAndEdgier indeed.

* Episode 10 has a very SlasherMovie feel. Ryunosuke being the villain and Rin being the focus character. It has a very AdultFear theme to it. Children go missing and then Rin decides to look for them ''in another city''. She sees Ryunosuke mind-controlling kids and leading them away by the hand. Then she finds his lair. Then it's a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome for Rin. Then Rin nearly gets jumped by one of Caster's tentacle abominations, and Kariya gets to pull an [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome awesome]] BigDamnHeroes moment.

* Irisviel's (Angra Mainyu's) scream of terror as Kiritsugu rejects the Grail by shooting the apparition of his own daughter in the head. AdultFear indeed. Worse, it's unclear how much of this is the actual Iri in the Grail, and how much of it is just Angra trying to con Kiritsugu into killing the planet.

** It doesn't make Zouken's actions less horrible, but Byakuya and Kariya seems to be doing fine (until the latter signs up for himself), so I guess they don't have the habit of training their heirs in the worm pit unless there is a reason. (The reason for Sakura being she is from another bloodline, and for Kariya his lack of training and needs to become master-material in one year.) For other people married into Matou family (e.g. Shinji's mother), however...

** It doesn't make Zouken's actions less horrible, but Byakuya and Kariya seems to be doing fine (until the latter signs up for himself), so I guess they don't have the habit of training their heirs in the worm pit unless there is a reason. (The reason for Sakura being she is from another bloodline, and for Kariya his lack of training and needs to become master-material in one year.) For other people married into Matou family and after popping out babies (e.g. Shinji's mother), however....

** It doesn't make Zouken's actions less horrible, but Byakuya and Kariya seems to be doing fine (until the latter signs up for himself), so I guess they don't have the habit of training their blood relatives in the worm pit unless there is a reason. (The reason for Sakura being she is from another bloodline, and for Kariya his lack of training and needs to become master-material in one year.) For other people married to the Matou family (e.g. Shinji's mother), however....