Trapped in the woods

The story's suspenseful and eerie atmosphere really drew me in, but I wonder what influenced the author to create such a haunting mood.

I was surprised by how much depth each character had, making me question who to trust. Were the character backgrounds fully planned or did they develop during writing?

The pacing kept me guessing, especially with the unexpected turns. I'm curious whether the plot was mapped out beforehand or evolved organically.