Analysis of Atmospheric Setting

Read the following excerpt from a narrative:

The dense fog clung to the narrow, winding roads, every bend obscured, as if the countryside were hiding secrets beneath its veil. The trees, gnarled and twisted, stood as silent sentinels, their branches heavy with dampness, while the distant sound of a creaking gate echoed through the stillness. As the sun struggled to break through the haze, shadows danced ominously upon the ground, creating an eerie atmosphere that sent chills down the spine of anyone brave enough to venture forth.

Considering how the setting is portrayed in the excerpt, what is the primary effect of the described atmosphere on the narrative?