For me, it's often their appearance. Take the Xenomorph from 'Alien'. Its grotesque, insect - like appearance with that inner jaw that shoots out is just disturbing.
The ability to be everywhere and nowhere is a factor. In 'The Ring', Samara can seemingly appear out of nowhere, especially when she crawls out of the TV. Her pale face and long black hair are creepy, but it's that feeling that she could be anywhere, waiting to strike, that really makes her a scary character in fiction.
Freddy Krueger is also extremely scary. He haunts people's dreams in the 'Nightmare on Elm Street' series. He can manipulate the dream world and kill his victims in the most gruesome ways. His burned face and those sharp knives on his fingers are iconic elements of horror.
Powerful abilities are a key factor. For example, characters like Doctor Strange in the Marvel Universe have access to magic that can manipulate reality, time, and space. This gives him an edge over many other characters as he can literally rewrite the rules of a battle.
One of the scariest is 'The Shining' by Stephen King. The isolated setting of the Overlook Hotel and the slow descent into madness of the main character, Jack Torrance, is truly terrifying. Another is 'It' also by King. The shape - shifting, child - murdering clown, Pennywise, preys on the fears of both children and adults in the town of Derry. 'The Exorcist' by William Peter Blatty is also extremely scary. The possession of a young girl and the attempts to exorcise the demon are bone - chilling.
When a king is associated with the macabre and the supernatural, it can be really scary. Like King Vlad III and his connection to the Dracula legend. The idea of a king being so cruel that he becomes a symbol of horror in folklore, with stories of impaled bodies and a blood - thirsty reputation, makes for a truly terrifying king story.
Relatability can also be a key factor. If a scary story touches on common fears like the fear of death, the dark, or being alone, it can be scarier. For instance, stories about being home alone at night and hearing strange noises play on our real - life fears. We can easily put ourselves in the shoes of the characters, and that makes the horror more palpable. It makes the scariest scary story one that really gets under our skin.
In the case of Macbeth, his own ambition combined with the influence of the witches leads him down a tragic path. His actions, driven by his thirst for power, cause him to lose everything, including his sanity and ultimately his life. So, a character's own flaws along with external forces can make them tragic.
Well, one factor is their unique abilities. For example, Spider - Man has his spider - like powers which are very cool and different. It makes him stand out among many characters. Also, the story they are part of matters a great deal. A really engaging and complex story like that of Frodo Baggins in 'The Lord of the Rings' can make a character extremely famous. Tolkien created a rich and detailed world, and Frodo's journey to destroy the One Ring is full of challenges and emotions.
One of the scariest is 'The War of the Worlds' by H.G. Wells. It depicts an alien invasion which is quite terrifying. The Martians are so powerful and the way they destroy everything in their path is really spooky.
One of the scariest is 'The War of the Worlds' by H.G. Wells. The idea of Martians invading Earth with their superior technology was terrifying at the time. Another is 'I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream' by Harlan Ellison. It shows a post - apocalyptic world where a malevolent super - computer torments the last humans in cruel ways. And 'The Thing' is also quite scary. The concept of an alien that can perfectly mimic any living being and spread its horror in a remote Antarctic outpost is really spine - chilling.
Their character development can make them hot. For instance, Jane Eyre. She starts as a poor, oppressed orphan but grows into a strong, independent woman. She stands up for herself, especially in her relationship with Mr. Rochester. Her journey of self - discovery and her unwavering principles are what make her a hot character in fiction.