Often, they create a sense of unease and fear quickly. For example, they might start with a strange or disturbing setting like a haunted house or a desolate graveyard.
They usually have unexpected twists. In 'The Lottery', at first it seems like a normal small - town event, but then it turns out to be a brutal and inhumane sacrifice ritual. This sudden change is a common characteristic in horror short stories.
A lot of these stories play with psychological horror. Take 'The Black Cat' by Edgar Allan Poe. The narrator's own guilty conscience and his deteriorating mental state are the main sources of horror. It shows how a person's inner demons can be as terrifying as any external monster.
Typically, they are likely to have elements of the unknown. The fear of the unknown is a common characteristic in horror. For example, an unexplained sound or a shadow that moves on its own.
They are often filled with suspense. The authors build up tension to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
In my opinion, 'The Call of Cthulhu' is one of the most terrifying. It involves an ancient, otherworldly being that drives people mad just by the knowledge of its existence. It's a Lovecraftian horror that plays on the fear of the unknown and the cosmos.
They are concise. Usually, they quickly establish a spooky or menacing situation. For example, in a short horror story, the horror might start within the first few sentences, like a strange noise in an empty house right at the start.
Many 1948 horror short stories often had a sense of mystery. They were set in rather ordinary settings which made the horror more relatable. For instance, like 'The Lottery', it was set in a small town that seemed normal at first glance.
One more interesting short horror story is 'Carmilla' by Sheridan Le Fanu. It's an early vampire story that predates Dracula. It tells the story of a young woman who is visited by a mysterious female figure named Carmilla, and strange and terrifying events unfold as a result. These stories are all great examples from the list of short horror stories.
Sure. 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe is a great one. It's about a narrator who is driven mad by the old man's 'vulture - like' eye and ends up killing him.
They often have a quick build - up of tension. Since they are short, they can't waste time. So they start creating an uneasy feeling almost immediately. For instance, a story might start with a character in a dark and isolated place right away. There's also the use of sudden twists. A story might seem to be going one way, and then suddenly, there's a completely unexpected and terrifying turn of events.
They often have unique and disturbing art styles. For example, in Junji Ito's works, the detailed and grotesque drawings enhance the horror. Usually, they can convey a strong sense of unease and fear quickly, as they don't have a lot of space to waste. So they might use sudden plot twists or very abnormal concepts like in 'Gyo' where fish walking on land is a really freaky idea.