BuzzFeed often creates relatable characters. You can see yourself or someone you know in the characters they create in the scary stories. So when bad things start happening to these characters, you feel more involved. Also, they build up the suspense really well. They don't just jump right into the scariest part. Instead, they slowly introduce the creepy elements, like a faint noise in the distance at first, and then it gets louder and more menacing as the story goes on. This keeps you on the edge of your seat.
They use vivid descriptions. For example, when describing a spooky setting like a dark forest, they'll talk about the gnarled trees that seem to reach out with their twisted branches. It makes you feel like you're there.
One that stands out is the story of the haunted doll. It was a beautiful porcelain doll that a woman found in an antique store. She brought it home and strange things started to happen. The doll would move on its own at night and make creepy giggling sounds. It really sent shivers down my spine.
Another story is about a hiker. He got lost in the woods and as night fell, he found an old cabin. Inside, it was freezing cold. He tried to light a fire but then he heard howls outside. He peeked through the window and saw a large, shadowy figure lurking around. He was so scared that he hid under a table all night until morning.
The suspense. In scary literary short stories, the authors often build up a lot of suspense. For example, in 'The Monkey's Paw', we don't know exactly what will happen when the family makes their wishes. This keeps us on the edge of our seats. Another factor is the relatable characters. Even in a short story, if we can identify with the characters, their fear becomes our fear. For instance, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', we can feel the narrator's paranoia.
Well, first, the sense of danger. These stories often put characters in perilous situations. Take 'The Monkey's Paw', where the family is in danger of getting more than they bargained for with their wishes. Second, the psychological aspect. They play with our minds, like in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' where the main character's mental state is a mystery in itself. And third, the element of surprise. Just when you think you know what's going to happen, there's a twist, like in 'The Lottery' where the true nature of the lottery is a shock.
The short length. It can quickly get to the scariest parts without a lot of build - up. For example, it can start with a spooky situation right away.
The suspense. You're left hanging, wondering what will happen next. It's like a tease that keeps your mind racing.
The way they're presented also adds to the scariness. They have great story - telling, with suspenseful music and detailed descriptions. And they often include interviews with people who were directly involved in the spooky events. All these elements combined make the stories on BuzzFeed Unsolved really scary. For example, when they show the facial expressions of someone who is retelling a terrifying encounter, it makes the whole thing seem more real and scary.
I don't think all of them are based on true events. BuzzFeed is a media platform that wants to engage its audience. They create scary stories to give people a thrill. While there could be a kernel of truth in some, like the fear of the dark which is a common human experience, most are likely fictional creations with the goal of scaring readers.
There could be a kernel of truth in some stories. For example, a story about a haunted location might be based on a place that has a reputation for being spooky in a local area. However, a lot of the elements are exaggerated for the sake of creating a good scare. So, while there may be some connection to real - life in a few cases, most are fictional creations.
The stories might also have relatable characters. So that the readers can put themselves in the characters' shoes. If it's a story about a student in a dormitory experiencing something spooky, other students can easily imagine themselves in that situation. And of course, there would be elements of the unexpected, like a sudden turn of events that no one could predict.