Vincent Price was a master of creating atmosphere. He could use his expressions and movements to make the setting feel really spooky. For example, in 'House of Wax', the way he moved around the wax figures made it seem like there was something truly evil going on. Also, the stories he was part of often had great set designs and cinematography that he enhanced with his acting, making the overall experience very scary.
His ability to play complex characters. In many of his scary stories, his characters were not just one - dimensional villains. They had motives and backstories that made them seem more real. This made the horror more believable. In 'The Pit and the Pendulum', his character's fear and desperation were palpable, which in turn made the audience more engaged and scared.
The sense of the unknown. In many shocking scary stories, there are things that can't be easily explained. For example, a door that leads to a different dimension. This makes people feel uneasy because they don't understand it. Also, the use of vivid descriptions of terrifying things like blood - soaked rooms or disfigured creatures can really send shivers down one's spine. These elements combined create an effective scary story.
The brevity. They quickly set a spooky mood without over - explaining. For example, in 'The well was deep. A voice called from below. I peered in. A pale face stared back', it gives just enough to make you shudder.
The brevity. They quickly hit you with a spooky idea and leave it lingering. For example, a sudden glimpse of a strange face in a mirror for two seconds.
The element of the unknown. In actually scary stories, not knowing what's going to happen next creates fear. For example, in a story about a haunted attic, you don't know what the ghostly presence will do.
The use of suspense. For example, in a scary sentence story like 'The door slowly creaked open, and a shadowy figure lurked behind it.' We don't know who or what the figure is right away. This keeps the reader on edge.
The use of real - life scenarios in BuzzFeed scary stories makes them effective. For example, stories about things that could happen in a normal neighborhood or during a regular activity, like walking alone at night.
The brevity. They quickly build tension and leave you with a sense of unease.
Their brevity. Since they are only 1 page, they have to get straight to the point. There's no time for long - winded build - ups. They hit you with the scares right away, like a sudden jolt.
The element of the unknown. In genuinely scary stories, like those about haunted places, we don't know exactly what's lurking in the shadows or what might happen next. It plays on our fears of the unseen.
The element of the unknown makes incredibly scary stories effective. When we don't know what's going to happen next, our minds start to fill in the blanks with the worst - case scenarios. For example, in a story about a monster in the basement, not seeing the monster clearly but just hearing its growls makes it scarier.