Zombies can be used effectively. They represent mindless, relentless hordes that are driven by a basic instinct to consume. The idea of being surrounded by a slow - moving but unstoppable mass of the undead is terrifying. You can have them overrunning a small town or chasing the protagonist through an abandoned city.
Some good phrases are 'a bone - chilling silence', 'the shadowy figure lurked', 'an eerie stillness filled the air'. These phrases can quickly set a spooky mood in a horror story.
You could use names such as Mortimer, which gives the impression of something death - related. Another one is Isabella, which can be made spooky when the character has a tragic or haunted past. And then there's Vlad, which immediately makes people think of the infamous Dracula.
In a horror story, you could use phrases such as 'The moon cast an ominous glow'. This gives a sense of foreboding as the moon is often associated with strange and spooky happenings. Another one is 'His heart pounded in his chest like a caged animal'. It shows the character's fear in a very visceral way. Also, 'The darkness seemed to reach out and grab him' is effective. It personifies the darkness, making it an active and menacing force that the character has to face.
One could be 'The shadows in the corner seemed to writhe and twist, as if alive.' Another is 'A cold, clammy hand brushed against her neck, sending shivers down her spine.' And 'The silence was broken only by the slow, methodical drip of something unknown in the darkness.'
You can use 'The old, creaking floorboards groaned under his feet, as if warning him to turn back, but he pressed on, oblivious to the doom that awaited him.' This sentence is effective in a horror story. The description of the floorboards as old and creaking gives a spooky setting. The idea that they seem to be 'warning' the character adds an element of the supernatural. And the fact that the character ignores this warning and is headed towards doom ramps up the tension for the reader.
Some good words are 'macabre', 'creaking', and 'shadowy'. 'Macabre' is associated with death and the gruesome. 'Creaking' is often used to describe old, spooky things like doors or floorboards in a haunted house. 'Shadowy' helps create an atmosphere of mystery as things lurking in the shadows are often a source of fear in gothic horror.
Eerie, for example, can create a sense of unease and mystery. Creepy is another great one, it gives that feeling of something being not quite right. And then there's gory, which is perfect for when you want to describe really bloody and violent scenes in a horror story.
Some good words are 'macabre', 'sinister', and 'haunting'. 'Macabre' is often associated with death and the gruesome. It can be used to describe a scene full of decaying bodies or a morbid ritual. 'Sinister' implies evil intentions or a threatening presence. For example, a sinister laugh in the dark. 'Haunting' suggests something that stays in your mind, like a haunting melody or a face that keeps appearing in your nightmares.
Well, 'Mortimer' is a name that gives off a horror - like vibe. It sounds old - fashioned and a bit menacing. 'Ophelia' is another option. In Shakespeare's play, her character is associated with madness and death. Also, 'Silas' has a certain darkness to it. It has been used in some horror - themed works to represent a mysterious and often menacing figure.
Words like 'gloom', 'eerie' and 'creepy' are great. 'Gloom' can create a dark and depressing atmosphere. 'Eerie' gives that strange, unsettling feeling. And 'creepy' makes the reader feel uncomfortable, like something is not quite right.