plot twist short horror stories

One interesting one is about a couple camping in the woods. They hear howls all night. In the morning, they find a huge paw print. They decide to leave but get lost. As night falls again, they see a pair of glowing eyes. Just as they think it's a wild animal, a ranger comes out. But then the ranger's face twists and he says 'I'm the real danger here'.

One idea could be that the seemingly innocent child character is actually the one causing all the horror. They have some sort of dark power that they are using to torment the adults around them. For example, they make people see their worst nightmares come to life.

Yes, plot twists are quite common in horror stories. They add that element of surprise and shock to keep the readers or viewers on the edge of their seats.

Sure. One story is about a girl who always hears strange noises at night. She thinks it's the old house settling. One night, she decides to face it and goes to the attic. There, she finds a doll that looks exactly like her. As she reaches for it, the doll's eyes open and it whispers 'You're not alone'.

One idea could be that the character who seems to be the hero is actually the villain all along. For example, in a story about a detective solving a crime, it turns out that the detective was the one who set up the crime in the first place to gain fame.

A woman moves into a new apartment. Strange things start to happen like objects moving on their own. She believes it's a ghost. But it turns out that her ex - boyfriend has installed hidden cameras and is remotely moving things to make her think she's haunted. He's obsessed with her and wants to drive her crazy. This adds a more human - made horror element rather than the supernatural at first glance.

One characteristic is the unexpected ending. For example, in a story where a person thinks they are safe, but suddenly something terrifying happens at the last moment. Another is the build - up of suspense. It makes the reader keep guessing what will happen next, like in a story where strange things keep occurring but there's no clear explanation until the twist. Also, they often play with the reader's fears, whether it's the fear of the unknown, like in a story set in a dark, deserted place, or the fear of something supernatural.

They engage us because they are like a mental puzzle. We are constantly trying to figure out what is going to happen next. And when the plot twist comes, it's like the final piece of the puzzle falling into place, but in a way that we didn't expect. It can be as simple as a character's identity being revealed differently than we thought or a completely different explanation for the events that have been occurring in the story.

One great plot twist horror story is 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. At first, it seems like a woman's descent into madness due to being confined. But the twist is that her supposed madness might be a form of rebellion against the oppressive male - dominated society. The story makes you question what is real and what is the result of a repressive environment.

Surprise is key. For example, in 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. At first, it seems like a normal small - town lottery. But then it turns out the 'winner' is actually going to be stoned to death. The sudden shift from a seemingly positive event to a horrific one is what makes it a great plot twist.