greatest horror stories

One of the greatest horror stories is 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker. It introduced the iconic vampire Count Dracula. The story's use of gothic elements, like the spooky Transylvanian castle, and the sense of impending doom create a truly terrifying atmosphere. The idea of a creature that preys on the living at night is a classic horror concept that has been imitated many times.

One of the greatest is 'The Call of Cthulhu' by H.P. Lovecraft. It introduces the terrifying and indescribable Cthulhu, an ancient cosmic entity. Another is 'At the Mountains of Madness', which takes readers on a journey to Antarctica and reveals the horrifying secrets of an ancient civilization. And 'The Colour Out of Space' is also notable, with its strange, otherworldly color that brings destruction and madness to a rural area.

Another great one is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs. It shows how a simple wish - granting talisman can bring about great horror. A family's wishes lead to unexpected and tragic consequences, making it a classic in horror short stories.

Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most well - known authors of great horror short stories. His works like 'The Fall of the House of Usher' are filled with gothic horror elements, such as decaying mansions and madness.

The true story of Jack the Ripper is among the greatest horror stories. This unidentified serial killer in London in the late 1800s targeted and brutally murdered prostitutes. His methods were extremely cruel, and the fact that he was never caught adds to the horror. Another great (in a very dark sense) true horror story is the Manson Family murders. Charles Manson led his 'family' to commit a series of brutal murders, which shocked the nation with their senseless violence.

H. P. Lovecraft is well - known for his horror stories. His works often feature cosmic horror, like in 'The Call of Cthulhu'. He created a whole pantheon of terrifying otherworldly entities that defy human understanding. His use of a sense of the vastness of the universe and the insignificance of humanity in the face of these horrors is unique.

H.P. Lovecraft is a very well - known author for cosmic horror. His works often feature ancient and powerful entities that are beyond human comprehension, like in 'The Call of Cthulhu'. Another is Algernon Blackwood. His story 'The Willows' has a great sense of cosmic horror. And then there's Clark Ashton Smith who wrote many stories with elements of strange, otherworldly horror.

In the Amityville Horror, the Lutz family are the main characters. They were the ones who experienced all the terrifying events in the house. For the Bell Witch story, the Bell family, especially John Bell, was central as they were the ones being tormented by the witch. In the Lizzie Borden case, of course, Lizzie Borden herself is the main character as she was at the center of the axe - murder mystery.

The suspense. They keep you on the edge of your seat. For example, in 'The Lottery', you don't know what the lottery is really about until the very end, and the shock of the revelation is what makes it so appealing.

Well, 'The Exorcist' by William Peter Blatty is definitely among the greatest horror novels. It's about a young girl possessed by a demon, and the attempts to exorcise the evil are truly spine - chilling. Then there's 'Pet Sematary' by Stephen King. The idea of an ancient burial ground that brings the dead back in a very wrong way is super creepy. Also, 'Rosemary's Baby' by Ira Levin is great. The slow realization of the horror that surrounds Rosemary's pregnancy makes it a classic.