What are the characteristics of a scary story?

These stories usually set a spooky mood at the beginning. Maybe with a description of a dark and quiet place. However, the danger or the 'scary' part is not extreme. In the case of the old house on the hill, the shadowy figure seems scary but is quickly debunked as just a tree branch's shadow. This makes it just enough to give you a bit of a chill but not keep you up at night in fear.

A great scary story also builds suspense. It gradually reveals terrifying elements, not all at once. This makes the reader keep turning the pages, eager to find out what will happen next.

Often, Japanese scary story novels focus on psychological horror. They play with the reader's mind, creating a sense of unease and dread that lingers long after reading. For example, in 'Ringu', the idea of an unseen curse slowly approaching is what really scares people.

The sound design is crucial. Scary animes usually have eerie background music and sound effects. In 'Corpse Party: Tortured Souls', the creaking floors and screams create a terrifying atmosphere. And they usually have disturbing or mysterious plotlines. Like in 'Higurashi no Naku Koro ni', the mystery behind the strange events in the village is what makes it so scary.

Relatable characters also matter. When you can put yourself in the shoes of the characters in the story, the scares become more real. If the main character is someone you can identify with, like a normal person in a strange situation, and then bad things start to happen to them, it makes the horror more palpable. For instance, in stories where a person is alone in an old, creepy house and starts to experience unexplained phenomena, we can all imagine how terrifying that would be.

She is often associated with a spooky appearance, like wearing a long white dress.

A good scary short story often has an unexpected twist. For example, in 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant, the end where the main character discovers the necklace she lost was actually a fake is a great plot twist, though it's not strictly a scary story. In a scary short story, this kind of twist can create a sudden sense of horror.

The language used in a great online scary story is also crucial. Vivid descriptions of the scary elements, such as the appearance of a monster or the feeling of being watched, can send shivers down the reader's spine. And often, a great scary story leaves some things to the reader's imagination, which makes it even scarier as the reader fills in the blanks with their own worst fears.

One characteristic is the use of a spooky setting. For example, old mansions, abandoned asylums or cemeteries. These places create an immediate sense of unease. Another is the presence of unexplained phenomena like cold spots, strange noises and apparitions. The characters often feel a sense of dread and paranoia, which adds to the horror. And the backstories of the ghosts, usually involving some sort of tragic or unjust death, make them more menacing.

The Jersey Devil in the story has a kangaroo - like body, along with bat - like wings that allow it to fly. It also has a forked tail which gives it a devilish look.