How does the ending of a classic horror story create a lasting impact on the reader?

An unexpected ending can do it. If the ending subverts the audience's expectations, like in 'The Sixth Sense' where it's revealed that the main character has been dead all along, it stays with the audience long after they've finished the story.

A shocking ending can create a lasting impact. For instance, if the ending reveals that the real horror was something completely unexpected, like the main character being the source of the terror all along. This makes the reader reevaluate everything they've read.

Endings that involve a sacrifice can also be very impactful. When a character gives their life to stop the horror, it elicits strong emotions. It makes the audience feel the weight of the situation and remember the story. For example, in some zombie apocalypse stories, a character might sacrifice themselves to save others from the horde.

The climax can create a lasting impact if it defies expectations. Maybe the couple that seemed doomed to break up actually finds a way to be together in a completely unforeseen manner. This element of surprise makes the reader remember the story long after they've finished reading it. Also, if the emotions in the climax are so strong that they make the reader feel as if they are part of the story, it will have a long - lasting effect.

By creating a really creepy atmosphere. If it makes you feel uneasy just thinking about it, it has an impact. For example, the way 'The Shining' made the Overlook Hotel seem so menacing.

A powerful ending can create a lasting impact by surprising the reader. If the ending goes against what the reader has been led to expect throughout the story, it stays in their mind. For example, if a detective story ends with the detective being the actual criminal.

It can also make the reader think deeply. A bad ending might prompt the reader to consider what went wrong in the story. In a story about a failed relationship, the reader could reflect on the characters' actions and decisions that led to the bad end, and perhaps apply those lessons to their own relationships.

The ending leaves a bittersweet impact. It makes the reader feel both satisfied and a bit melancholic. We've followed the characters' journeys, and seeing them go their separate ways gives a sense of reality. It's like real - life friendships and relationships that sometimes end or change. It makes the reader reflect on the characters' growth and how they've changed over the course of the story.

By using a sudden shock. For example, a quick and unexpected death of a main character at the end can jolt the reader. Like 'She was running away from the monster, and then, boom, she fell into a bottomless pit.'

Another way to make a horror story ending shocking is to end on a cliffhanger that implies an even greater horror is about to occur. For instance, the protagonist has just managed to lock the monster in a cellar. As they walk away, they hear a strange noise coming from the cellar, and then the story ends. The reader is left wondering what the noise was and what will happen next, which can be very disturbing.