There's also 'The Hitchhiker'. A man is driving at night and picks up a hitchhiker. As they drive, the hitchhiker makes strange comments. Eventually, the man realizes that the hitchhiker has been dead all along. It's a simple yet chilling story that plays on the fear of the unknown and the supernatural.
One of the best short scary stories is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who kills an old man because he's unnerved by the old man's 'vulture - like' eye. The murderer hides the body under the floorboards, but he starts to hear the old man's heart still beating, which drives him to confess. It's a classic that plays on guilt and paranoia.
One example could be 'The Grudge'. It tells the story of a vengeful spirit that haunts those who enter a certain house. The curse spreads and brings a lot of horror elements like the strange noises and the appearance of the spirit in unexpected places. Another is 'A Tale of Two Sisters' which has a complex family drama intertwined with spooky events. The sisters seem to be haunted by something from their past and the movie, based on a short story, has a very eerie atmosphere.
One example could be 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who kills an old man because he is disturbed by the old man's 'evil eye'. The narrator's descent into madness and his paranoia as he hears the heart still beating beneath the floorboards where he hid the body is truly terrifying.
One good example is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is driven mad by the old man's 'evil eye' and eventually murders him. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw'. In this story, a family gets a magical paw that grants wishes but with terrifying consequences. And 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson is also very scary. It shows a small town's annual lottery which has a dark and cruel ending.
One well - known scary Japanese short story is 'The Ring'. It's about a cursed videotape. When people watch it, they receive a phone call saying they will die in seven days. Another is 'Tomie'. Tomie is a beautiful but malevolent entity who has the ability to regenerate and drive those around her to madness and murder.
A great short scary story is 'The Monkey's Paw'. In this story, a family is given a monkey's paw that has the power to grant three wishes. However, each wish comes with a horrible, unforeseen consequence. Their first wish for money results in their son's death at work, which leads to a series of terrifying events as they struggle with the power of the paw.
A story about a friendly ghost in an old house could be a 'scary not scary' story. The idea of a ghost is often scary, but if it's just a friendly spirit that helps the living, it's not so frightening. For example, it might warn the homeowners of a coming danger like a gas leak.
One could be 'The door creaked open. A shadowy figure with no face stared at me.'
One story could be about a haunted house. A family moves in and at night, they hear strange noises. Every door they open leads to a darker and colder room. Eventually, they see a shadowy figure that disappears when they approach. It's a classic but effective short scary story.
One example is 'The Slenderman'. It's about a tall, faceless figure that haunts the woods. It often preys on children and those who wander into the forest alone. People who encounter it start to experience strange hallucinations and a sense of dread. Another is 'Jeff the Killer'. Jeff has a horribly disfigured face with a permanent grin. He sneaks into people's houses at night and murders them in their sleep.
One of the best is 'The Open Boat' by Stephen Crane. It realistically depicts the struggle of four men in a small boat at sea. The story shows how nature is indifferent to human plight.