There could be a bullied student who turns out to have some sort of supernatural power and uses it for revenge. Then there might be a popular jock who is the first victim of the horror that unfolds.
There could be a female student council president. She has the power to plan school events, allocate funds, and make decisions about student activities. She might be very firm in her decisions, not easily swayed by others' opinions, and ensure that everything runs according to her plan at school events, from the decorations to the entertainment.
The teachers, of course. They can be strict ones, friendly ones or even those with a bit of mystery in their personalities. And there might be the nerdy students who are always buried in their books and are super smart in academics.
Brad is likely to be the main character. There might also be his friends, like a jock friend, an artsy friend, and a nerdy friend. And of course, there could be teachers, a principal, and maybe some rivals or bullies.
Sure. Maybe a driver is driving on a desolate road late at night. Turns on high beams and sees a figure running towards the car really fast. But when the figure gets close, it disappears. Then the driver's car starts having problems, like the engine stalling, all because of using the high beams.
Ghosts could be a possible element. In 1928, superstition was still quite prevalent, and a horror story might involve the apparition of a vengeful spirit.
I'm not sure specifically which 'high beams horror story' you mean. There could be many horror stories involving high beams. It might be about a driver seeing something terrifying when the high beams are on, like a ghostly figure on the road.
One possible scare could be a deranged hermit living near the cabin who attacks the visitors. Another is the idea of the cabin being haunted by the ghosts of previous owners who died tragically there.
One possible theme could be the fear of the unknown. Since the knock is something mysterious, it represents the unknown danger lurking.
One possible element is a haunted location. The princess might live in a spooky castle filled with secret passages and rooms where strange things happen. Another element could be a malevolent force like a demon or a powerful sorcerer who targets the princess. For example, the sorcerer might use dark magic to make the princess see terrifying visions.
High prices are a major consequence. Consumers can't afford the things they need, like food and housing.