Roald Dahl's horror stories typically have a moral undertone beneath the horror elements. The horror is not just for the sake of scaring but also to teach a lesson. His characters face extraordinary and often terrifying situations that are a result of their own actions or the actions of others. He uses elements like the unknown, the abnormal, and the cruel to create a sense of horror. His descriptions are so detailed that you can almost feel the fear the characters are experiencing.
Probably 'Skins' as well. The idea of people's skins being removed and used for different purposes in that story is both grotesque and captivating in a horror sense.
He often uses unexpected twists. For example, in some stories, he starts with a seemingly ordinary situation like a person traveling and then suddenly something very strange happens.
In 'The Landlady', the main characters are the young man, Billy Weaver, and the landlady herself. The landlady is a very mysterious and ultimately quite terrifying character.
The unique use of language. Dahl's writing style is simple yet extremely effective in creating a spooky atmosphere. He doesn't use overly complicated words but still manages to make the stories really creepy.
Roald Dahl's best horror stories often have unexpected twists. His use of vivid and sometimes grotesque descriptions makes the horror elements really stand out. For example, in some stories, the settings are ordinary but turn into something terrifying.
I think 'Lamb to the Slaughter' is very popular. It has been widely read and studied due to its clever plot and unexpected twists. The main character's actions are both shocking and yet somehow understandable in the context of the story.
One of his famous horror stories is 'The Landlady'. In this story, a young man checks into a bed - and - breakfast run by a seemingly friendly landlady, but there are some very creepy and unexpected things going on. Another is 'Lamb to the Slaughter', which has a rather dark and twisty plot.
Main characters can include outcasts. People who don't fit into normal society. They might be the ones to encounter the horror first. Also, there are the victims. These are the characters who are at the mercy of the horror elements in the story. And sometimes there are tricksters. Characters who seem friendly but are actually leading others into horror.
One common theme is the unexpected. Dahl often throws in twists that the reader doesn't see coming. For example, in some stories, characters who seem ordinary turn out to have a dark side. Another theme is the blurring of reality and the supernatural. There are elements that make you question what is real and what is not. Also, there is often a sense of isolation, where the characters are alone in their terrifying situations, heightening the horror.