Thread: Ideas that would make a small town scary?

Hi All, I've decided to start writing my first novel which is going to be a horror and would love some ideas that would make a small town creepy. It could be the people, atmosphere and generally anything that would make a small town of say 200 people or so, frightening.
I'd also prefer it if these ideas were subtle, so no monsters or aliens.
Thanks.

A secret everyone knows but the newcomer. Questions to the newcomer like, 'plannin' on bein' here long, are you? wouldn't you be happier in a bigger town? what made you move here? you're not goin' to start no trouble, are you?' all asked with a sideways, suspicious look, along with a reluctance by shopkeepers to wait on the newcomer, slow response from utilities with a 'we weren't sure you planned to stay' excuse, and a feeling by the newcomer that he is constantly watched.

Dogs that never bark.

All curtains dark, never open.

Complete lack of birds.

A just-barely-there scent. Not pleasant or unpleasant...just....there.

Ever present hum.

Everyone has the same color eyes.

Originally Posted by Leyline

Dogs that never bark.

A just-barely-there scent. Not pleasant or unpleasant...just....there.

These are scary, indeed.

How about houses that are relatively far apart. Oh, people that keep staring are weird, too. And a whole town that seems so quiet.

How about no children? No one in town under about 20 years old? And evasive answers about why that's so.

Better yet. The town has the normal amount of children, but the newcomer soon figures out that the children are running things. The newcomer notices the adults give way to the children, and he overhears conversations in which the children are giving instructions to the adults.

Edit - And he notices that he never sees an adult on the street without a child.

My wife finds the lack of shopping in small towns very disturbing

Originally Posted by garza

Better yet. The town has the normal amount of children, but the newcomer soon figures out that the children are running things. The newcomer notices the adults give way to the children, and he overhears conversations in which the children are giving instructions to the adults.

Edit - And he notices that he never sees an adult on the street without a child.

Well, it worked nicely for John Wyndham in The Midwich Cuckoos.

Originally Posted by Leyline

Dogs that never bark.

All curtains dark, never open.

Complete lack of birds.

A just-barely-there scent. Not pleasant or unpleasant...just....there.

Ever present hum.

Everyone has the same color eyes.

These all fall into one of two categories, something that is normally there is not, or something which is not normally there is. Leyline is right, they are the sort of things that are creepy, so long as they are kept subtle.

Bored Mormon, you made me laugh.

Speaking from experience, I suggest living in a town that size for a few years first. You'll learn so much about why ALL small towns can be scary that you'll have no need of forums. You'll be able to write what you know.


Persons acting as general practitioners saying stuff like, "It's a real strain, all this pretending I know something about medicine."

Thanks guys these helped a lot

I've actually been thinking about an idea for the story that might be a bit absurd, and I'd like to know if it sound stupid or if its been done before.

It's going to be a small town where everyone in it is abstinent - for religious reasons. No one is related to each other and the only way to keep the town's population going is to kidnap people outside their community and force them to adapt to their new lives where they are matched with families. They are far out and escape is impossible. Does this sound like a ridiculous idea? Thanks.

I don't think it sounds ridiculous. I think you'll have to think of some good ideas for how to make it work, that's all. Brainstorm as many reasons as possible why everyone there would be abstinent, I know religion is the first thing that people think of but I don't think it's strong enough to keep that many people abstinent for that long. Maybe they aren't abstinent but are instead infertile (that would be easier to make stick, I think). Also, you'll have to carefully think through how they manage to spirit people away and how they effectively keep them there and integrate them. You almost need some kind of brainwashing, a drug, or some other means to ensure they don't escape.

I think it sounds like an interesting premise.

Originally Posted by Foxee

I don't think it sounds ridiculous. I think you'll have to think of some good ideas for how to make it work, that's all. Brainstorm as many reasons as possible why everyone there would be abstinent, I know religion is the first thing that people think of but I don't think it's strong enough to keep that many people abstinent for that long. Maybe they aren't abstinent but are instead infertile (that would be easier to make stick, I think). Also, you'll have to carefully think through how they manage to spirit people away and how they effectively keep them there and integrate them. You almost need some kind of brainwashing, a drug, or some other means to ensure they don't escape.

I think it sounds like an interesting premise.

I'm determined to make the abstinence idea work because I have some good ideas that could work well with it but I'll need to come up with an original explanation of how it works. You've hit the nail on the head with everything else you've said though. I'm especially concerned with their methods of abducting people, especially if its with adults as well. I've been given a lot to think about :/

You've actually reminded me of a Star Trek (TNG) episode where a society had, for some reason I can't really remember, stopped procreating and were cloning themselves instead and needed to basically do what you're suggesting although they only really needed to kidnap people long enough to make a clone.

Just try to come up with something really original. The whole idea has intriguing possibilities.