No, but seriously, I'm sure at some point this idea of a clean, flesh-less skeleton was actually scary to people as a legitimate monster. It moves even though it's dead! It has a permanent grin!
But also, what does it actually do? Now my perception here is HEAVILY biased because of D&D and stuff inspired by D&D, but what does the skeleton have to offer in terms of "scary" beyond just it's visual? How will it kill or terrify you?
Well it's not going to eat you, or bite you. It can't (in a strict sense) turn you into more of a skeleton. It's fingers are kind of pointy, but they're not exactly claws.
It'll probably have some weapon. A sword or maybe a spear. It'll like, attack you with it. And I guess that can be scary, but not really in the horror kind of scary. It's not quite the primal kind of fear a werewolf brings to mind, or the religious paranoia a demon or a vampire inspire. A skeleton with a sword is maybe as scary as a bandit that will rob you on the road. That is pretty scary in real life, but how well does that kind of fear translates to a story?
I don't know. Maybe skeletons that move were never really scary, and the best way to use a skeleton is as environment decoration to complement a scary dark place. But then, a fresher corpse still with flesh and skin will probably do the same but better.
But also, what does it actually do? Now my perception here is HEAVILY biased because of D&D and stuff inspired by D&D, but what does the skeleton have to offer in terms of "scary" beyond just it's visual? How will it kill or terrify you?
Well it's not going to eat you, or bite you. It can't (in a strict sense) turn you into more of a skeleton. It's fingers are kind of pointy, but they're not exactly claws.
It'll probably have some weapon. A sword or maybe a spear. It'll like, attack you with it. And I guess that can be scary, but not really in the horror kind of scary. It's not quite the primal kind of fear a werewolf brings to mind, or the religious paranoia a demon or a vampire inspire. A skeleton with a sword is maybe as scary as a bandit that will rob you on the road. That is pretty scary in real life, but how well does that kind of fear translates to a story?
I don't know. Maybe skeletons that move were never really scary, and the best way to use a skeleton is as environment decoration to complement a scary dark place. But then, a fresher corpse still with flesh and skin will probably do the same but better.
