In Kentucky horror stories, there are often characters with a strong connection to the land. These could be Native American descendants who know the ancient legends of the area and are trying to protect it from some emerging horror. Then there are also the small - town locals who have grown up hearing the spooky tales and either don't believe them until it's too late or are constantly on edge because of them.
Typical characters can include local farmers. They might encounter strange things while working on their land. For instance, they could find an old, cursed object while plowing a field. Another type of character is the curious teenager. They are always poking around in places they shouldn't be, like an abandoned mine, and end up getting into trouble with the horror elements.
The typical characters include the protagonist, usually a teen who is either brave or has to become brave to face the horror. There are often bully characters. They might seem tough at first but end up being victims of the horror. And then there are the sidekick friends. They might support the main teen character, or sometimes they can be the ones who drag the protagonist into trouble.
Typical characters include the final girl or boy. This is the character who manages to survive till the end against all odds. There are also often villains, like a deranged killer or an evil spirit.
Typical characters include the hillbillies themselves. They are often depicted as rough, tough, and having their own set of values and ways of life. There are also the outsiders, like tourists or city - folk who get lost and end up in the hillbilly territory. And then there are the elders in the hillbilly community who might hold the secrets or be the ones to warn the outsiders about the dangers.
Typical characters include the grizzled old hermit. This person is often seen as a bit of an enigma, maybe with a dark past. There are also the young, naive outsiders who stumble into the hill billy area and get caught up in the horror. And then there are the hill billy families themselves, with their own complex dynamics, including the over - protective mother or the stern patriarch.
One of the typical characters is the saloon girl. In horror stories, she might be the target of a serial killer or have some sort of connection to the supernatural. Then there's the rancher. He could be dealing with his land being invaded by some unearthly forces. There are also the outlaws, who in some old west horror tales, make pacts with the devil and become something truly evil. For example, an outlaw might sell his soul for immortality and then terrorize the small towns in the area.
The hillbillies themselves are typical characters. They are often depicted as rough - looking, with a certain toughness about them. They might have a distinct accent and way of dressing. There are also the outsiders. These are usually people who come from the city or a more 'civilized' area and are out of their element in the hillbilly setting. They can be naive and unprepared for what they encounter.
There are many types of characters. You have the tormented souls, like in 'The Black Cat'. The narrator in this story is a man consumed by his own guilt and madness. There are also the victims of the supernatural. In 'The Masque of the Red Death', the guests at the party are all potential victims of the deadly plague. And then there are the aristocratic characters, like in 'The Fall of the House of Usher', who are often in a state of decay, both physically and morally. These characters are used to explore different aspects of horror, whether it's psychological or supernatural.
Ghosts are very typical villains. They can haunt places and people, often with a tragic backstory that fuels their malevolence. Another is the serial killer. These are human villains but are extremely terrifying as they prey on the innocent. They usually have some sort of twisted motive or pattern.
Typically, there's the hitchhiker, who is in need of a ride and might be a bit reckless for accepting a lift from a stranger. Then there's the driver, who could be a serial killer, a demon in disguise, or just a very strange and unpredictable person. There might also be other minor characters like people the hitchhiker meets before or after the fateful ride, but the focus is mostly on these two main characters.
There are often local Appalachian folk. They can be the ones who know the secrets of the land but are also sometimes the source of the horror. Then there are the outsiders, like tourists or new settlers. They usually stumble upon the horror without realizing what they're getting into.