Good storytelling—and creating a narrative that can be revisited and cherished—is indeed a challenge. Central to this challenge is the creation of compelling characters. With their unique chemistry and engaging stories, these characters form the backbone of a good narrative. The classic ‘show, don’t tell ‘formula further enhances the storytelling experience. 
The classic ‘show, don’t tell’ technique is a powerful tool in the storyteller’s arsenal. It demands a wealth of detail, a vivid description of the unfolding events. Whether introducing a twist or adding a new element to your story to create conflict, the goal is to keep your audience engrossed. By showing through actions or sharing the characters’ fears and challenges, you can keep your audience on the edge of their seats. These are the absolute basics of storytelling. 
You need to incorporate clever details to add another layer of depth to your story. Details in the story, such as weaving in historical moments in a time travel plot or adding Easter eggs that resonate with a specific fandom, may seem insignificant at first. However, they can have a profound impact on your audience. These seemingly minor details can create a cult-like following among those who appreciate such intricacies. 
In the video below, WatchMojo on YouTube shared an excellent rundown of background stories running inside a movie. While I don’t recommend WatchMojo as an expert in media, this video is worth gleaning some ideas from. It is based on the horror genre, though, so some viewer discretion would be recommended. 

For this deep look, we are discussing visual storytelling, although, with a bit of tweaking and research, this type of idea can be added to storytelling in novels.

The Viewer

While telling a story through film, animation, or streaming a TV series, the viewer’s perspective comes into play. This becomes a powerful point where we acknowledge that the viewer is indeed seeing what is going on, so while the story keeps moving, like in the famous Jaws scene “You’re going to need a bigger boat”, the viewer can see that while Brody is casually throwing fish as bait into the ocean, a silhouette comes into view. While Brody is looking the other way, it is clear to the viewer that this is sinister and not what the three men might expect. This moment is like a big reveal to the viewer before it is to the characters. It’s a very clever way of moving the story along with detail and showing that the story is indeed about to change, then adding Brody’s reaction to confirm that. This moment unfolds at about the 0.35-second mark in the clip below. 

Nobody wants to watch a two-dimensional story. These tips are worth remembering to give stories a twist and a bit more detail. Of course, this isn’t solely used in horror but in any genre that is your specialty.