A question for y'all

[VaeVictis]

I think a lot of this assumes that fear was their only objective. If it was, I agree that it fell short of what TDD set up.
But, there are other visceral reactions that horror games can call forth. In the instance of AMFP, it was shock, disgust, and bitterness. The game made me feel these very palpably and certainly succeeded in that regard. For me, the monsters aren't intrinsically scary. They're scary because of WHAT they are, HOW they were brought about, and what they represent. The way they appear is only a fraction of what makes them frightening.
The whole 'disturbingly wide smile and red eyes with no pupils' has become pretty cliche, and I'm glad they didn't go that route.