Want to scare off trick-o-treaters? In competition with the neighbors for scariest yard display? When inflatable ghosts and smiling scarecrows just won’t cut it, there are a number of other, far more disturbing displays you can create. You don’t need thousands of dollars to do it, either. There are plenty of chilling scenes you can set up with less than $100 and a little creativity.
Realistic Ghosts
I’m not talking about a garbage bag with a newspaper-stuffed head here. What you want, at least for your main ghost, is something that looks like it used to be human. A life-sized figure with a human, albeit twisted, face and skin that’s either white or greenish works well. The eyes may be either empty holes or “alive” looking.
If budget isn’t an issue, look into a ghost illusion prop. These make semi-transparent, 3D and very realistic looking ghosts appear and disappear. They’re good scares, but can run to $2000 or more. A cheaper option is a Halloween special effects “scary faces” DVD running on a TV placed in a window.
Ghoul in a Cage
This one’s blessedly (or should I say “cursedly?”) cheap and easy. Pick up a suitably unsettling looking ghoul or other creature. The creepiest ones tend to look at least partly human, which makes you think such a thing “could be real.” Put your critter in a cage such as a small dog kennel or fence covered with chicken wire. Scatter dismembered body parts from the ghoul’s dinner and splash fake blood to taste.
Witches’ Coven
Depending on your budget or inclination to make your own props, your coven may be a party of two or half a dozen. Give your girls a cauldron that steams (equipped with a fogger). Supply them with spell books made from Styrofoam or plywood. Make sure each has a broom, too. Add a few black cats and ravens, as well as bats suspended from the trees.
The Devil and his Demons
For this you’ll need one—just one, but as realistic as you can find—devil prop. Skip the cutesy red guys with friendly smiles and get one that looks like he’s real enough to reach out and grab your soul. Good demons are fairly cheap. You don’t really need a lot of detail because they’ll be viewed from a distance. You can even animated tree-hanging demons for between $10 to $30. In addition to the tree hanging models, pick up a few demon dogs to guard your property.
Criminally Insane on the Loose
Where there’s one escaped psycho, there are bound to be others. Place your best dangerous wacko crouching in the bushes where he appears to be hiding, but is easy enough to see. Then put his fellow crazies partially hidden behind trees or other objects. The idea is to set the scene with one obvious prop and make a few others hard to see until your right up on them. If done right, just for a second, your guests will think someone’s really lurking there. Decorate with appropriate weapons like bloody machetes. A discarded “muzzle” mask or other restraints also suggest danger.
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