Need your professional opinion

[spookhaven]

Ok, now that 2008 is over we are already planning 2009. I am looking to the seniors in the industry about an idea I had for next year. We didn't do much on the gory end this year and that was the only thing we heard from a few people.

We are considering doing a theme for next year separate from the main haunt called "Holiday Horrors". Taking all the holidays in the year and making them gory. I would restrict it on age no 12 and under and would disclose, disclose, disclose.

Has anyone tried this theme in the past and what was your response and thoughts?

I just read another thread about protests and don't want that to happen to us. Most holidays are religious based and someone is going to get offended.

I thought it could be a cool idea but the thought of Old Saint Nick getting ripped in half falling down a chimney might get a few up in arms and not find the humor in it.

What are your thoughts?

[Jim Warfield]

Your Bad Santa stuff would have appeal to the adult audiences.
Christmas happens for the little kids then a week later New Years Drinking happens for the adults.
Everybody gets their holiday!

[spookhaven]

Thanks Jim. We are going for the adult crowd only to make humor but gore. You just never know how someone will take things. The crazy bloody Easter Bunny coming out eating a baby chick could really get someone too.

I appreciate your response because I know how involved you are daily in the business.

Hope you had a wonderful year.

[icarian]

i'm sad you didnt mention the leprechaun poppy that burst out of the barrel of green "beer" with a bloody shalaylee.

and i definately didn't see mention of the altered "attacking T-rex" animation from scarefactory... charging t-rex... hah! not as scary as the charging partially-cooked giant zombie turkey from hell, out for blood with his army of yam-bots.


i like this theme... if you couldnt tell.... there really is a lot that can be done with it, just be sure that the gore presents each depiction of said holiday in a sort of macabre sense of humor, rather than sensless gore layered over another holiday.

keep the charm of cross-holiday shenannigans to a maximum, ala nightmare before christmas, and you'll be fine. it leaves plenty room for creativity and plenty of opportunity for more scares. its when you loose track of the proveribial "line-o-morality" that you'll end up pissing patrons off.

[spookhaven]

That is what we were thinking. All the cool things we can do with humor for adults. I thought it was a cool idea but you know how some people can be. Thanks for the feedback.

[Jim Warfield]

Don't forget the short salesman with the sores all over his body..the leper con.
I made a huge bunny costume. Then I thought how much fun it would be to have his big head hinge open in half and a crazed smaller bunny with a machine gun on a tripod would be exposed as the loud shell fire begins.
The smaller machine gunning bunny could be dripping with red goo since he frequents the internal world.
You could have on your Doctor costume and say, "We now can identify the tumor!"

[AW]

Home for the Horrordays

<a href="http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/FrightfulNights/?action=view&current=frightN4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/FrightfulNights/frightN4.jpg" border="0" alt="Home For the Horrordays"></a>

[AW]

Try it again

[icarian]

killer bunny man!!!!!!!

i love it!

[spookologist]

We did one this year and it turned out pretty cool. It was actually Santa's workshop, Mrs Santa and they elves took over. Santa was hanging upside down, elves were running wild and of course the reindeer stables.
We have been thinking about doing something like that for a while but I finally gave the ok after Universal did an evil Christmas house. I figured if they can do it we can.

I'll post the pictures and video soon.

Wayne
www.trailofterror.com

[icarian]

i cant get over the killer bunny man.... i mean... the idea itself is funny... but actually seeing a picture of it... makes me giggle and feel all warm inside. lol.

a quick ebay search for "Mascot Costume" turned up all sorts of creepy killers.... like... elmo!? think about that one!!!!!! omg i love this whole idea way too much.

[spookhaven]

I am so glad that my mind is really starting to click like everyone elses in the haunt industry! LOL I am no actor but know how I want it done, so I was afraid I was to straight and narrow for this industry. The evil side is coming out....(it's actually what I would like to do with some of my clients from my other business LOL).

I think we are going to go ahead with this idea. We are having a big dinner for the actors tomorrow evening so I think I am going to tell them the new plan.

The killer bunny looks awesome AW. We used a killer clown with a chainsaw this year and the people hated it. Some left the haunt through scaredycat alley several needed to change their pants when they were done. Clowns and chainsaw was good combination. My poor stepson got more kicks, hits, and poked than any of them. He rode out from a hallway on my little 2 yr olds car that lit up in the front and they thought he was coming after then, then the chainsaw started the killer clown came out and chased them to the next scare. They did a good job. Some people just really hate clowns and it did them in.

Keep bringing on the ideas. I thought about getting baby chicks and having the bunny come out and tear the head off of a fake one. I am afraid the real ones would get stepped on unless I fence them in. I'll have to think about it a bit more.

Thanks everyone for your input!

[AW]

Horrordays

If you look to the right of the easter bunny you can see dead decayed Satan Claws aka Santa

[Front Yard Fright]

There was a haunt around here that did the same thing this year. "Happy HORROR Days" was their theme and they had some of the stuff you guys have been talking about. I'm hoping to go "pro" in the near future and I'd like to take a try at this also. But I agree that you should have a "No 12 and under" rule because you don't want to torment any little ones.

Bump in the Night Productions makes some pretty cool holiday themed stuff. They have a Petter Rotten Tail costume as well as a Santa Claws mask.

I'd really like to see how this all pans out!
.