What would YOU like to see?

[BoogeymanConCarne]

I see that many people come in here, look around, and then leave without saying anything. Why is that? Try answering this:

What have you not seen in ages (or ever) that you would like to see in a haunted house? Be simplistic or fantastic. Maybe there is a good idea rolling around in your skull that would be just the ticket for a local haunt to try out. Or maybe it already exists but you don't know it is out there... :listen:

[Roadkill]

I personally have an idea for a haunt that would guarantee repeat visitors... But, it would require a nice size location and monetary backing that I just don't have.

[THE MAD WAX SCULPTOR]

You know what I want to see this yr in every hanuted house across the nation?
Greater attendance, thats what I want to see.

[BoogeymanConCarne]

I personally have an idea for a haunt that would guarantee repeat visitors... But, it would require a nice size location and monetary backing that I just don't have.

Of this I have heard :rock:

Let me clarify:

What scene, gag, prop or concept would you like to see done? I'm in no position to steal your ideas here. I don't own a haunt. I just want to hear your ideas...

[BleedGreen]

Summary excerpt of last night around 11pm:

Recreate the sensation of racing through a field of cotton waist high, looking for suspects while sliding though the mud and getting separated from your small group. Add in the unknowns of how many you are looking for, what the suspects intend to do when you find them, their opinion about being caught and their likely reaction to such, whether they are armed, and the ubiquitous failing flashlight and suddenly in-op infrared device (@#$! technology). Then have the plant growth get higher as you proceed making visibility of the ground virtually impossible. Lots of shouts in the distance from your team that is too far to be of any use should the bad guys grab your ankle mid-trudge. Heavy mosquito activity. Random weed vines wrestling with you until you beat through them with whatever you have available. Pants wet throughout from the dew. Shoes caked with heavy mud pulling you down.

Recreate a smaller version of that scenario. ;)


And yes, I loved nearly every minute of it.

[Mactavishmanor]

less blood, gore and chainsaws. I know that sounds crazy to some of you but I feel like its not the haunt industry its the meat packing industry. I notice it seems that to scare each year requires more blood more gore more chainsaws. I wonder when it will plateau and regress and or when you will actually have to injure or harm someone to scare them because they have become so numb to what is given to them. I actually get more hair standing on my neck watching some of those silly ghost shows. At some haunts I wonder if I mistakenly ended up at a lumberjack convention or a home depot power tool expo. pretty much for me if the spalsh page of a haunt can be confused with the Texas Beef or Cattlemen's page I will skip that haunt.

[THE MAD WAX SCULPTOR]

why not shock them with gore? Some have already resorted to grabbing guests to get a cheap scare.

[BoogeymanConCarne]

Summary excerpt of last night around 11pm:

Recreate the sensation of racing through a field of cotton waist high, looking for suspects while sliding though the mud and getting separated from your small group. Add in the unknowns of how many you are looking for, what the suspects intend to do when you find them, their opinion about being caught and their likely reaction to such, whether they are armed, and the ubiquitous failing flashlight and suddenly in-op infrared device (@#$! technology). Then have the plant growth get higher as you proceed making visibility of the ground virtually impossible. Lots of shouts in the distance from your team that is too far to be of any use should the bad guys grab your ankle mid-trudge. Heavy mosquito activity. Random weed vines wrestling with you until you beat through them with whatever you have available. Pants wet throughout from the dew. Shoes caked with heavy mud pulling you down.

Recreate a smaller version of that scenario.


And yes, I loved nearly every minute of it.


That's a tall order there Bleed. Hard part would be getting the group seperated :ahhhhh:

Mactavishmanor would like to see less gore and chainsaws :viking:

THE MAD WAX SCULPTOR wants more gore and less touching :fight:


Anyone else have something to contribute? :heeeelllllooooo:

[Roadkill]

I actually agree with Mactavish... I think our society as a whole has become more and more de-sensitized to blood, gore and chainsaws over the years. Movies like Saw & Texas Chainsaw leave nothing to the imagination. I can definitely see it getting to the point where a majority of the people merely frown upon blood and gore. I don't think touching is the way to go about it. That is the fast track to lawsuits and or bad publicity that this industry just does not need. When I am out in the public with my DFWHauntedHouse.com shirt on, getting asked "if haunts are allowed to touch" is a very common quetion. BTW - Yes I wear my DFWHH.com t-shirt along with various other haunt shirts, that people have given me, on regular basis during the off season.

With that being said, I do think that the chainsaw has its place in haunts, especially when used properly and within the correct setting/theme. Patrick's haunt is one of those that I think the chainsaw fits the backstory of the haunt and is used with the theme of the haunt. Not to mention Pat is also one of the best chainsaw weilding maniacs that I've ever seen ANYWHERE. I know that you guys don't really get a chance to get out and see other haunts in the area. BUT did you know that nearly 90 to 95% of the haunts in the area have a chainsaw at the end...

What I would like to see is something other than the chainsaws being used to chase a person out of the ending of a haunt. Hell, I think that The Haunt House used a CIRCULAR SAW last year! While it made us chuckle at the same time is was unique and scared people out just as effectively as a chainsaw. Also, we are always on the look out for new and unique scares. New and unique scares usually get serious bonus points from us. Giving us something unique and something that we've never seen at other haunts in the area is a definite way to "WOW" us.

BleedGreen (http://www.dfwhauntedhouses.com/forums/member.php?u=21) - Are you INS, border patrol, or part of the freelance border patrol? From your "summary of last night" it sounds exactly like something those guys would go through on a nightly basis. You'll have to tell me more if/when we take you as a guest reviewer one evening.

[Grimshado]

Less Gore. Less Touching.

'Scary,' for most people, comes in two forms: 'Startlement' and 'psychological'.

A good friend of mine recently described Startlement as 'A Car Wreck.' It's the thing that happens out of no where and could strike at any time. The actual Car Wreck is a scary moment, but the scare wears off quickly. From a Haunt Perspective, the customer should be able to laugh about, and enjoy, the startlement after they've left the house. Startlement usually involves a sudden, and major, re-arrangement of the known.

'Psychological' is less about what is happening right now, and more about what could be happening. It's much harder to achieve in a Haunted House because it is usually much more subtle and much less 'in your face'. The sense that 'Something just ain't right, here.' Hair prickling on the back of the neck. Implied violence.

I'd like to see more Psychological scares. Horror Movies used to be about the psychological scare. To me, it's much more effective. Violence and Gore don't bother me too much. I know in my mind that I can beat the $$$$ out of whatever just jumped out of a dark hole growling and snarling at me (or at least have a fighting chance against it). But the intangible is much more insidious and Much harder to mentally compose yourself against.

--Added in an Edit--
As for Touching - there should be none. In most haunts, actors and guests mingle a bit. Some 'bumping' is inevitable. But Touching should never be used as a Scare Tactic.

And for Boogey: Separating a Group is not nearly as hard as you might think - if you really want to do it. The right Actors in the Right Haunt can pick off the last man of a group like Lions stalk a pack of Gazelles. The right scare in the middle of a group, and they scatter to the four corners of the haunt. Most of the time, we try not to do this in a haunt, because it plays havoc on timing and getting groups through without destroying the show of the group in front or behind them.

[Roadkill]

why not shock them with gore? Some have already resorted to grabbing guests to get a cheap scare.What haunt are you speaking about that grabs people to get a cheap scare?

The only haunt in the area that I know of that specifically states that you might become part of the show and center of attention is Reindeer Manor. They only do it in one scene and the person is usually caught off guard and scares the crap out of the person that was singled out. Granted that person is normally a small stature, blond female... Other than Reindeer, I can't think of another haunt that has this disclaimer upon entering their haunt. This is not something new and it has been going on for as long as I can remember.

[Metal Momma]

EDIT REASON-- just FYI... we have NO AIR CONDITIONING RIGHT NOW! No AC until tomorrow... and it sucks. I have been having beers and putting ice on my neck all afternoon, and not happy at all...
I KNOW that this post is NOT written well, and has TONS of grammatical mistakes. Get over it. I am hot, sweaty, and working on getting drunk. (tee hee) :cheers:
______________________________________

Okay, I have given this much thought... and I agree about psychological scares over gore any day... People are WAY too desensitized to blood and gore on MOVIES because they know it is not real... people are scared witless by being grabbed because it becomes more REAL... haunt go-ers know that no one can hurt them, and all the blood is fake... and now a days, they have seen enough gore in movies to not be bothered by it... the way you REALLY scare is with the psychological --- but more specifically --- make it REAL....

This is tough since everyone is afraid of something different. A good friend of ours is scared of clowns, so he is easy... I am afraid of heights, so the bottomless pit scares (when done right) the crap outta me... some might be scared of the dark, so MANY mainstream haunts will ploy to that fathom... there are plenty of phobias to breach, but not all of them will appeal to the masses....

But better to make it a REAL fear than something screaming boo at the right time or displays of blood and guts... Creepy music, chanting, other sounds like that have proven effective... Sometimes just walking through a well decorated set with the RIGHT sounds in the background can put fear in you just because you DON'T know what will happen...

Personally, I have always thought the best scare to chase people out is one of the impossible--- TONS OF ACTORS... I used to have nightmares as a child about the night of the living dead... and it was never the ONE zombie that scared me... it was the swarm of countless bodies that made the character feel that hope was all lost, since one or two could be combatted, but a swarm is that of hopelessness...

Then there is another gag that I have always loved, and we HAVE seen before... make the walls MOVE... shimmer, shake, collapse... Taymen had a great example of this, and at the time it actually seemed like an accident that the wall started to fall down, but it was part of the show... but quite a startle when you were walking down the hall...

I like the idea of having things on the walls that people will be touching... I don't like the SHOCK panels too much, only because I have been shocked WAY too many times in my life to like it ... but vibration in the wall would be cool... and something simple like furry or bristle... make someone pull their hand back when they touch the wall in the dark...

And lets see... lighting... sometimes the perfect shadows placed in the right spot can mess with someone too, make them think there is someone there, and then move the light (maybe on a sensor used for pneumatic devices) slowly across the room... not a spot, but a faint sense of light so someone thinks they just saw a ghost or something... its subtle, and many may miss it, but it would surely scare SOMEONE....

ANYWAY, point being, SCARE with something more REAL, by tapping into REAL FEARS... people are not scared of the maniac killers, gore and blood because it is not REAL to them... mess with their heads and make them wonder...

[Gothlady]

Ok, I think the balance between the psychological and the startle factor make for a great haunt. In fact, one of the best ones in my memory was many years ago in the 90's. Our Lady of Victory. Yes, I remember it well. The damn place is about now about 100 years old so the atmostphere is set, right? They were able to use the props from a set of a play that recently showed at Casa Manana (for those not familiar, that is in Fort Worth , TX) Th

The place was like walking into an actual mansion. No hallway mazes, pretty much open access, small groups, incredible settings and the startle factors at just the right timing. Let me tell you, the psychological aspect of that haunt was in full swing so bad, one girl even peed her pants!!! I (not on purpose) was so startled at just the right time, I punched one of my friends in the face! We still talk about that to this day! Theatrical effects are soooo under utilized.

Anybody remember that haunt?

Gothlady

[Mactavishmanor]

why not shock them with gore? Some have already resorted to grabbing guests to get a cheap scare.


How do you shock with gore? I have seen two kids being born and then the placenta being pushed out. Fingers cut off with 24" blades at the fabrication department and then blood shooting across the room. A piece of aluminum extrusion gouged into someone's arm. Most people just looked on and said ho hum I hope he feels better tomorrow.

[THE MAD WAX SCULPTOR]

Most people are in shock and not shocked by gore. This is a natural embeded response most of us have. As everyone knows everyone has their own personal fears to deal with some are clowns some sharp objects all unique to that person. We must try and keep this broad spectrum in mind when designing a haunted attraction. I have seen peoples response to all these levels of fear and most people regardless of their major phobias respond in shock to seeing realistic trauma presented in a shocking display. Its all about the designers strengths and weeknesses as to how they should haunt. Honestly can anyone see Disney presenting a massively realistic gorey attraction. (me neither) If it works for you and the customers respond positivly then keep it up no mater what it is keep it up

[Mactavishmanor]

I will say being in the basement of the Baker Hotel and then turning off the flashlights is pretty scary

[BoogeymanConCarne]

I will say being in the basement of the Baker Hotel and then turning off the flashlights is pretty scary


I liked it better with the lights out :tard:

[BleedGreen]

To out myself .... I am BP. I am one of the new breed. I can explain that better offline. ;)
In short, many of the new patrol are likely not the stereotype most people think of regarding the BP. You can decide for yourself after I meet some of you this season.

As for my scenario, I have had a chance to think a little more on it. Obviously there are many elements in my story that cannot be replicated without multiple lawsuits following. But one definitely could and may already be... I just haven't seen it in a haunt yet.

The adrenaline starting pumping when I was in the crop rows as I lost sight of everything below 3 feet due to the darkness and foliage. I have seen a similar effect of lighting briefly created in night clubs, where a trick of light and a little fog seems to immerse the lower 3 feet in darkness (or appearing so from the point of one in the midst of it). A medium sized room with one lower skilled actor scurrying around in a pseudo Marco Polo type of action should do the trick. The actor could even pop up occasionally. Am I going Army of Darkness here, with the whole demon in the well? Not sure. Anyway, I am thinking that one of the many brilliant minds in lighting can tackle this idea. Can't be too expensive. And if it could be done where the patron sees that the room they are walking into is sort of wading hip deep into darkness, that could come a little close to my field experience.

Random thought: To play for not so much gore, but disturbing "ick"... end a room with an exit similar to the secret bathroom door scene in Desperado. I admit that I am burnt on caffeine and sleep deprivation as I write this. Can't be that hard to find a bunch of old toilets to set up such a room.

I will side with the minority and say I like the idea of returning to the age of scarce but still possible and selective touching. But I would limit it to one actor in a well-lit, witnessed, lawsuit safe section. I am sure the right actor could be a good judge of whose forearm to briefly grab. I know a similar experience in my childhood had me terrified of haunts (and yet eager to return) for years later. Then again, I have zero experience running a haunt, so this is strictly from the opinion of a patron.

As for the chainsaw replacement discussion... I see their usefulness, but can also see the abuse when a poor haunt also uses it as a cheap scare. I say keep it. Just less predictable location placement. I agree that sometimes the gore and other loud handtools can be desensitizing. Seems like a lot of wasted effort and talent when room after room has entrails... or seems to have. Again, desensitizing. That and over-use of @#$! strobe lights! Seriously, my wife's first experience with going to a haunt last year has her swearing off returning partly because of all the strobe lights. So I will be at the haunts sans wife this year.

As an aside, my two cats suggest replacing the chainsaw with a vacuum cleaner. Your call.

[BoogeymanConCarne]

As an aside, my two cats suggest replacing the chainsaw with a vacuum cleaner. Your call.

BAHAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA....

One giant vacuum cleaner head and some flocked 3-ft tall drainage pipes stood on end for giant pile carpet would be HILLARIOUS! Instead of fighting through a mass of them hung from the cieling, stand them up from the floor with a narrow winding path through them! Get through the room before the vacuum gets ya!

BAHAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA....

[Mactavishmanor]

I liked it better with the lights out :tard:

That is why it was scary....anyone else who has been around the Boogeyman knows what I am talking about.

[Roadkill]

BAHAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA....

One giant vacuum cleaner head and some flocked 3-ft tall drainage pipes stood on end for giant pile carpet would be HILLARIOUS! Instead of fighting through a mass of them hung from the cieling, stand them up from the floor with a narrow winding path through them! Get through the room before the vacuum gets ya!

BAHAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA....You know... You might be on to something here.

[BleedGreen]

The vacuum could be one of those cannister types with the long hoses. If contact is made, it would be be painless but still involve the disturbing grabbing/ suction sensation along with a possible raspberry sound. Hell, even a Dustbuster grazing someone in the dim light could startle someone.

I think that there should be a warning at the door. Similar to the warning about possible touching at Reindeer Manor. But I am not sure about the wording.

Warning: You may get sucked on.

Although such a sign might temporarily increase the crowd size.

[BoogeymanConCarne]

WARNING! Excessive use of suction used inside!

BAHAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA.....

[Scarefactor]

hmmm, something scary in a haunted house I would love to see that I haven't before. How about an the cut off back end of an SUV next to a gas pump with and a guy going insane from the price and doing something crazy because of it. Something we could all relate to on some level :)

[BoogeymanConCarne]

Reindeer has an exploding oil derrick...

[Metal Momma]

I like the shop vac idea... ALOT... contact without actual touching with hands... and it would be creepy too... Someone should do that...

As for the warning signs, last season Dr. Haunts did a GREAT scare tactic before entering the haunt, which doubled as a great protection from frivolous law suits. Each group is given a verbal warning about use of shocking devices, strobe lights, fog, etc. and that the haunt owners are not liable for any injury, blah blah blah... basically listing everything (and then some shit they made up) that might possibly happen... then, everyone MUST SIGN a paper waiving liability before they are allowed to enter the haunt. So here, you have the building anxiety hearing that the haunt owners will not be responsible for you, and on top of that, the psychological UNKNOWN if the list of possibilities are really true... either way, the haunt also has a list of everyone's names too, so they can radio ahead and tell the actors the peoples names... (using the patron's names freaks them out too)... best part of all, the haunt has waived ALL liability, and they have provided space between groups by making everyone sign the waiver -- and they can make the rules up as they go along since the actual agreement is verbal... the greeter simply says "you must sign here to acknowledge that I have explained this to you..." ... then if anyone doesn't want to sign, tell them to take their ticket back to the front office for a refund, and maybe hand them a pre-printed coupon with "Chickened Out" on it... even if ONE person ACTUALLY does take it to the ticket booth for a refund, the people behind in line will get the fear in them just wondering how sick and crazy the haunt really is if people are denied entry if they don't waive the owner liability... And I honestly don't think anyone would really want the refund... but even if someone did, OH well, that is one out of hundreds, and you probably didn't want that one jerk in your haunt anyway...

[orangeblood]

For haunted houses with hayrides, I always think it'd be smart for the organizers to embed people in each group for abduction purposes. That would scare the hell outta people watching some poor soul dragged off kicking and screaming.

[Mactavishmanor]

For haunted houses with hayrides, I always think it'd be smart for the organizers to embed people in each group for abduction purposes. That would scare the hell outta people watching some poor soul dragged off kicking and screaming.


That is great idea, one year at my yard haunt we had a plant who went through with groups and would act terified and help make them uneasy.

[Roadkill]

For haunted houses with hayrides, I always think it'd be smart for the organizers to embed people in each group for abduction purposes. That would scare the hell outta people watching some poor soul dragged off kicking and screaming.Not really a new idea... There are several haunts around that have hayrides and use this tactic. I think the best one that we've seen was at Tayman Graveyard.

[BleedGreen]

I definitely like the idea and have often wanted to see it... but I would also want to see something similar in regular haunts. It can't be that hard to blend in an actor for 2-3 rooms and to then have that actor attacked and recycled.

[Texlin]

Phantoms also used kidnapping in their hayride in the past.

I would agree with those who said that gore is ineffective. It just causes the ick factor and while it can enhance dread, I don't think it's a good fright tool on its own.

For me personally, I think that less is more. I enjoy the haunts that slowly plant that sense of dread and keep me wondering what will happen next. That seems to usually happen in a quieter area with plenty of darkness (not pitch black darkness though-lighting is vital!) and good eerie sounds and music. Then the payoff comes in many forms, most often by way of a good scare actor. Great haunted houses seem to build on that as the surprises come more frequently and with greater intensity over time. Simple but effective and done poorly way too often in my opinion.

Planting that fear is real important. It can even be done at the beginning of the attraction so that people are really shaking as they enter a haunt. I love the waiver idea!

ETA: The gore thing can be effective in one way actually. I like the idea of a story, something happened. You get to a blood spattered room where there's just too much blood. It's silent and you don't know exactly what happened and you have to cross that room. I saw that done well once and it scared me witless.

[BoogeymanConCarne]

That is great idea, one year at my yard haunt we had a plant who went through with groups and would act terified and help make them uneasy.


And it was friggin' HILLARIOUS! Worked like you wouldn't believe... :congrats:

[Metal Momma]

It takes a REALLY GOOD actor/actress to pull off a decent "plant" tactic without being obvious that they are part of the show. I love the idea of having plants, but it HAS TO SEEM realistic and not 'over-acted'... I think you know what I mean... for instance, the plant cannot seem terrified when there is nothing to be afraid of at that particular moment... they need to have a personality and not just talk about how scared they are... carry on general conversations with people like they are a real patron... and most important, they need to stand in line with others, too, and not just suddenly BE THERE... if it is pulled off with GREAT improve skills and performing skills, IT IS A GREAT TACTIC. Otherwise the patrons are like, "who is this weird chick? Does she have mental problems or something?" ... and then when she gets pulled away, everyone knows she was an actor... if the actor is not believable, it just seems stupid to the point of pathetically cheesy.

[Mactavishmanor]

she was awesome, heck she even cried. She should be in movies

[Metal Momma]

Most people are in shock and not shocked by gore. This is a natural embeded response most of us have. As everyone knows everyone has their own personal fears to deal with some are clowns some sharp objects all unique to that person. We must try and keep this broad spectrum in mind when designing a haunted attraction. I have seen peoples response to all these levels of fear and most people regardless of their major phobias respond in shock to seeing realistic trauma presented in a shocking display. Its all about the designers strengths and weeknesses as to how they should haunt. Honestly can anyone see Disney presenting a massively realistic gorey attraction. (me neither) If it works for you and the customers respond positivly then keep it up no mater what it is keep it up

I just thought of a great thing for you Pat! I am sure you probably already thought of it, too... (oh, and btw, I think gore still has its place in haunts and would be missed if it went away... Lord only knows we would miss YOUR chainsaw wielding if you weren't in character! You are still the best at that, for sure!)

ANYWAY... you seriously need to find an actor that is missing a limb. I know it may sound horrible to a bunch of people, but if you found a talented actor missing an arm or a leg, you could do some serious gore and psychological to boot... SAW OFF a prosthetic (one you built of course, cause the real ones are too expensive to saw off)... but have 2 chainsaws, one that you chase people with and another that is fully operational that cuts through a fake limb with blood sacks and REALLY gross people out... then the person gets away from you with blood spitting out of the spot you just sawed off... damn, that would be really cool, especially since you are the BEST CHAINSAW MAN EVER... I bet that would make people pee their pants, too.

[BleedGreen]

I have a cat that is missing an eye, missing a tooth on the opposite side, and occasionally forgets to retract his tongue after cleaning his paws... looking around the room in an indifferent "pbltt!" expression.
Is that scary enough?

Not sure about his ability to leap at anyone... but he is proficient at cleaning his nonexistant ghoulies in full view at the seemingly most socially inopportune moments.

[Rob Zombie]

Totally dark room, you have to feel your way out. Each wall panel has odd textures and stuff - like rubber gloves, silicone faces, a "water wall" with warm water running down it, a wall with something sticky, a wall of furry stuff that breathes when you touch it, a wall of elbow macaroni clued to it, an occasional panel opens up to pull one person out, etc. People wandering around, not sure where they are going... Oh, and put expanded metal all around so pagers and cell phones don't work inside.

Basically, they don't know what it IS, but they are trying to figure it out. With just the senses of touch and hearing.

[BleedGreen]

I have been toying with the idea of a dark room or a group of dark rooms as I am at my job. I work nights and often find myself relying on my night vision. I am alsio a gadget whore, so I bring out most portable tech items I can. My first thoughts were unrealistic (like all of the good ones) where an investor would purchase a box of last generation, relatively inexpensive night vision monoculars to be issued out too small groups on special charity nights to be used throughout a modified haunt. Anyone who has used such devices can attest to their creep potential. It could happen on days the haunt is usually not open. Fewer actors could be used. Tickets could be pre-sold and reserved. And the investor could partner with multiple houses to have this as a roaming event over the season. Proceeds get split with a well advertised charity, the investor, and the haunt. There is a fair amount of financial risk for the investor... but I have seen the prices you haunt operators pay for some special props (!!!)... so I think this idea could be done. I may have to sit on this idea for a few more years.

However, I still love the idea of dark rooms or low light rooms.

More realistic idea:
Buy a big box of p.o.s. dollar store flashlights. The smaller and weaker, the better. At some point in the haunt, have an actor in full dramatic form hand out a flashlight or two to the groups of 5 (or whatever you use). Anyone who has walked around a dark attic with a flashlight knows how unsettling the experience can be. The ratio of flashlights to guests makes some guests that much less in control... heightening the fear. Instruct the guests to try not to scream and to use the flashlight sparingly, as there are inhabitants that react to light in the following rooms (like Silent Hill nurses). Still allow dim lighting in parts of rooms to allow some navigation without using the flashlight. But put padded and carpeted (or otherwise textured) barriers in the dark for guests to bump into and have to navigate around. This idea can also be used as a zombie/infected theme, where the actor mills about in a highly decorated/propped room. Use of colored low light in the rooms can also help for you gore freaks, where the actor can do his nastiness with fluids (water) splashing about. Overall, this idea would tie up maybe 4 rooms. An actor would collect the flashlights at the end of the series. I have more on this idea, but I am curious what others think about the concept.

[mydeadlypassion]

That would scare the crap out of me. I don't even like walking around my own house in the dark let alone someplace I have never been before. I would definitely go to someplace like that if there was one!

[BrutalBrothers]

they do make these flashlights that will go dead at certain points. They are pretty interactive. You can set them to dim or flicker like the batteries are going low at certain points. I cant remember off hand who makes them but they are always at Hauntcon. Some haunts around the country use these as flashlight tours in their haunts.

I actually read somewhere not long ago that one major haunt was doing without their entire house lighting system this season and going strictly flashlights because its much easier to creep up on people without having an entire room lit up. Once they turn around with a flashlight at something that once wasnt there and now its right in their face would be pretty entertaining. haha

[buffycrazy]

When Universal Studios does their People Under the Stairs haunt they use a similar lighting system. Instead of a flashlight they use construction helmets with lights on them. The lights go in and out depending where you are in the haunt. It worked pretty good. I also know that one of the haunts at Eastern State Penitentary uses the flashlights that they can control remotely.

[THE MAD WAX SCULPTOR]

On the topic of plants. They work great but its hard to pull off a realistic shil in a group. We once used a young guy who would be the protector and go in with groups of girls and half way thru he gets brutally slaughtered by the chainsaw guy. These girls would always cry as hes begging for them to help him as they run for their own lives. (quick go while hes eating the nice guy!!!)I would love to get a chance to have an amputee actor that would allow us to remove a fake limb for all to see.

[sequoia]

I thought it might be neat to have an area where bars were maybe a foot high from the ground. Sounds of growling and barking coming from behind the bars with the occasional canine face or paw coming through the bars. It would have to be thought out well so there would not be a big risk of tripping someone. Also, once someone has there attention near the ground they could be set up for a big scare elsewhere.

[shfrost]

Okay from a woman's point of view, let me tell you what is thrilling, sexy and scary at the same time. Vampires, which I never see in haunted houses anymore. Me and my sister go to as many haunted houses as we can possibly afford every year and what we find to be the scariest thing is the spooks that appear out of nowhere and are right in your face and then they follow you. It's morbidly thrilling to be chased by a beast... We don't find "mechanical" haunts frightening at all! Atmosphere is everything. For example at Thrillvania before you enter the haunted house they wind you around a "swamp" that is truly eerie and they space you apart well enough that you don't have people running over you (which is a major pet peeve of mine at haunts)-I don't go to Screams anymore for this very reason. Hayrides are fantastic if the weather cooperates-crisp, clear moonlit night and really good actors make these awesome. Years ago Screams had a great one and then they ditched it for goofy carnival stuff. A shame.

[Lys]

shfrost, you may want to check my thread about the changes at Screams out. :)

The hayride was fun for the people on it, but really hard on the actors the way that it was set up. And, quite honestly, it wasn't cost effective, and if you want to continue to have a haunt, you have to be able to afford it.

I hope that you give the re-vamped Screams a chance this year or next. And if you do, make sure that you stop by the Trail of Terror. I think you'll REALLY like our theme this year! *grin*

[Metal Momma]

I know we are VERY excited to see the new and improved Screams. We always felt that Screams has huge potential that had not fully been unlocked or utilized yet, and maybe this year we will all see what the Screams fair grounds is truly capable of providing.

[Lys]

I know we are VERY excited to see the new and improved Screams. We always felt that Screams has huge potential that had not fully been unlocked or utilized yet, and maybe this year we will all see what the Screams fair grounds is truly capable of providing.

I hope so too! It's going to be a transition, and sometimes transitions can be bumpy, but so far it really feels like everyone is 100% behind it, so they're going to give it their all. That's what will matter the most!

[BleedGreen]

I am trying to get my tight schedule to accomodate a visit to Screams on Friday or Saturday night of the first Oct weekend.

Aside from scheduling, my only other issue is whether I should go this year or next year. I am living outsied of Dallas and will be in the same situation next year, limiting me to one weekend of haunts a season. It makes sense to do one series of haunts this year and a different series next year. So would this be the year I visit and review Screams? Or should I give it a year to flesh out and focus on another haunt this year? As is, I am trying to do at least 5 haunts in 2 days.