This particular effect is prefect in a smaller haunted house where you intend to slow down your visitors and make them believe the haunted house just takes a lot longer to get through.
Here is how it works.
Several doors are set up in a plain hallway. Some of the doors open in, some others open out, while some hinges on the right and other hinges on the left. These doors will surely confuse anyone each and every time. You might also place the hinges on the wrong side of the door – on the side where the knob is. That will really confuse them! The multiple doors will best produce its effect in complete darkness. It is a simple and yet great effect for your haunted house.
If you are looking to wear a respectful Halloween costume, a M*A*S*H army medic costume would be a great idea. It is the image of an important job and plus the costume is rather easy to put together.
Clothing
Regardless if you are male of female, you can differentiate yourself from civilian medical personnel by simply wearing a camouflage uniform with greens, tans or brown shades. However, if you dislike camouflage you might just wear a uniform with a solid shade of tan or green. Or, if you wish, you can go with both of them.
For the “official” look, wear an armband with a red cross. A stethoscope around your neck will be the sign of your doctor and medical professional status.
Props
There are many more things you can carry with you in order to look like a genuine army medic and not an average combat soldier. It would be an excellent idea to visit the costume section of your local store for some doctor costume along with the suitable props. You will surely find a stethoscope imitation or even a surgical mask along with additional medical props.
Also carry with you a first-aid kit to seem like you are on the job. Wear a pair of latex gloves and you’ll definitely look like a surgeon ready to enter the operation room. Generally, latex gloves come along with an actual first-aid kit, available at most pharmacies.
Shows and Hat
If you want to create the impression of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital doctor in services close to the front lines of the Korean War, wear work or combat boots. You might also go with oxfords, with black or brown shoes. Complete your outfit with a hard hat, soft cap, crew hat or a camouflage bandanna, or one with a solid color that goes with your Halloween costume.
The effect has the best effectiveness at the end of your hallway. As your visitors walk down your hallway, they will find a mirror with a wooden frame on the backend wall. Looking into the reflection they will see the image of a ghostly face appearing in the mirror.
To produce the effect, you’ll need a two way mirror (or a mirrored plexigalss) fixed on the wall at the end of your hallway. You also need to place some weak lighting on the front side of the wall, which will be always on. To seem like a actual mirror on the wall, build a wooden frame around the ‘mirror’. Behind the wall is the a person in a ghostly face mask equipped with a light dimmer to weaken the lights mounted behind the wall. The ‘masked person‘ should be in complete darkness with the lights turned off. At this stage, the visitors will only see their own reflection in the mirror. As the visitors look into the mirror, the masked person slightly turns the lights on and he is thus dimly illuminated. At this point, the visitors will see their own reflection but also what seems to be the image of the ghostly face.
Headstones purchased from a local store are not match for these homemade headstone props. Realistic, actual size headstones are a simple and cheap way to create an authentic spooky graveyard of yours.
Here is the list with the needed materials:
1 – 4’x8’ sheet of 2” building foam insulation; Styrofoam cutter (or utility knife); Dremel tool with rounded 5/8” grinding stone; drywall compound, spray adhesive and exterior latex paint (Gray and White).
Here the steps to follow for your own headstone props:
Step 1 – cut the 4’x8’ sheet into 5 pieces as follows: 4 – 2’x3’, and 1 – 2’x4’.
Step 2 – cut out some attractive shapes (check the images for inspiration). It is recommended to use scarps with hot glue to produce dimension.
Step 3 – sit down to your computer and design various names and statements. The style depends entirely on your preference.
Step 4 – with the dremel tool, carve out saying (no need to rush, take it slowly). In case foam melts on grinding stone, get rid of it by running wood against it.
Step 5 – blend drywall compound with gray paint to create the so called mobster mud and apply onto headstone, letting texture to occur.
Step 6 – emphasize headstone with some lighter shade of gray paint (lighter shade is obtained by mixing gray with white paint).
Step 7 – secure them to yard. You might use PVC stakes on the bottom and larger stakes on the back. You can use whatever you want, as long as they work and are not visible. Keep in mind that these structures are very light weight and are vulnerable to wind damage.
On a cold day in January 1845 the Evening Mirror published “The Raven” bringing the author instant success.
Edgar Allan Poe (born on January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was a poet, and writer. Best know for his tales of horror and the macabre. Born the second child in Boston, Massachusetts; he was an orphan that was never formally adopted. Married in 1835 to his 13-year-old cousin Virginia, her death was said to inspired some of his writing.
“The Raven” tells of a mysterious visit of a talking bird and a man’s decent in supernatural madness. What better then to recite this for your guests at your Halloween party. The poem has became a popular culture classic made in films, music and television shows. I have included the video from the master of horror Vincent Price showing how powerful this poem can be.
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“‘Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door —
Only this, and nothing more.”
The Free e-Book with the full poem “The Raven” can be downloaded here.
