Thread: Haunt/scare techniques...share your tips

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just found this from the guys who do halloween theatre.com

thought it was pretty interesting to hear someones view of the 'science' of scaring people and wanted to both share it, and hear other peoples techniques.

I think the best method of scaring anyone is an extremely loud, unexpected sound/crash. Even those "numb" to the visual scares will jump at a loud sound. It's human nature.

Those look like some great videos. I'm gonna get another cup of coffee and watch them all.



I wrote a blog series last year titled The Seven Layers of Scare. The blog entries dissect and give ideas on each layer of terrifying the ToTs: http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/terra/seven-layers-of-scare/

One: Art Direction and/or Theme
Two: Walls, Ceilings and Floors
Three: Main Scare (and it's sound)
Four: Accents
Five: Lighting
Six: Atmosphere
Seven: Touch and Smell

Here's a quick summary:

First step in designing your haunt is to first decide on an Art Direction and/or Theme. This will help unify the rooms and set-up a story. It will also help simplify designing choices. Now start designing the Walls, Ceiling and Floors. This is what is going to tell the ToT what environment they are in. Is it a prison or a slaughterhouse? Walls are most important but when you add decorating the ceilings and floors then they are truly immersed. The Main Scare should fit into the room you are designing. From there you can decide if you want to use a Cheap Scare or a Set-up and then Sudden Scare. Adding Accents to a room helps tell the story of what has happened or what will happen. Now spend some extra time Lighting the haunt. Think about how to use Color, Brightness, Distribution and Movement to add that extra scary edge in your lighting. Atmosphere added to your haunt is the over-the-top experience your ToTs are hoping for. Use great Sound, Lighting and Weather to transport them to your magical and horrifying experience. Finally, use Touch and Smell to once and for all scare the candy out of those sweet little darlings

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According to those vids above, humans only have 2 natural fears and that's loud/sudden noises and heights. These make you recoil into the fetal position for protection. All other potential fears, such, spiders, snakes, monsters etc are all learned fears. We have been conditioned to be afraid of them by people thrusting them at us at some point in our lives. And while these can all be used to build the tension and anticipation, essentially its the loud noises that will make u jump out ur skin. Heights seems like a difficult one to pull off in a haunt, I'm sure someone will have a solution somewhere.

At least that's what I got out those vids anyway.

Thoughts?

Just got done watching the last of the videos. They. Are. Priceless! I'd pay real good money to see that presentation and here they are giving it away on YouTube. Awesome and typical of people in the haunt community. They love their craft and want to share the knowledge gained with others.

Of all the videos, seminars and DVDs I've seen over the years, this set of videos is beyond the best of the bunch. Get a nice adult beverage, pull up a chair and watch these vids. NOW!

Thanks so much Mister P for showcasing them

I've only watched the first video so far. I went through that haunt last year. They had the atmosphere there to pull off scares, but it didn't take long for the people screaming in my face to get annoying. Then again, I'm not in their target audience.

I find that once you get into someone's personal space, keeping your mouth shut is a lot scarier than screaming in their face. Once you scream, they know that's all you got. But silence keeps them wondering what's going to happen next.

^^^^^^Agreed, screams are something I really haven't used, you want to use an object to create the sound. Then invade that person bubble, but don't just scream. Its a person in your face then "rawr"; but where do you go after that, that was the climax. Of course you can use elaborate dialog, but that can be very difficult for some people. This is one of the reason I used a homemade face restraint as a mask last year. It forced me to find other ways to be scary, the bang of my cell door slamming open. The thunderous roar of a 345lb 6'3" man in combat boots chasing soccer moms.

Another thing I have learned is that people are afraid of points and angles, John Wayne Gacy is an example. His clown paint had pointed tips and un-nerved alot of people, lots of monsters and masks can have alot of angles drawn across them and it can help show this point.

Originally Posted by Terra

Just got done watching the last of the videos. They. Are. Priceless! I'd pay real good money to see that presentation and here they are giving it away on YouTube. Awesome and typical of people in the haunt community. They love their craft and want to share the knowledge gained with others.

Of all the videos, seminars and DVDs I've seen over the years, this set of videos is beyond the best of the bunch. Get a nice adult beverage, pull up a chair and watch these vids. NOW!

Thanks so much Mister P for showcasing them

I stubmbled on those vide on youtube a while back. I'm not sure it's Adam and sean Murray themselves who have put those clips up! it may be someone else who has bought their vids, ripped them and posted them on If so I do apologise...BUT...

it was those vids that pointed me to www.halloweentheatre.com in the first place and encouraged me to sign up for their regular newsletter (yup they send our regular editions with new motivational/instructional articles designed to help you better your haunt), I have exchanged emails with one of them when I asked for a few pointers for how to get started (I'm in the UK and folks here just don't celebrate Halloween). I have to be really honest, the guy replied to me with a lot of willingness and enthusiasm to help me out in anyway he could. Unfortunately I don't have the capital to start a commercial haunt which is my ambition, but he gave me a lot of encouragement with a sideline idea I have.

So If I can point people to their website to buy any of their cd's, DVD's or books, then I think I can only be supporting and helping them.

I find it fascinating that a concept (haunting) which is really an amateur hobby, can be developed into a craft that has a science and formula that teaches you how to get results.

ps, Im not pulling a pr stunt for these guys lol, i just thought what they 'preach' is the reason everyone on this forum comes here for in the first place. Learn, encourage and motivate.

By making objects move that aren't normal "movers".
I use my natural liability as an advantage. I AM 62 years old....maybe I'm like those evil-smart guys that are so much smarter than average people.. that he Must be evil or at least have more opportunitys to be evil because he's so smart?
As a haunt actor if you have a larger vocabulary than some, use it! Remember those old movies of the old rich smart , evil guy, we called him The Villian!
You remember him. He was So smart he could make tons of money, then build his mansion to imprison his victims within. Secret passages, hidden doors must serve some evil purpose?
Playing this role also allows one to play it very subtley, utilizing nuiances, innuendos that just may be compressed , secret threats, fears??
Attach your voice to their mind's thought pattern and involved puzzles will ensue.
They just might then feel threatened as they get lost in that puzzle that you have now constructed with just your mere choice of words.
Paying attention to rhythms and patterns of your voice to sound absolutely compelling to the average person will also serve you well to become larger than life and a person to possibly be reckened with, equally possible real fear.....this creates pure mental FUN..or just scream in their face and call it a day.