Thread: JD's Halloween Haunt 2009: The Pics, The Clips, The Onion Dip

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Well, the weather forecast for Saturday in Montreal called for showers tapering off to intensely gusty winds by early evening.

On a positive note, the weather forecast was bang on; I like it when they get it right. On a negative note, the weather forecast was bang on.

We had to contend with it because you just can't control the weather and you soldier on. Fortunately, our haunt is built like a tank and, despite winds gusting to 50 mph, there was virtually no damage other than a staple here or there. Words to the wise: Build your haunt like a tank. The FCG took some occasional adjusting to untangle the cloth and the smoke machines were all but invisible but, other than that, good times.

Ridiculously massive turnout, probably helped in part by the fact Montreal's major English-language TV station did its weather broadcast live from the driveway – ah, the sweet irony – as well as the entertainment report. The latter included an interview with my three kids and wife. I stayed off-camera cause I wanted the spotlight to shine on my two teenage daugthers and son. You can watch the short interview here (click on Oct 31, 2009: Haunted houses...):

CTV Montreal - What's On - CTV News, Shows and Sports -- Canadian Television

My haunt does not change significantly from year-to-year, other than I typically add one or two new props. I did, however, spend a fair amount of time improving on existing props, reinforcing their structures (good timing), and enhancing them. This guy was new this year:



Fashioned from a set of elk antlers my late geologist father found while exploring the desert in Western Canada some 40 years ago, he's the night watchman's pet. Note the chain that runs from his owner to his spiked collar.



Also new this year were the eyes on the front of the house. Simple idea I found online that only took a couple of hours of work. Big impact.



Part of graveyard:



I belive he's saying “Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!”:



The rest of the haunt pictures can be found here, including some from the night itself, and a couple of short movies: The FCG in action and a dark clip of Nosferandrew doing his bit on the upper balcony on Halloween. On that clip, you can also hear a part of the soundtrack that Nosferandrew, my sound engineer brother, made last year. It is so beautifully disturbing.

Halloween2009 pictures by JaD__ - Photobucket

Best to all of you as we head into the dark recesses seeking out new ideas and projects for 2010.

JD

Great photos! Very creepy looking haunt...especially with the eyes. You are right they make a big impact.

I live near Toronto, good to see some local Canadians getting TV time..City Pulse in Toronto did a week long feature on haunted houses, home haunts (broadcasted live) and so forth leading up to Halloween..if I lived in Toronto I would have sent them an email to possibly come check out mine..the haunts the news channel visisted were insanely good, lots of work put in by those folks..

JD WOW your yard was really amazing ...all the props are way cool ......i will try and get in touch with you next year to go visit you before halloween with my daugther (she doesnt get to see other house decorating here except when we go see wickedbb house

i'll go check your link now again bravo looks terrific

Love the yard but I have to say my fave is the keeper and his pet. the pic you put up on both of them just is awsome

Very nice!! I also do the "eyes" in the window and get lots of comments about them! Excellent job!

Wow! You did an awesome job! Love the night watchman's pet.

Thanks all for the nice comments.

I say we all get together and do this thing again next year. Here's to Halloween 2010!

JD

Wowie!! Very cool. Love the cat eyes in the windows. Creepy!

Fantastic! I love the creatures you made. Coooool!