Thread: Zombie party crashers idea...

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Ok, I had thought this up a while ago for this year's party, but thought it might be a little extreme and imposing on some guests, but I just ran it by my (more conservative) wife and her friend and they thought it was a great idea. So I thought I would run t by this forum and get opinions and ideas...

We will host our 17th annual Halloween party this year. Our parties are known for a signature "blackout" event, usually around 10pm where technology and a big sound system kicks in and things go into high gear. Last year was the best party ever, with over 50 guests who all had a blast. So pressure is on this year to best that. See the "Omenwood Hotel" thread I posted last year, I think there is a video in there as well.

So the idea is a Zombie party with a twist. We have a house in a secluded, wooded area with lots of open space inside. I also have a 2 car garage/shop next to the house with heat and A/C and well stocked beer fridge. Our house backs right up to the woods (no backyard, just a deck), and those woods are cleared of brush and slope downhill to a marsh.

I will "choose" some guests and offer them to take part in this event, as "actor" zombies. When they arrive at the party, they will not come in the house, but rather gather in the shop with other Zombies. In there of course is beer, some food, and maybe even some makeup and tattered clothes, cheesecloth, and blood. Stuff to amuse them for a while.

10 mins or so before the blackout, I will notify them it is time to go, and they will go into the woods and down the hill in the back (see where this is going now?). Then I blackout the house, lightning crashes outside (see the video from last year). And slowly some blue lights on top of the house come up and illuminate the woods in the back with an eerie light. There are TONS of windows in the house facing the back, including 6 sets of sliders in the sunroom. Dark in the house and eerie light out back will be noticed by those inside.

Then my Zombies trudge up the hill and out of the woods, stomping across the desk and pounding on the doors. Maybe a fake bloody limb gets tossed in.

Once they all get inside, the music kicks in and the party starts.





So I would have to pick some people ahead of time and offer them to take part in this. I know all these people really well and some would love this. I am thinking 6-10 people (we usually invite over 100). Some would like the opportunity to come late anyway. They might be one of a couple, and the other spouse would just come inside the house. If asked "Where's Bill?", she could just say "Oh, he's coming later.....<wink>". Of course those in the house who had spouses in the Zombie den would know the deal, but they would be a minority. It will be easy to get my Zombies into the shop without the others knowing....

What do you think? Problems? Ways to enhance it? One thing I do like is that I damn near killed myself last year making props and stuff for the Omenwood Hotel (I do virtually everything myself) and vowed this year to not burden myself with lots of prop building. A zombie party just needs the usual drop cloths, cheesecloth tatters, make the house look old kind of stuff (remember, I have 17 years of props and stuff already in the basement). Only thing I would have to build and test are the blue floods out back.

LMK what you think or if you have other ideas. Other zombie related themes inside? I would make a "Zombie" invite and maybe even a Youtube video invite.....

As I was reading the post I was seeing it in my head and I think that would be awsome. The only problem that I can see is that I don't know your address. A way to enhance it would be to give me your address..LOL

GREAT IDEA! I have been wanting to do something like this for forever! With all the zombie survival guides out there in the world...books, posters and the like, it would be easy to put together a clever invite. The only concern I had with my group of partygoers is when the zombies would make their appearance...would the guests be packing heat and try to take one out. I say that living in Texas and I know most everyone here has a gun - I hope they don't bring them to my parties. But if they did, or someone was stupid and hurt one of the 'zombies'...ummmmmm? That would be my only concern. Since your party is know for blackouts, special effects, and those pivotal moments...I would think that everyone would assume that this was all part of the fun.
I think you have a great idea and I know it will be a great success!

That sounds pretty freaking awesome to me.

cant think of anything to offer. its all sounds great to me!( ah gotta love my sis using my screen name.... LOL)

you could have a few zombie kits laying around... body parts, etc....as reading it i had it playing in my head.. make sure they are moaning loud enough for thoses inside to hear them lol

That sounds great!
I think Forum member Peniwize the clown is planning something similar this year as well. He also has some awesome invites planned. Here is the thread with some of his stuff.

2010 Party Ideas & Plans

I'm doing a zombie party this year too. I wish I could pull something like that off, but I live in an apartment. I did create a video save the date/reminder that you might like or that might give you some ideas. The thread can be found here.

Zombie Apocalypse Theme

Love your idea! It's an open invitation party right?!?

Oh, and for decorating.

- windows boarded up from the inside (though that may not be useful for you if people need to look out to see the zombie approach).
- armory wall, A wall full of toy weapons(My place is going to be a safety shelter kind of thing).
- zombie news reels playing on the tv, but muted for when the music is playing.
- Going to have a zombie buffet for food.
- Hoping to make some tombstones and ground breakers for the outside
- Crawling giggling zombie baby chained up in the bathroom. Below is a thread of mine and other people's zombie babies.
Zombie Baby Help ??

Thanks for the tips an encouragement. I have a few more ideas:

Try to get a 30 min loop video of the moon with clouds passing over and project that on the ceiling with an LCD projector (after the lights go out). The moon could move from one side to the other fade off the ceiling, then repeat. I just bought a new DH video camera. I'll set up a tripod next full moon and capture it moving across the frame. We have a 2 story vaulted ceiling in the family room, on a 45 degree slant... the perfect screen.

I need to get some zombie footage from "I am legend" for my save the date video....

Maybe a few more body parts laying around the house, or toss a hand into the dance floor from upstairs......

This is going to be fun..

I love it! I think it is great that you are just picking 6-10 so that hopefully your surprise wont get out to the rest of the invitees.

Once the zombies get in and the music starts you should have Thriller being played and have the zombies pull everyone onto the dance floor! ;D

Originally Posted by Addicted2Boo

I love it! I think it is great that you are just picking 6-10 so that hopefully your surprise wont get out to the rest of the invitees.

Once the zombies get in and the music starts you should have Thriller being played and have the zombies pull everyone onto the dance floor! ;D

ooh yeah thats would really get the party screaming !!! go for THRILLER lol