Thursday, September 23, 2010

Watcher

Was thinking about that photo of the mossy trail through the woods, and how weird and creepy it would be if that was a part of a haunted attraction (though safer and not as lawsuit-inducing). And instead of actors in the woods interacting with patrons and trying to point-blank scare them, what if they all kept their distance. Dark figures moving slowly through the woods, keeping pace with the viewers, and allowing themselves to be seen, but just in the shadows, and in silence. In particular, ahead of each group of visitors would be a cloaked figure, about twenty or thirty yards away. Alone. And with a costume similar to a Reaper - but not as obvious. But the catch would be that the costume would be reversed, made to look like it was facing the patrons. In reality, it would be an actor slowly walking ahead of each group, walking in the same direction, with a mask/custom-made costume attached to his or her back. Always looking like a figure slowly floating ahead of them, and facing them. But always moving away from them.

In the darkness, I'd imagine that would be a really unnerving effect.

12 comments:

JRBarnes said...

That is a fantastic idea. I've had similar thoughts before--ideas for haunted attractions that were more about suspense and atmosphere than jump scares, with darkly-clothed actors keeping their distance. I would love to see it happen!

Anonymous said...

Let's do it...Ahrasapa farms Bates motel in pa makes a killing every year and it stinks.

Your idea sounds like a mix of The Village and the Mexico alien scene in Signs..people would be messing their pants!

Mr. Macabre said...

Chainsaws!!! They would have to have chainsaws! And lots of screaming and blood! And clowns! Lots of murderous clowns too!!! With chain saws!!!

I've always thought that the subtle was far more terrifying than the in-your-face stuff. Take the Blair Witch Project...it was based on suspense and the unknown, and it was (at least to me) one of the scariest movies I've ever seen. I would definitely think this would be a truly wonderful haunted attraction.

Vintage Seance said...

Such an awesome idea!

Mr. Chicken said...

something poetic in that image you just conjured

Damian Michael AKA HalloweeNut said...

Dude, TELL ME your going to do a walk-through haunt one day! I imagine if someone was going to do a maze, the best person for the job would be you. :)

crudedoodle.com said...

This would be such a great side bar or callout box in your Haunt Theory book.

screaminscott said...

I had a similar idea once, but it involved having multiple actors all dressed in the same costume,who would appear in different areas of the outdoor haunt. They would be the major character who was stalking and directing the scares.

Ghastly said...

I've always thought the same thing. Having jack-o-lanterns and lights and shapes out in the woods, just visible but not close enough to see the detail. Like a dim orange glow from behind a tree, or a ghostly figure moving in the breeze . . . the "haunting" you could also do without actors.

Mantan Calaveras said...

I once went on a haunted nature walk up in one of the local parks. It was a night time thing. At one point they all had us pick fragrant leaves, might have been eucalyptus, and explained how the oils repel various insects and animals.

At one point, off in the distance, up a hill, we saw a werewolf. By the time we approached the area he was gone, but it was a very effective scare, it's stuck in my memory.

Through the rest of the trail we never saw the werewolf again, but we always half expected him to run across our path.

Chris 'Frog Queen' Davis said...

As much as I love, and I do mean love your vision.....you are probably right about the "broke" part. :D

I would say that after going through about 100 haunted houses all over the US, 90% of have a chainsaw, a dot room and clowns. It is tragic really.

I wish it were not true, but "we" are not the market that traditional haunted houses are after. :(

Someday when I have mountains of cash I would really love to prove that theory wrong. Cause I do believe it can be....not by me of course, someone talented like yourself would have to be involved. :D

Husband calls it my ultimate Frog Queen folly :D

Thanks for sharing and please keep doing so :)

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

I do run a haunted nature trail, and we do keep areas of it "blank"--just overhanging trees, spanish moss, moonlight . . .

I notice that after about 50-60 feet, people are going slower, tensing up, knowing that *something* has to happen. By 100 feet they really want something to jump at them just to relieve the tension!