A Haunting

It was known as the "Spook House." That it was tenanted by evil spirits, visible, audible and active, no one in all that region doubted any more than he doubted what he was told of Sundays by the traveling preacher. Its owner's opinion of the matter was unknown; he and his family had disappeared one night and no trace of them had ever been found.

- Ambrose Bierce

Haunted

Headless Spectre

Another of Ichabod's sources of fearful pleasure was to pass long winter evenings with the old Dutch wives, as they sat spinning by the fire, with a row of apples roasting and sputtering along the hearth, and listen to their marvelous tales of ghosts and goblins, and haunted fields, and haunted brooks, and haunted bridges, and haunted houses, and particularly of the headless horseman, or Galloping Hessian of the Hollow, as they sometimes called him.

But if there was a pleasure in all this, while snugly cuddling in the chimney-corner of a chamber that was all of a ruddy glow from the crackling wood fire, and where, of course, no spectre dared to show its face, it was dearly purchased by the terrors of his subsequent walk homewards. What fearful shapes and shadows beset his path, amidst the dim and ghastly glare of a snowy night!  It was then that Ichabod recalled the most frightful portion of the wives' tales  -  that of the curs-ed fate of the Hessian's victims.  If one's head was lamentably claimed by the Horseman, their headless spectre was doomed to walk the shadowy acreage of Sleepy Hollow, perhaps forever!

Short video here.

Equal Treatment For All

Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, a French physician, proposed a more humane method of execution, advocating for a machine that would ensure equal treatment for all, regardless of social status. While he didn't design the machine itself, his name became synonymous with it. A German engineer named Tobias Schmidt is credited with building the prototype based on the design by Antoine Louis, a French surgeon. The first execution using the guillotine took place in 1792. 

Image by Pixel Packing Mama.

The Legend

An opening in the trees now cheered him with the hopes that the church bridge was at hand. The wavering reflection of a silver star in the bosom of the brook told him that he was not mistaken. He saw the walls of the church dimly glaring under the trees beyond. He recollected the place where Brom Bones’s ghostly competitor had disappeared. “If I can but reach that bridge,” thought Ichabod, “I am safe.” Just then he heard the black steed panting and blowing close behind him; he even fancied that he felt his hot breath. Another convulsive kick in the ribs, and old Gunpowder sprang upon the bridge; he thundered over the resounding planks; he gained the opposite side; and now Ichabod cast a look behind, to see if his pursuer should vanish, according to rule, in a flash of fire and brimstone.  Just then he saw the goblin rising in his stirrups, and in the very act of hurling his head at him. Ichabod endeavored to dodge the horrible missile, but too late. It encountered his cranium with a tremendous crash—he was tumbled headlong into the dust, and Gunpowder, the black steed, and the goblin rider, passed by like a whirlwind.

- Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Image by LisaDiazPhotos.

Old School Halloween

Long live those Haunts with guillotines.  With their soft cardboard blades and their bright red blood.  

Images by John W.

The Seal Of Delcite

It was fun having children walk across a creepy Thaumaturgic Triangle on Halloween night.

  

"Fun."

  

They were unaware that their souls were being offered to the First Witch in her throne (as the mere act of passing over the Seal was all that was required for such a Dark Contract).  We braced for an angry parent accusing us of chalking a Satanic symbol on the porch, but thankfully no one seemed to mind (or maybe they didn't notice).  

We called it the Seal of Delcite as a nod to the Curse of Delcite mentioned in my personal favorite episode of the old AMAZING STORIES series.  The Curse of Delcite was supposed to be a spell to inflict hiccups on its target, but things don't go as planned and the antagonist (Christopher Lloyd) ends up losing his head (read more about it here).

I've mentioned it before a long time ago (old blog post here), but I always found that a backstory (even one that isn't shared with anyone) really aids the creative process.  And it helps make a Haunt more logical to the viewer.  

Click here for a short video.

Blood And Guts

Images by Josh Mauser.

Jenny

Jenny and Alfred grew up and fell in love. One day they got married. After their wedding, Alfred said, "Now that we are married, you must tell me about the green ribbon." "You still must wait," said Jenny. "I will tell you when the right time comes." Years passed. Alfred and Jenny grew old. One day Jenny became very sick. The doctor told her she was dying. Jenny called Alfred to her side. "Alfred," she said, "now I can tell you about the green ribbon. Untie it, and you will see why I could not tell you before."

Slowly and carefully, Alfred untied the ribbon, AND JENNY'S HEAD FELL OFF!

Image source.

They Never Found The Body

This is a wonderful thing.

Image source.

Suburban Macabre

Images by Peter Cameron.

Close Encounters Of The Seventh Kind

Image by It's Me Billy.

Headless

I always wondered why this guy panicked and jumped out of his fortified enclosure.  Though I can assume the Horseman was chopping at one side of it.  I would have done the same.  Though I think I would have run through the woods and not down the road, extending my drama and horror for at least five more minutes until my head was removed.  

This thing was made in 1999 and the effects are insane STILL.

Click below...

Oh, The Yard Haunter

Click below...

Free Candy

Image source.

Of The Hollow

Another of his sources of fearful pleasure was to pass long winter evenings with the old Dutch wives, as they sat spinning by the fire, with a row of apples roasting and spluttering along the hearth, and listen to their marvellous tales of ghosts and goblins, and haunted fields, and haunted brooks, and haunted bridges, and haunted benches.  (I took some liberties here.)

Image by Willowcottage Photography.

We Cannot Win This

Man, I'd compare the effects in this film to the first time I saw that T-Rex in Jurassic Park.  Never had a headless effect been done with this kind of realism.  I'd dare say it was elegant and beautiful.  

And it has yet to be topped.

Click below to watch...

Any Sign Of A Struggle?

Image by Jesse757.

Their Heads Were Not Found At All

Image by Rod Nevison.

House Of The Screaming Head

Images by Jeremy Saunders.