spooky stuff haunted house

• Awards Season
• Big Stories
• Pop Culture
• Video Games
• Celebrities

AMC’s Shudder: Is This Spooky Streaming Service Worth It?

Are you a fright-fest fanatic in the mood for haunting tales and scary flicks? With Halloween on the horizon, there’s no better time of year to amp up the terror by indulging in some spooktacular programming. Whether you’re a fan of pure horror, slasher films, psychological thrillers, monster movies, or cult classics that are as nostalgic as they are nauseating, plenty of streaming services offer Halloween-themed marathons to satisfy your needs.

But what’s a true horror fan to do when all the ghoulish gross-outs are spread out across multiple platforms? Put down the hockey mask and machete — AMC’s Shudder  is here to administer your necessary dose of screams. With hundreds of films and TV show episodes on its roster, this horror-only streaming service might be just what you need to quench your thirst for terror. Ready to conjure up Candyman or mingle with Michael Myers? Find out what Shudder offers and whether it’s worth the subscription price.

Shudder: A Platform for Horror Fanatics, by Horror Fanatics

Shudder is a streaming platform designed to meet the niche needs of a key group of film buffs: horror fans. By all accounts, the streaming service has successfully pulled off this mission. Shudder is a premiere service that offers scary programming — and only scary programming — in the form of old and new films, television shows, and documentaries that fall into the genres of horror, supernatural, and thriller themes. It caters to movies and episodic horror fans and provides an impressive library of options to explore.

What makes Shudder such a fantastic platform is its variety. Shudder’s collection of films and shows spans hundreds of movies, dozens of TV shows, and even a handful of horror-themed podcasts. The platform features a large number of classics that have defined the horror genre — think iconic flicks like John Carpenter’s Halloween , George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead , The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,  and Train to Busan . But it also offers up plenty of indie films, comedies, and old-school titles that paved the way for today’s horror. Ever watched Chopping Mall , Hell Night, or Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker ? With Shudder, you can dive into films that might not have crossed your radar before.

Shudder also organizes content by collections so you can spend less time reading endless summaries to hunt down the films or series that fit your taste. Curated collections like “Love Sick,” “Horror Noire,” “Anthologies” and “Queer Horror” make it easier to tap into the topics you’re dying to watch. And, what’s even better is that these super-specific lists aren’t left to the whims of AI software; instead, actual people — vetted horror fans — create the lineups, so you know they’re good. With over a million users subscribed to the streaming service, Shudder may have cracked the code for successfully spooky programming.

Shudder’s Perks Include Original Flicks and Spooky Shows

While Shudder features many classic horror flicks and shows, these aren’t the platform’s only claim to fame. It also provides exclusive and original content designed to appeal to Shudder subscribers One of the most popular original series available is Creepshow , which is inspired by the 1982 film of the same name (directed by George Romero and written by Stephen King) and the E.C. horror comic books of the 1950s. Creepshow  is structured like an anthology, bringing horrifying comic panels to life and exploring everything from the supernatural to the super-strange. The platform is also releasing new episodes of the original series Slasher , which features a storyline about a family on a secluded island who’s forced to fight against one another for survival.

Shudder’s original films are also some of its highlights. The movie Host  was one of the top films of 2020 on Shudder’s platform. Recorded utilizing Zoom only (giving it that pandemic-anxiety vibe), the movie features a group of friends gathering online for a socially distant hangout…and succumbing to dark forces on each end of the camera. Another Shudder original is 2021’s Prisoners of the Ghostland which stars Nicolas Cage as a bank robber who has five days to find a wealthy man’s daughter otherwise, the bomb collar secured around his neck will detonate. These titles represent only a handful of the unsettling nailbiters within Shudder’s library. But what’s the verdict?

Is the Subscription Worth the Horrific Hype?

If you love all terror all the time, Shudder is the perfect platform for you. Even if you subscribe to Netflix, Hulu, or another popular streaming platform , Shudder has the widest variety of curated horror on the streaming market centralized in one place. With over 400 movies and hundreds of television episodes already on its docket, this collective of frightening tales is slated to only grow in size, with new films and episodes appearing weekly. Like most streaming platforms, you may not love all the content that you view on Shudder — but there’s a handy rating system (with skulls instead of stars!) so you know what fellow horror fans think.

The platform is easy to access through most devices and browsers, so you can queue things up on your Roku or fireTV device or take the streaming service with you on your laptop or phone. A standalone Shudder app is available via Google Play, Apple’s App Store, and Xbox One, and it works similarly to other streaming apps.

If you’re not sure you want to make the subscription leap, Shudder has you covered. It offers a seven-day, no-strings free trial so you can take your time browsing titles and collections to see if the variety is enough to capture your interest. Just keep in mind that you’d be hard-pressed to engage with all that Shudder has to offer within a week. As an added bonus, the platform is entirely ad-free.

Membership plans start at only $5.99 a month, making this an affordable option. To save a bit on this month-to-month price, you can opt to purchase a yearlong subscription for $56.99 — which comes out to $4.75 per month . If you’re more interested in getting your scare on for the Halloween season without committing to the entire year, subscribing to Shudder at least through October can help you scratch the itch.

Ultimately, if horror is your top streaming genre, signing up for Shudder is a no-brainer (sorry, zombies). With an influx of new flicks and shows frequently hitting its library and an affordable monthly fee, you won’t run out of terrifying titles anytime soon.

MORE FROM ASK.COM

The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff: Everything You Need To Know About Haunted Houses

We look at how to create a haunted house in The Sims 4 with Paranormal Stuff.

Quick Links

How to create a haunted house, haunted house residential lot features, surviving in a haunted house.

In The Sims 4 : Paranormal Stuff you can live your best supernatural life with the brand new Haunted House Residential trait. This new lot type will bring all the spooks to your yard and if you don't take control then you may even encounter... her.

Related: The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff: Everything You Need To Know About Guidry

Haunted houses can be a great place to live, especially since you gain reward points for each night you get through. However, they come with a few unique traits that you need to be aware of and understand. Here's everything you need to know about the new Haunted House Residential lot type.

Updated on May 19, 2023, By Helen Ashcroft: The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff retains its crown as the most packed stuff pack ever to be released. In order to make sure you can still get the most out of it we've updated our haunted house guide so you too can survive the night and reap the rewards.

Any house can be a haunted house , even pre-built lots already in your game. The trait is also not tied to any world, meaning these specters can go anywhere you desire.

All you need to do is enter build mode and change the lot type to Haunted House Residential. Just make sure you've selected the Haunted House lot type, rather than the Spooky lot trait which simply encourages more ghosts to hang around.

Technically you can make any lot haunted . However, any community lot will lose the features of its original type and instead gain the haunted features and function as a residential lot.

If you'd rather not build a mysterious mansion you'll also find Doctor Ashley's pre-built Duplantier Dwelling in your library, ready to place into the world. Just make sure you've saved the house with the correct type , as it can revert to a regular residential lot when you add it from the gallery.

If you do choose to have a haunted community lot it means that while your haunted gym building can gain some specters, it will no longer attract townies . Instead, you'll need to move a Sim into the lot in order to visit it and experience the supernatural phenomenon. Think of them as a caretaker...

Related: The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff: How To Summon Bonehilda And What She'll Do

With this lot type selected, several paranormal related lot features will come into play. While you'll get the most out of living in a haunted house, you can still experience most of the features by visiting other Sims who live there . Here's what you can expect from your haunted houses.

Ghostly Assistance

This trait means that Guidry, a ghost who will act as a guide to help you with paranormal problems , will automatically appear on the second night . He will then keep returning to the lot frequently , unless you ask him not to.

On haunted house lots specters will appear each night. They range from friendly, happy spirits who just want to explore to angry, hostile specters with occasional fire breath.

The different colors will give you a clue about their intentions , and you can also watch them to find out more.

Haunted Treasure

Haunted treasures are items which specters can drop . Many of these are the same as rewards from the Freelance Paranormal Investigator career but some differ. They are mostly harmless and many are beneficial.

Paranormal Activity

This feature means your lights will flicker, and you'll definitely notice some things going bump in the night.

Make sure your Sims get some rest in the day as this paranormal activity can make them too terrified to sleep.

Accursed Objects

These objects include creepy tendrils, supernatural symbols and dolls with cold dead eyes. If left unchecked they will mysteriously multiply.

It's Alive

The house has a spiritual harmony level. If you want to keep things under control then you'll need to work to keep things peaceful . Alternatively, you can ramp up the paranormal occurences and see how chaotic things can get when the specters take over.

Each night you spend in a haunted house will earn your Sim 125 reward store points. If you ramp up the activity level to heroic , using the hand statue, this is doubled to 250 points a night.

Aspiring Investigators Welcome

Guidry's presence makes it much easier for your Sims to get their Paranormal Investigation License . Just make sure you keep practicing that Medium skill as you'll need to max it out before asking Guidry to hand over your qualification.

Your experience at home will also equip you to better handle paranormal gigs.

This mysterious lot trait simply says "She's coming for you." The ominous warning is regarding Temperance, an eternally angry spirit who has a history with Guidry.

She can be rough to handle but luckily, as long as you have a séance table and level three Medium skil l then you have Bonehilda as backup.

Living in a haunted house isn't for everyone but there are a few things that can help you out. We recommend learning the medium skill and asking Bonehilda and Guidry for a hand. You can also check out the different clutter items that can have an effect on the spiritual atmosphere.

We also recommend leaving all creepy items hanging around until the welcome wagon has been. Consider watching their reactions sweet revenge for those years of unwanted fruitcake.

Next: The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff: Guide To The Paranormal Investigator Career

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

25 Haunted House Ideas That Are Insanely Scary and Easy to DIY

These indoor and outdoor decorations are creative ways to gives kids and adults a scare.

These eerie ideas are ones your neighbors will appreciate — especially if they're lovers of the boogeyman's holiday. We've rounded up these mysterious, frightening and silly spine-chilling decorations and home decor crafts to make your haunted house the spookiest one on the block — and maybe even in the whole community. Think easy-to-make (or buy) skull lanterns, ghostly figures with pumpkin heads, eyeball balloons that float down the halls, and rotting fruit and candy urns full of delicious yet blood-inspired drinks.

And if you want even more ideas for October 31, watch one of these popular Halloween movies or wear one of these family, group, couples or Disney-inspired costumes.

Hanging Paper Lanterns

DIY these paper lanterns to hang on the ceiling as trick-or-treaters enter the house. Use LED bulbs to keep everything from overheating.

Get the tutorial »

Tissue Ghosts

Create mini ghosts using paper honeycombs. DIY the faces with a black Sharpie and place your mini creatures on the floor throughout the space.

SHOP HONEYCOMB BALLS

Batty Staircase

As guests walk past the staircase or climb up the stairs, have them admire the paper bats scattered throughout the banister.

'Hey Boo' Punny Sign

Create your own wooden sign with your favorite Halloween pun. You'll need a wood plank background and wood letters to complete the look.

SHOP WOOD LETTERS

Get the tutorial at Club Crafted »

Pom-Pom Spiders

It's common for people to find spiders scary, so why not make your own that float and tickle your visitors?

SHOP BALLOONS

Get the tutorial at Design Imrpovised »

Creepy Crawler Candles

Scoop the contents out of your mini pumpkins to add tealights inside. Use pipe cleaners as bug legs before sprinkling the spider-like creations around the house.

SHOP PIPE CLEANERS

Ghostly Figure

After carving your jack-o'-lantern, attach it to the top of a dressmaker's dummy. Place your specter at the entrance to give everyone a fright before they walk through the rest of the blood-curling decorations that await them further inside.

SHOP DRESSMAKER DUMMY

Add a bunch of treats to individual bags, then wrap them up and place them in candy urns for trick-or-treaters to grab on the way to your haunted house or when they leave.

'Keep Out' Entryway

There's something about a red door and a sign that reads, "Keep Out," that makes people want to enter. Cover the door with cobwebs and secure them with masking tape . Paint words of warning on two slats of cardboard before taping them to the door.

Witch Broom Door Decorations

Gather "witch" brooms to adorn your front door, then place a Ouija board doormat at the entrance to increase the spooky factor.

SHOP BROOMS

Spooky Cauldron

Prepare kid-friendly party punch even adults will enjoy. Pour it into a cauldron and dress the sides with paper flames. To get a smokey effect, throw in some dry ice.

SHOP CAULDRONS

Paper Bat Garland

After downloading this bat stencil and tracing the shapes, cut them out and place them atop each critter made. Use a bone folder to create creases along the stencil's dotted lines. Make the wings 3D by folding the creases opposite ways before attaching the bats to a long string using tiny black clothespins .

Creepy Dinner

Have your friends DIY their own creepy costumes and place them as one of the main attractions for the night. They'll drink from bubbly witch cauldrons and eat delectable yet bloody-themed pastries.

Eyeball Balloons

This is a cute yet equally as weird Halloween decor idea that'll make a great addition to your house or next All Hallows' Eve party.

Jack O' Lantern Display

You don't have to be an expert in pumpkin carving to DIY this display. Pencil your letters onto hollowed pumpkins, then use a drill to create holes that form each letter. Christmas-tree lights will illuminate each pumpkin.

SHOP CHRISTMAS-TREE LIGHTS

Skeletons are essential when it comes to this holiday. Place them out front, in the backyard and inside to give everyone who walks through a ribtastic time (get it?).

SHOP SKELETONS

While you can have full skeletons featured throughout the space, include some skulls in different areas as well. If you want to give them a more gruesome look, paint them in red or black for an eerie twist.

SHOP SKULLS

Monster Entryway

Make the eyes of this funny-faced monster by painting black circles on two 8-inch foam half balls . Use black construction paper for the eyelashes and eyebrows, then cut two 16-inch squares of faux fur and hot-glue each around a 12-inch foam wreath . Glue the eyeballs in the center and frame the door with strips of fur using tacks of hem tape . Hang the eyes and tack or hem the eyebrows in place. Foam cones can be used for the teeth.

Portrait Luminaries

Grab all of those old family portraits or get fake ones to adhere to old paper bag lanterns. Use them to decorate your front walkway to leave shivers down everyone's spines as they enter.

Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built »

DIY Tombstone

Instead of putting your warning on the front door, frighten them with an array of tombstones scattered throughout the lawn.

SHOP TOMBSTONES

Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping , where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine . She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions , in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community , a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work. 

@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-1yxmhzw:before{background-repeat:no-repeat;bottom:-0.2rem;color:#ffffff;content:'_';display:inline-block;height:1.25rem;line-height:1;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-right:0.625rem;position:relative;width:1.25rem;}.loaded .css-1yxmhzw:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.loaded .css-1yxmhzw:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}} Halloween 2023: Costumes, Food & Decor

46 Delicious Halloween Dinner Ideas

51 Un-BOO-leviable Halloween Appetizers

Win All the Awards With These Pop Culture Costumes

Halloween Costumes to Make Everyone LOL

DIY Costume Ideas So Good It's Scary

60 Best Halloween Games for All Ages

Halloween Captions to Try on Instagram This Year

The Ultimate Halloween Playlist for Your Party

Go the Easy (and Cute) Route With Pumpkin Painting

The Best Halloween Toys for Spooky Fall Fun

76 Spooky 'Hocus Pocus' Quotes for Halloween

• HD Studios Pro Masks
• HD Comfort Fit Masks
• NEW 2023 HD Masks
• Halloween Masks
• Classic Monster Masks
• Creepy Masks
• Zombie Masks
• Clown Masks
• Vampire Masks
• Demon Masks
• Alien Masks
• Gory / Bloody Masks
• Ghost and Ghoul Masks
• Fantasy Masks
• Licensed Movie Masks
• Slipknot Masks
• Moving Mouth Masks
• Movie Prosthetics
• Realistic Human Masks
• Silicone Masks
• Hands & Feet
• Makeup & Accessories
• HD Studios Pro Costumes
• HD Night Terror Costumes
• HD Comfort Fit Costumes
• HD Hollywood Costumes
• Women's Costumes
• Men's Costumes
• Professional Costumes
• Costume Robes
• Value / Budget Costumes
• Creature Reacher Costumes
• Sci-Fi / Alien Costumes
• Clown Costumes
• Monster Costumes
• Movie Costumes
• Vampire Costumes
• Zombie Costumes
• Costume Shoes
• Costume Wigs / Hats
• Horror & Fairy Wings
• Horror Chests
• Costume Props
• Horror Dome T-Shirts
• HD Studios Props
• Professional Props
• Alien Props
• Clown Props
• Zombie Props
• Graveyard Props
• Monster Props
• Human Bodies and Parts
• Live Human Props
• Bloody / Gory Props
• Severed Heads
• Skulls / Bones / Skeletons
• Animal Props
• Realistic Tombstones
• Animated Props
• Horror Weapons
• Puppets & Dolls
• Haunted House Props
• Package Deals
• Spooky Decorations
• Animated Decorations
• Haunted House Decor
• Zombie Decorations
• Clown Decorations
• Gargoyle Decorations
• Professional Decorations
• Hanging Decorations
• Inflatable Decorations
• Christmas Decorations
• Horror Dome Poster Art
• Fog Machines
• Thunder & Lightning
• Cobweb Machines
• Haunted Lighting
• Electronics / Video
• Haunted Illusion Plans
• Professional Animatronics
• Electric Animatronics
• Budget Animatronics
• Animatronic Creatures
• Animatronic Zombies
• Animatronic Clowns
• Animatronic Humans
• Skeleton Animatronics
• Alien Animatronics
• Graveyard Animatronics
• Torture Animatronics
• Animatronic Barrels
• Furniture / House Props
• Live Actor Shocktronics
• Fortune Teller Machines
• Air Blasters & Controllers
• Mechanisms & Frames

Haunted House Decorations

• Haunted House Facades
• Ghost Bust Projections
• Haunted House Masks
• Haunted House Costumes
• New Products

• Masks HD Studios Masks HD Studios Pro Masks HD Comfort Fit Masks NEW 2023 HD Masks Scary Masks Halloween Masks Classic Monster Masks Creepy Masks Zombie Masks Clown Masks Vampire Masks Demon Masks Horror Masks Alien Masks Gory / Bloody Masks Ghost and Ghoul Masks Fantasy Masks Licensed Movie Masks Slipknot Masks Realistic Masks Moving Mouth Masks Movie Prosthetics Realistic Human Masks Silicone Masks Hands & Feet Makeup & Accessories
• Costumes HD Studios Costumes HD Studios Pro Costumes HD Night Terror Costumes HD Comfort Fit Costumes HD Hollywood Costumes Costume Types Women's Costumes Men's Costumes Professional Costumes Costume Robes Value / Budget Costumes Creature Reacher Costumes Themed Costumes Sci-Fi / Alien Costumes Clown Costumes Monster Costumes Movie Costumes Vampire Costumes Zombie Costumes Accessories Costume Shoes Costume Wigs / Hats Hands & Feet Horror & Fairy Wings Horror Chests Costume Props Horror Dome T-Shirts
• Props Scary Props HD Studios Props Professional Props Alien Props Clown Props Zombie Props Graveyard Props Monster Props Realistic Props Human Bodies and Parts Live Human Props Bloody / Gory Props Severed Heads Skulls / Bones / Skeletons Animal Props Realistic Tombstones Horror Movie Props Animated Props Horror Weapons Puppets & Dolls Haunted House Props Package Deals
• Decorations Scary / Creepy Decorations Spooky Decorations Animated Decorations Haunted House Decor Zombie Decorations Clown Decorations Gargoyle Decorations General Decorations Professional Decorations Hanging Decorations Inflatable Decorations Package Deals Realistic Tombstones Christmas Decorations Horror Dome Poster Art Special Effects Fog Machines Thunder & Lightning Cobweb Machines Haunted Lighting Electronics / Video Haunted Illusion Plans
• Animatronics General Animatronics Professional Animatronics Electric Animatronics Budget Animatronics Scary Animatronics Animatronic Creatures Animatronic Zombies Animatronic Clowns Animatronic Humans Skeleton Animatronics Alien Animatronics Graveyard Animatronics Torture Animatronics Fixtures / Furniture Animatronic Barrels Furniture / House Props Live Actor Shocktronics Fortune Teller Machines Animatronic Mechanisms Air Blasters & Controllers Mechanisms & Frames
• Haunted Houses Haunted House Decor Professional Animatronics Haunted House Props Haunted House Decorations Haunted House Facades Package Deals Lighting / Effects Fog Machines Thunder & Lightning Cobweb Machines Haunted Lighting Electronics / Video Ghost Bust Projections Haunted House Actors Haunted House Masks Haunted House Costumes Live Actor Shocktronics

SIGN UP TO GET PRODUCT UPDATES, NEWS AND SPECIAL OFFERS.

Subscribe to get product updates, special offers, free giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals.

Professional Haunters and Home Decorators alike, you've come to the right place! TheHorrorDome.com is the one place where home haunters can decorate their home to look like a professional Haunted House, while the professionals can also find everything they need to draw crowds and keep them scared and coming back! The best selection of exclusive Halloween haunted house decorations, haunted house props, and supplies can only be found right here at TheHorrorDome.com, including the most affordable line of Haunted House Decorations , the goriest, most realistic collection of professional  Haunted House Props and professional quality Haunted House Lighting and Special Effects that you'll find anywhere!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Horror Dome masks, costumes and props are not available in stores, as the manufacturer we only sell our Collector masks, costumes and props right here on our website. This insures that you will have an original Horror Dome mask design and not a cheap knock off.

Horror Dome Studios products are made thicker but are still very comfortable so they last longer and could take much more abuse than other Halloween products on the market. We also have Hollywood artists sculpting our designs keeping every product we make original. Each Horror Dome product is hand painted for the most realistic look possible. Our products are not sold in stores so you can be guaranteed not to have the same over produced product that everyone else has.

A Pre-Order is an item that has not yet been released by the manufacturer, but is available to be ordered in advanced.

Pre-Ordering an item is a great way to guarantee yourself a place in line, as we ship on a first come first serve basis.

The expected ship month for the product is an estimate of our release date. It is the most accurate information we have, but not necessarily a guarantee.

If you place a Pre-Order, you will be billed now to guarantee your place in line. There are no cancellations on Pre-Orders since once you place your order the product will be added to our production list and we will start making it for you.

Credit Cards accepted: American Express - Discover - MasterCard - Visa.We also accept PayPal, Sezzle and Amazon Pay.

Yes, we do ship internationally. It will cost more to ship your order internationally than within the United States. Delivery times are also longer for international shipping.

Often when you purchase more than one item, it will come from more than one studio or warehouse. This means that the rest of your order is being sent separately and can sometimes arrive at different times.

Another possibility is that one of the items is out of stock. When this occurs, the amount of that item plus its shipping will be refunded back to your card (or PayPal or check in the mail).

If your mask too loose, you can glue some new and unused sponges or sheet foam cut to size into the inside using rubber cement or silicone bathtub caulk. If it is too tight, you might consider slitting the back. However, it is very rare that a mask is too tight as our artists design our pieces with wear ability in mind.

By such and such date - we cannot make promises on delivery times, and do not accept refunds for any non-Halloween deadline. You can always email and ask.

Keep your mask on a wig stand, or something roughly head-shaped. Keep them out of heat. Keep them out of sunlight and fluorescent lighting. If the mask becomes distorted (remember latex is a natural product) use a blow drier on the low-heat setting. Store covered in a plastic bag, or in a sealed display case.

If we Still haven't answered your question? Contact us!

Horror Dome Studios Masks

Your horror experts at the Horror Dome are proud to present you with a collection of high-quality Halloween masks to bring a new level of fright to your life. With our collection of ghosts, ghouls, aliens, cryptids, and more, you’ll be able to steal the show during your next masquerade ball, Halloween gathering or when you Trick or Treat.

All our Halloween masks for adults are fashioned from the highest quality latex by our terror inspired craftsmen to give the most realistic horror experience to everyone you encounter during your masked escapades. Each of our scary Halloween mask lines brings its own special flair to the design, from our  movie-quality HD Studio Masks  to our Ultra-Realistic  Silicone Halloween Masks  that turn your every movement into a fresh dose of horror to your costume.

If you’re looking for the perfect face for your next haunted costumed horror event, the Horror Dome has scary Halloween masks that are sure to steal the show.

A Brief History of the Haunted House

How Walt Disney inspired the world’s scariest Halloween tradition

Chris Heller

Former Assistant Digital Editor, Humanities

The  scariest haunted house of 2017  is a giant walk-through attraction located in the former Georgia Antique Center in the outskirts of Atlanta. Named Netherworld , it features 3D special effects, aerial performers and, of course, flesh-eating clowns. Netherworld frightens so effectively, so inescapably, that people with heart conditions are  warned against buying tickets .

This is what a haunted house is supposed to do. They exist to scare people. The idea behind haunted houses is not new, of course— people have entertained themselves with spooky stories for centuries — but haunted houses are different because they are inseparable from the holiday that vaulted them to cultural prominence. The tradition could not exist without Halloween; Halloween would not be the same without it.

The origins of the haunted house date back to 19th-century London, when a series of illusions and attractions introduced the public to new forms of gruesome entertainment. In 1802, Marie Tussaud scandalized British audiences with an exhibition of wax sculptures of decapitated French figures, including King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Marat and Robespierre. Tussaud's likenesses were remarkably accurate, and with good reason — she created death masks of  the French Revolution's many guillotine victims . When she set up a permanent London exhibition, she dubbed her grotesque collection the "Chamber of Horrors" — a name that has stuck  to the wax museum to this day .

At the turn of the 20th century, as Rebekah McKendry describes in  Fangoria  magazine , the closest relatives to modern haunted houses began experimenting with macabre themes. In Paris, the Grand Guignol theater became notorious for its on-stage depictions of  graphic dismemberment ; the theater's director, Max Maurey, famously boasted that he judged each performance by the number of people who passed out, shocked, in the audience. In 1915, an English fairground in Liphook debuted one of the first " ghost houses ," an early type of commercial horror attraction. The public appetite for horror was picking up.

Lisa Morton, author of  Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween , tells Smithsonian.com that Halloween-themed haunted houses first emerged during the Great Depression as American parents schemed up ways to distract young tricksters, whose holiday pranks had escalated to  property damage, vandalism and harassment of strangers . "They came in about the same time as trick-or-treat did," she says. "Cities looked for ways to buy these kids off, essentially."

Those first haunted houses were very primitive. Groups of families would decorate their basements and hold "house-to-house” parties. Kids could spook themselves by traveling from basement to basement and experiencing different scary scenes.  This 1937 party pamphlet  describes how parents could also design "trails of terror" to spook their children. The effects may seem familiar to anyone who has ever been disappointed by a sub-par scare:

An outside entrance leads to a rendezvous with ghosts and witches in the cellar or attic. Hang old fur, strips of raw liver on walls, where one feels his way to dark steps....Weird moans and howls come from dark corners, damp sponges and hair nets hung from the ceiling touch his face....Doorways are blockaded so that guests must crawl through a long dark tunnel....At the end he hears a plaintive 'meow' and sees a black cardboard cat outlined in luminous paint..."

The haunted house didn't become a cultural icon, though, until Walt Disney decided to build one. Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion opened in 1969, nearly two decades after Disney first approved  the beleaguered project . The attraction, which was designed in the style of the  Evergreen House  and the  Winchester Mystery House , quickly became a success. In a single day shortly after its debut, more than 82,000 people passed through the Haunted Mansion. The attraction's centerpiece is the  Grand Hall , a 90-foot-long ballroom sequence of  dancing ghouls at a birthday party . Disney brought to scene to life through an exceptionally complex series of illusions known as Pepper's ghost, which use refracted light to project and shape ethereal images. "A lot of the professional haunters will point to one thing, and that's Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. It's the start of the haunted attraction industry," Morton says. The attraction was revolutionary, as she explains in  Trick or Treat :

What made the Haunted Mansion so successful and so influential, however, was not its similarity to haunted houses and "dark rides" (that is, tawdry carnival haunted houses) of the past, but its use of startling new technologies and effects. Ghosts were no longer simply sheets hung in a tree, but were instead actual shimmering translucent figures that moved, spoke and sang. A witch wasn't just a rubber-masked figure bent over a fake cauldron, but a completely realistic bodiless head floating in a crystal ball, conducting a complex séance.

Within a few years, the haunted house had spread across the country. The United States Junior Chamber, also known as Jaycees, became famous for raising money through its haunted houses. (The fundraising venture was successful enough to spawn its own how-to guide.) In California, Knott's Berry Farm began hosting its own Halloween night attractions, which soon transformed into a multi-week slate of events. Every year, a man named Bob Burns attracted national media attention for  his detailed recreations of classic horror movies . Evangelical Christians even made their own anti-Halloween attractions; Jerry Falwell and Liberty University introduced one of the first " hell houses " in 1972.

As Hollywood began to embrace slasher movies like  Halloween ,  A Nightmare on Elm Street , and  Friday the 13th , the haunted house industry reaped the benefits. The horror boom fueled a demand for scary attractions, not to mention cross-promotional advertisements. "If you went to a haunted house in the 1980s and 1990s, you would've seen a lot of Freddy Krueger, Jason, Pinhead. The haunted house industry really followed the movie industry at that time," Larry Kirchner, president of  Haunted House Association , a trade group for haunted house operators, tells Smithsonian.com.

Professional haunted houses first emerged as a force in the same era, quickly outspending non-profit groups like the Jaycees. Then, tragedy struck: A fire at a haunted house in New Jersey  trapped and killed eight teenagers . In the aftermath of their deaths,  attractions were shut down , and politicians enacted  stronger safety regulations.  Volunteer organizations struggled to compete against new competition under tougher rules. Soon, many were forced out of business. It was a watershed moment for the industry, says Kirchner: "The Jaycees got pushed out because their haunted houses were fairly basic. It was based on the premise that people would volunteer, but when you have people opening big haunted houses with lots of advertising, that's hard," he says.

During the next two decades, the number of professional haunted houses erupted. Kirchner estimates that roughly 2,700 of them operated nationwide last year. A large haunted house attraction can reportedly earn  $3 million during the Halloween season , and the industry is worth  $300 million , according to an NBC report.

These days, haunted houses are no longer just about creepy characters and hyper-realistic horror. Instead, the industry has flocked to all sorts of new, extreme frights:  zombie runs ,  escape games , and  experiences seemingly designed to traumatize . How long will these successes last? Can the haunted house last another half-century? And if it does, what will it look like?

Kirchner doubts that the haunted house is here to stay. "If I was going to guess, I'd say no," he says. "Every business will eventually fail, so we just want to last as long as we possibly can."

A Halloween without haunted houses? Now that's a scary thought.

Get the latest History stories in your inbox?

Click to visit our Privacy Statement .

Chris Heller | | READ MORE

Chris Heller is the former assistant digital editor, humanities, for Smithsonian magazine.

23 Insanely Scary DIY Haunted House Ideas

The Sits Girls

Some people like to decorate their houses for Halloween. Other people like to transform their homes into terrifying haunted houses. A little DIYing can help you get there, whether you want to create a full-blown experience for trick-or-treaters or you're just looking to decorate a little.

The more time you put into decorating for Halloween, the bigger the pay off as far as how memorable your home is to the neighbors. Explore these outrageously spooky haunted house ideas and figure out which makes the most sense for your home this year.

Use Chicken Wire to Make Creepy Ghosts

Wholesale Party Supplies

 You can hang a white sheet and create a ghost, but this idea is sure to be more creepy. By using chicken wire, you can make the ghosts appear more lifelike in form. Also, opt for cheesecloth instead of sheets to make the entire project more spooky.

DIY Chicken Wire Ghosts from  Wholesale Party Supplies

Start With PVC Pipe to Build a Grim Reaper

Print With My Pic

There's nothing quite as scary as the Grim Reaper making an appearance at your haunted house. The important thing is to take your time with this tutorial and use a foam wig stand to help make the shape true to form.

Make Your Own Grim Reaper Prop from  Print With My Pic

Use Old Dolls for a Grotesque Mobile

There's not much creepier than a bunch of ragged, destroyed dolls hanging from the ceiling with weapons and blood galore. Just make sure whichever doll you decide to destroy isn't worth a ton of money first. 

DIY Creepy Doll Mobile from  Epbot

Make Your Home's Exterior Angry

Craftibilities

All you need to add some moody ambiance to your house is a wood sheet, sharpies, and some paint. For this project, the teeth have a lip that rests between two of the porch beams, so no nails were needed. 

Make House Come Alive for Halloween from  Craftibilities

Hang Some Halloween Skeletons From Your Roof

Instructables

If you want to add a touch of creepiness to your home's exterior but don't want to go all out, pick up a bunch of plastic skeletons and dangle them from your roof and windows. 

DIY Climbing Halloween Skeletons from Instructables

Throw Around a Few Body Bags

This project is an inexpensive way to add major creepy vibes to any part of your haunted house. The key is to make the shape of the bags as body-like as possible. To accomplish this, stuff actual clothing with newspaper then put your dressed body inside the trash bags.

Body Bag Halloween Decorations from  Craftibilities

Make This Terrifying Werewolf Head

If you love sculpting with clay , try out this haunted house idea. Werewolves are a classic Halloween staple, but sometimes they can look less than scary. Learn how to make your own and it will surely look ferocious. Hang the finished piece under your front porch or just inside your home's foyer.

DIY Werewolf Head Decor from   Instructables

Float Some Candles Overhead

This haunted house DIY is inspired by Harry Potter , but even non-fans will be spooked when they look up and see the candles magically floating in mid-air.

Harry Potter Floating Candles from  The Sits Girls

Construct This Scary Jack-o'-lantern Archway

Crazi Carlos

While you will need a ton of scary plastic jack-o'-lanterns to make this idea come to life, the end result will be totally worth it. The base of this arch is constructed out of a PVC pipe, so it's easy to customize to your specific entryway.

DIY Pumpkin Archway from Crazi Carlos

Weave This Giant Spider Web

My Untangled Life

No one wants to get caught in a spider web, especially not inside a haunted house. Learn how to weave a simple web and place them around your haunted house perimeter or to block off certain areas you don't want guests.

DIY Giant Spider and Web from My Untangled Life

Turn a Normal Doormat Into a Spiderweb Doormat

Delia Creates

This haunted house idea is more practical than it is scary. If you are inviting guests into your home to get spooked, make sure they wipe off their feet first. You can customize a basic black rug using white fabric paint.

DIY Spiderweb Doormat from Delia Creates

Place Some Skeleton Zombies on the Lawn

Take advantage of your front lawn space when setting up your haunted house. One way to do this is by littering the lawn with zombie skeletons. Craft a form out of PVC pipe, add some stained red clothing, and then put on a foam skeleton head.

DIY Zombies from  Craftibilities

Craft an Archway Using Plastic Skulls and Chains

  My Funhouse Projects

One of the most impressive parts of a haunted house is the entryway, so don't skimp on this first impression. Try to create this giant archway using carved foam boards. Next, add some extra detail using paint, decorative chains, and plastic skulls 

DIY Spooky Archway from My Funhouse Projects

Paint a Spooky Halloween Subway Sign

A Pumpkin and a Princess

Signs are a great way to set the tone of your haunted house. Some haunted houses are downright scary and others might be more suitable for children. This sign works well for a more underage type haunted house. Simply find a canvas or some old boards you can stencil.

DIY Halloween Subway Art Sign from A Pumpkin and a Princess

Learn How to Build This Electric Chair

If you love building things with wood, perhaps this is the perfect haunted house idea for you to try this year. The devil is in the detail on this one, so don't expect to complete this project in one sitting.

DIY Electric Chair from  Haunt 31

Add Some Silhouetted Figures to Your Windows

To add instant haunted curb appeal to your house, make a bunch of silhouetted figures using cardboard. If you aren't good at drawing freehand, the original creator included some downloadable templates. This haunted house idea is perfect if you want to make a big impact on a very small budget.

Haunted House Silhouettes from  Make:

Don't Forget About Your Home's Interior

Flamingo Toes

If you plan on having your haunted house party or tour inside your home, make sure that virtually everything that is on display is creepy in one way or another. You can do this in an obviously gory way, or you can opt for a more elegant yet gothic approach with these candlesticks.

Spooky Crystal Ball Candlesticks from  Flamingo Toes

DIY an Eek Marquee Sign

This is another more lighthearted haunted house idea that would work well for young children. You want to have the haunted house be whimsical, a little creepy, but not downright scary. This sign is made out of paper mache letters, paint, and a string of lights

DIY Eek Marquee from Lolly Jane

Label Everything With Creepy Words

Lia Griffith

No detail is too small when it comes to creating an absolutely unforgettable haunted house. Visitor's senses will be heightened and they will take in all sorts of creepy characteristics. If your haunted house is indoors, create a vignette of poisons and other bizarre potions using these apothocary labels.

Printable Apothecary Labels for Halloween from  Lia Griffith

Create a Gallery of Ghost-like Faces

Seeing anything other than your face in a mirror can be a creepy experience. To recreate that concept in your haunted house, take some silver mirror spray paint and coat the inside of a glass frame to 60% opacity. Next, add in a photo of a creepy ghost or face behind the glass.

Hitch Hiking Ghost Mirrors from  Anniemated

Scatter Glowing Spooky Eyes Around Your House

Dream a Little Bigger

Hide these DIY glowing spooky eyes in bushes, trees, or in windows to make it look like a monster is lurking around your home. To make your own, use a cardboard tube (like a toilet paper roll) and a glow stick.

DIY Glowing Spooky Eyes from Dream a Little Bigger

Put Some Writing on the Wall

From House to Home

In many cases, writing scary words on the wall in a red blood-like paint will work well. However, if you want to have a darkly lit haunted house, using glow in the dark paint is a much better option.

Glow in the Dark Party Ideas for Halloween from  From House to Home

Pose Skeletons in Creative Ways

Helpful Homemade

If you're short on ideas on how to make a kid-friendly haunted house, consider ways to make the creepy seem more fun and human. For instance, pose some skeletons in creative ways doing everyday things. 

DIY Skeleton Lawn Decor from  Helpful Homemade

More from The Spruce Crafts

• 17 Spooky Skull DIYs Perfect for Halloween
• Free Pumpkin Coloring Pages for Kids
• How to Make a Stuffed Dummy
• 25 Creative Pumpkin Carving Ideas
• 12 Free 'You've Been Booed' Printables
• 62 Spooktacular DIY Halloween Decorations
• 13 DIY Planter Box Plans for Free
• 35 Christmas Wreaths You Can DIY
• 12 DIY Lego Tables
• DIY Free Standing Cardboard Tombstones for Halloween
• 9 Easy Fake Blood Recipes
• More Than 90 DIY Projects to Upgrade Your Home
• Free Halloween Clip Art for All of Your Projects
• How to Create and Share a Scary Halloween Feel Box
• 16 Free Halloween Invitations to Print
• 16 DIY Halloween Wreath Ideas

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.