[School Festival] Ideas for gimmicks to incorporate into a haunted house

Horror Sound Event

Fear-inducing sound: BGM for ghost story events, horror-themed izakayas, and haunted houses — “Grudge -on-”

When it comes to haunted houses, that feeling of fear drawing closer is a key point, and the question is how to stage it.

This BGM skillfully expresses that creeping sense of approaching terror using a variety of sounds.

Its foundation is a combination of uniquely floating tones and high-pitched sounds that stoke anxiety, and by intentionally avoiding harmony, it conveys instability.

It also effectively incorporates environmental sounds that evoke water and wind, enhancing the sensation that fear is closing in around you.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem

Handprints and footprints

[Stock Materials Hebito] Free Video Footage | Handprints & Blood

Have you ever had the experience that, while washing your car, a faint handprint suddenly appears out of nowhere? It’s probably just the mark left by a child or passerby pressing their hand on it, but depending on how it’s used, the idea of “handprints appearing” could provoke an unexpected sense of fear.

Handprints and footprints revealed by fluorescent paint, handprints and footprints that appear and vanish one after another on a computer screen, and if you stick them on a radio-controlled car, you’ve got moving handprints and footprints! Any of these could be great spice to liven up a haunted house.

Ask your teacher to lend you a computer.

Speaking of which, the handprints in the movie Ring are insanely scary…

play Buddhist sutras

Heart Sutra: Simply Listening Stabilizes the Mind and Purifies the Body and Spirit

No matter how scary a horror movie is, it might not be that frightening if you watch it with the volume off.

Maybe about half of human fear is generated by information that comes through our ears.

To make the students at school even more scared, sutra chants are a must-have item.

Play sutras to double up the haunted house atmosphere! Try varying the volume of the sutras—turn them down and up—and get creative with how you play them.

Running several sutras at the same time would surely be scary, too! If it’s a Western-style haunted house, darker hymns could also be a good fit.

Play a scary sound effect

Scream sound effect [female scream/horror/haunted house/royalty-free material]

With the surge in video platforms, more people are getting into video editing.

Sound effects like the booming taiko drum “dodon!” and the upbeat trumpet “parapparappappa” are common on YouTube.

And of course, a spooky haunted house absolutely needs scary BGM and sound effects! Groans, a baby crying, thunder, a creepy door creaking open, sutra chanting, spell incantations—you name it—there are tons of royalty-free sound effects uploaded to video sites.

It’s a good idea to have several sound-effect players ready to go.

ring the phone

Rotary phone — sound only

You’ve probably had the experience of getting startled when your phone suddenly rings while you’re watching a horror movie at home.

Well, phones do ring out of the blue—but if it happens inside a dimly lit haunted house, the effect is unbeatable! Of course, a smartphone won’t set the mood, so be sure to have an old-fashioned rotary phone ready.

These days we don’t pick up a handset very often, which makes that receiver even creepier.

Add some extra touches, like the bell not stopping even after you pick up the receiver, or a scream coming through when you say “Hello?”

grave

A classic prop for haunted houses is a “grave.” It has a vaguely eerie feel, so just having it prepared instantly boosts the atmosphere.

There are many ways to make one, but the simplest is to use cardboard.

Stack rectangular cardboard pieces in a stepped shape, then place a larger rectangular piece on top to create a tombstone-like look.

Paint it gray, and use a white marker to write something like “Family Grave” on it.

You can also add touches to make it look aged.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

yamamoto

Report a problem

Do wound makeup on the person playing the ghost.

Even when there aren’t any official Halloween events, people in costumes flock to Shibuya on the weekends as Halloween approaches.

You’ll see tons of folks sporting special-effects makeup, too.

In a haunted house, it’s essential to give the performers SFX and wound makeup! Makeup might feel like the girls’ territory, but here, everyone—regardless of gender—should try a scary look! Haunted houses are basically dim, so the trick is to use accents like fluorescent paint.

That slimy, sticky texture is the first step to making things creepy.

Be sure to check out videos by Japan’s world-renowned special-effects makeup artist, Screaming Mad George, for inspiration!