5 Things You Should Know Before You See The Conjuring 2

June 6, 2016 thefrightowl 1 Comment

The big week is here! The Conjuring 2 comes out this Friday, and I couldn’t be more excited. Seriously. I’m doing a little happy dance right now (which actually makes typing this post a little difficult, so I’m going to stop).

But we do have a lot to be excited about. The story is badass, it has some great actors, and it’s already getting great reviews. Plus, James Wan came back to direct instead of lending his skills to Fast 8. The guy knows his horror. A lot of scary movies nowadays (easy now, grandma) don’t have the right tone or try too hard, so I’m glad Wan was able to put his touch on this one.

All that being said, I highly recommend you go see this movie. And if you are being smart and planning on seeing it in theaters, here are a few pieces of trivia to make you seem cool in front of your friends:

1. Ed and Lorraine Warren are real people who have investigated a number of famous, creepy cases. They were involved in the investigation of the Amityville murders as well as the story at the heart of the 2009 movie, The Haunting in Connecticut. And, of course, there was Annabelle.

Ed passed away in 2006, but Lorraine is still around and even had a cameo in the classroom scene in The Conjuring.

2. Although the Warrens are the main protagonists of The Conjuring 2, they actually had very little to do with the Enfield Poltergeist case. They were invited to the investigation, but so were a lot paranormal researchers and investigators. But I think we all like Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson enough that we can let this one slide.

3. Although the movie is based – however loosely- on true events, there are many who believe the whole thing was a hoax. A series of pictures showing one of the daughters “levitating” are believed by many (including myself) to just be her jumping off her bed. Others claim to have seen the daughters bending spoons to use as evidence of a haunting, and one of the daughters even said the house wasn’t haunted in an interview before being told to shut up by her sister.

4. But those involved swear that although the children involved might have embellished some things, other creepy events were all too real, including moving furniture witnessed by a number of people and strange noises heard in the house.

5. Some Philippine viewers of the first movie claimed to have strange, creepy feelings after watching it, so Catholic priests were brought in to bless people before subsequent viewings. The set of The Conjuring 2 was blessed by a priest before shooting began, so you should be okay.

Bonus trivia: If you’ve watched The Conjuring (and I have an inkling you have), you are already aware of the Warren’s famous case about Annabelle. You probably also know there was a movie loosely based on the story. What you might not know is that the actual Annabelle doll is far from the creepy-looking doll from hell depicted in the movie. She’s just a Raggedy Ann doll that got a little frisky who now resides in a protected box in the museum Lorraine Warren manages in the back of her Connecticut home.

So who’s going this weekend? Let me know what you think of the movie in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Scary Stories, Television, Throwbacks

Throwback: Are You Afraid of the Dark?

June 2, 2016 thefrightowl Leave a comment

I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid, Snick on Nickolodeon was the highlight of my weekend (except for Tales from the Crypt). So many classic Nick shows. From Clarissa Explains It All to Ren & Stimpy, so many memories and so many laughs.

And, of course, there was this little gem.

Are You Afraid of the Dark? premiered on Nickelodeon in the early 90s and taught kids my age the art of the scary story. Stories were based on urban legends, supernatural beings, or fairy tales, and they always had a twist. They were like Tales from the Crypt or The Twilight Zone for a younger audience, except instead of the Cryptkeeper or Rod Serling, it had the Midnight Society, a group of kids who met at midnight around a campfire to tell scary stories. I always thought the Midnight Society was the coolest thing ever, and I wanted so badly to have a group like that of my own.

But whose parents are just going to let their 10-year-old out at midnight to hang around a campfire at a secret location in the woods? Not many.

There were so many awesome stories and characters. Some of my favorite episodes were:

The Tale of Laughing in the Dark: A kid visits a local carnival’s haunted house and steals the nose of Zeebo, an animatronic clown that turns out to be a little attached to his missing body part.
The Tale of the Nightly Neighbors: New neighbors arouse the suspicion of children in the house next door, who suspect they might be vampires.
The Tale of the Frozen Ghost: A kid and his babysitter visit his aunt’s house and encounter a spirit haunting the area. (To this day, I still utter a sad little “I’m cold” when I’m freezing. Watch it. You’ll know what I mean.)
The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner: A boy accidentally unleashes a comic book villain who terrorizes his town.
The Tale of the Dangerous Soup: A teen starts working in a restaurant and finds out their best-selling soup has an interesting ingredient.

I might just have to watch some of these again. They might be for a younger crowd, but I’ve never really grown up, so it’s okay.

Anyone out there have some favorite episodes they want to share? What are your favorite scary shows from your childhood?

Dark Comedy, Movies, Top Horror Lists

Top 20 Horror Movies to Make You Laugh

May 31, 2016 thefrightowl Leave a comment

Not everyone loves horror movies. Shocking. I know. But there are people out there that just don’t like to be scared, at least not completely. That’s why so many horror movies throw in comic relief from time to time.

So for those people who need a little more laughs than shivers, here’s the Fright Owl’s Top 20 Horror Movies to Make You Laugh.

Warning: Here be spoilers.

20) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994): Matthew McConaughey and Renee Zelwegger both star in this TCM sequel. It’s got a terrible rating on IMDB, but I recommend it just for the absurdity of it all. Plus, Renee Zelwegger bellows a menacing “You sit the fuck down!” at a rising Leatherface. Instant classic moment.

19) House (1986): The monsters in this remind me of a Looney Tunes episode. Just a bunch of craziness and some classic 80s sweaters.

18) Lake Placid (1999): Betty White plays an old lady who has been feeding alligators along with her husband in her lake for years. Who cares that one got so big it started eating people? You leave her babies alone.

17) Gremlins 2 (1990): This was so entertaining to me when I was a kid, and it still has some good value today. The gremlins dress up in all sorts of fun little costumes, and remember the theater scene? Love it.

16) American Werewolf in London (1981): This one’s a little scarier than some on the list, but it’s got some comedic value, mostly in the form of David’s deceased buddy, Jack.

15) Slither (2006): Gross and funny, this one stars fan-favorite Nathan Fillion and boasts some great laughs and many nasty moments to make you cringe.

14) The Lost Boys (1987): Corey Haim and Corey Feldman team up to take down the vampire menace plaguing their town, and while there are some serious moments, there are a ton of laughs.

13) Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2007): This innovative horror film cracked me up when I first saw it. It’s a very different take on the genre, taken from the point of view of a documentary film crew who interviews an up-and-coming slasher.

12) Jennifer’s Body (2009): This movie was dogged when it first came out, maybe because it starred Megan Fox. But believe me when I say that this one is crazy entertaining.

11) Zombieland (2009): Just give Woody Harrelson some twinkies! I’m not a fan of Jesse Eisenberg, but this horror comedy had a lot of great moments and some great laughs. And I, of course, have to mention THE cameo from Bill Murray. I mean, how great was that?

10) Young Frankenstein (1974): Such a classic movie starring the late, great Gene Wilder. The ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ dance is a classic movie moment, and although I’ve seen it over and over, I laugh every time.

9) The ‘Burbs (1989): Tom Hanks just wants to have a quiet vacation at his home, but his neighbor isn’t having it and wants him to help investigate the creepy newcomers who just moved next door. So many shenanigans. And another one with Corey Feldman.

8) Ghostbusters (1984): I don’t think I need to go into any description of this one, a classic comedy with ghosts aplenty.

7) Seed of Chucky (2004): The Child’s Play movies started off scary, but Chucky went full funny in this one.

6) Tremors (1990): Kevin Bacon has to deal with crazy creatures under the dirt in his desert home, but no worries, Reba McEntire is there to help.

5) Cabin in the Woods (2012): Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard made a classic when they made this one. It’s a different take on the origin of scary movies, and it delivers laugh after laugh along with the scary moments.

4) Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil (2010): Just a big misunderstanding leads to some hilarious situations in this movie starring Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine.

3) Evil Dead II (1987) & Army of Darkness (1992): I let these two share a number because I just couldn’t decide which one to put on top. Bruce Campbell is amazing in both.

2) Beetlejuice (1988): This movie delivers a ghost story with some hilarity and a fantastic I performance from Michael Keaton.

1) Shaun of the Dead (2004): I LOVE THIS MOVIE. This is the first of the Cornetto Trilogy from Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, and it’s a crazy-fun ride through the zombie apocalypse.

So are there any that should have been on this list that I missed?

Books, Scary Stories, Television

Frightmaster Lovecraft, Spinnin’ Terror

May 27, 2016 thefrightowl Leave a comment

It’s Friday again, and if you’re looking for a way to start your weekend off with a fright, then I suggest you look into the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

Even if you haven’t read any of Lovecraft’s stories, you are still sure to have read, heard, or watched something that was influenced by him. Multiple musicians, directors, comic book artists, and authors (including the master of horror himself, Stephen King) have cited Lovecraft as a huge inspiration in their work.

And for all you Evil Dead fans (myself included), you know the Necronomicon? Yeah. He invented that. Respect.

Now, if you’re looking for light reading, this ain’t it. His stories boast some of the heaviest content I have ever read. Thinking about the size of the universe and your place in it can make you feel small, but Lovecraft’s descriptions of our place in the galaxy, the origins of our ancestors, and ancient inhabitants of our planet make you feel positively microscopic.

It’s not feel-good material is what I’m saying. It’s just good. Really good.

My favorites of his stories are “At the Mountains of Madness,” “Dreams in the Witch House,” “The Dunwich Horror,” “The Shunned House,” and, of course, “The Call of Cthulhu.”

It’s about this guy, but scarier.

I suggest you start with all of those and keep going.

Not much of a reader? No problem. Check out the following movies and TV episodes based on or influenced by his work:

Re-Animator (1985): This horror-comedy based on Lovecraft’s story “Herbert West – Re-Animator” is gory, disturbing, and hilarious.
Masters of Horror – “Dreams in the Witch House” (2005): The second episode of this awesome series (check it out if you haven’t already) is directly taken from the story of the same name. It’s dark and creepy, and it’s one of my favorites.
South Park – “Coon 2: Hindsight,” “Mysterion Rises,” & “Coon vs. Coon & Friends” (2010): Trouble begins in the first episode of this trilogy when DP drills too deep into the ocean floor and releases Cthulhu from the watery depths. Of course, Cartman is there to make friends. If you love to laugh, this will not disappoint.
The Thing (1982): Although it isn’t actually based on the story, this movie is reminiscent of “At the Mountains of Madness,” one of my all-time favorite Lovecraft stories. Antarctica? Check. Doom? Check. Gloom? Check. Creepy Alien Lifeforms? Check.

I believe I’ll take my own advice and re-read some of my favorite stories over this long weekend. What about you? Do you have any favorites? What Lovecraftian horrors give you the chills?

Creepy Crafts, DIY Horror, Halloween, Props

Project Scarecrow: How to Create Something Great with Papier Mache

May 25, 2016 thefrightowl Leave a comment

It’s time for another DIY tutorial! Since I shared my love of PVC pipe last time, this week I thought I’d talk about another one of my favorite project materials: Papier Mache.

When my love of Halloween prop DIY began, I ate up everything I could online. There are so many awesome Halloween blogs out there with so many great projects that I felt a little overwhelmed but so excited about the possibilities. Although I looked at every Halloween blog I could find, my three favorites for inspiration were (and are) Stolloween, Pumpkinrot, and Spookyblue.

I fell in love with all the cool, creepy props the artists had made, especially the scarecrows. I liked the scarecrows so much in fact that I decided I would try to make one, too.

One of the first steps when doing a papier mache project is to create a base. This could be a number of things, whatever you can use to create the shape you want. I wanted to make a large pumpkin head, so I used a large plastic grocery bag filled with newspaper. To get the pumpkin ridges, I used masking tape to create the right shape, and for the stem, I used a rolled up piece of a magazine secured with masking tape.

After the base has been made, it’s time to make the glue. There are so many recipes for this stuff online. Choose whichever one works best for you. For mine, I mixed flour and water at a ratio of 1 to 4, and then added some white Elmer’s glue and some liquid starch because I read that it would help the mixture adhere to the paper more easily and create a stronger hold.

Next, it’s time to get messy.

Take strips of shredded newspaper and dip them in the glue mixture. After they’re completely covered, start laying them over your base, making sure to create a thin layer over the entire thing and allowing it to dry a bit before adding a new layer. It’s best to do multiple layers for a stronger prop. I think I used about seven layers for my scarecrow head, but you could do more or less depending on what you’re going to be doing with the prop.

Next up is the detail work. After my scarecrow head dried, I removed the newspaper and bag from a hole in the bottom. You can use your own judgment to decide whether or not you need to do this step. If you’re not going to cut into your prop, you can probably skip it. Since my scarecrow wouldn’t be scary without a creepy face, I drew an outline on the form and then carefully cut out the mouth, nose, and eyes with a craft knife.

For the finishing touches, I used spray paint and dry brushing to give my scarecrow head some color and creepiness. Pieces of dried cane from my husband’s grandmother were used to make the scarecrow body, fastened together in a T-shape with tape and twine. Lastly, I draped some creepy cloth over the arms to flesh it out a bit.

Voila! Scarecrow.

Sure. It might not be the fantastic creations of Spookyblue and Pumpkinrot, but although it might not measure up to those guys, I was pretty damn pleased with the final product. Plus, it was my first attempt, and practice makes perfect. I even got compliments from the trick-or-treaters that came to the house. I call that a success.

I’m already looking forward to making some new creepy things this year. There aren’t many days left until Halloween, so I better start planning now. What about you? Are you planning on any cool props this year? I’d love to hear about your creations in the comments!

Movie Reviews, Movies

Guy Woodhouse, You Despicable Bastard

May 23, 2016 thefrightowl Leave a comment

If you’re a fan of horror movies or even movies in general, you know there is no shortage of characters to hate. Some are just bad, some are so bad you love to hate them, and some are the kind of bad that makes you afraid of them.

And then there’s this douchebag.

One of my favorite horror movies (see my Top 25) is Rosemary’s Baby. It’s also home to one of the absolutely most despicable characters I’ve ever seen: Guy Woodhouse, poor Rosemary’s husband.

WARNING; If you haven’t seen the movie yet (and shame on you if you haven’t), here be spoilers.

The movie opens with Rosemary and her husband, Guy, apartment hunting in New York. They end up in the Brown, an old building with a lot of frightening history, and make friends with the old couple living next door, Roman and Minnie Castevet. After having dinner with them one night, Guy grows close with them.

I’ll cut to the chase. Minnie and Roman are actually Satan worshippers who help Guy become successful after he consents to allowing Rosemary to be raped and impregnated by the devil.

And if that last sentence doesn’t do it for you, let me run down the reasons why I hate him so much:

Rosemary is a sweet, naive young woman who loves Guy and wants nothing more than to have his children and live a happy life with him. Guy knows this, and he sacrifices her happiness to get ahead in his profession.
He tells her he wants to have a baby, something she wants so, so much. Then, he drugs her, undresses her for the ritual to take place in front of the Satan-worshippers, and – what was the last thing? Oh, yeah – allows her to be RAPED BY SATAN!
He repeatedly makes Rosemary feel like crap during her pregnancy. She gets a haircut (THE iconic pixie haircut), and he tells her multiple times how terrible it looks (very minor compared to rape, but still). She says she wants to get a second opinion about the terrible pain she’s experiencing, and he says he won’t let her do it because it isn’t fair to her doctor.
He sacrifices Rosemary’s friend (and his friend), Hutch, to ensure that he doesn’t get in the way. THEN, he throws away a book that is the only thing Hutch leaves Rosemary. Yeah, he throws it away to keep Rosemary from reading anything else about Roman’s history, but it’s a pretty crappy thing to do.
This line: “They told me you wouldn’t be hurt, and you haven’t been, really. Supposing you had the baby and you lost it. That would be the same thing, wouldn’t it? And we’re getting so much in return, Ro.” Ugh!
And one more time for those in the back: HE ALLOWS HER TO BE RAPED BY SATAN.Yep. This guy.

Whoa. I got pretty riled up and angry just from writing all of that. I just cannot stand this guy. So what about you? Are there any characters in horror movies that just make your skin crawl?

Creepy Kids, Games, Throwbacks

Throwback: Bloody Mary and Other Deadly Games

May 19, 2016 thefrightowl Leave a comment

I remember watching Candyman at a sleepover I hosted when I was little. My friends and I decided to test the movie’s premise by speaking the name ‘Candyman’ 5 times in the mirror in the bathroom. (Spoiler Alert: He didn’t show.)

My aunt came over when we were in the middle of it, and being an inquisitive individual, she asked, “What the hell are you doing?! What were you going to do if he showed up? Die?”

I guess we hadn’t thought that far ahead.

But being idgit kids, we played these games over and over and over. And being an idgit adult, I decided to play a few tonight, just for the sense of nostalgia. Here are my favorite deadly games from yesteryear:

Bloody Mary

Not this.

I really don’t think I need to explain this one, but just in case you’re a mole person that just escaped your hatch, you basically speak the name “Bloody Mary” three times in front of a bathroom mirror in the dark and she appears to kill you, or hurt you, or read you a scary story or something.

So I went to my bathroom, turned the lights off, and said the magic words. She was a no-show. But then I decided to pee while I was in there and found out I had started my period. Success?

Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board

This one probably needs very little explanation. A group of kids surround a kid who is lying on the floor. Each kid puts two fingers under the lucky kid on the floor and chants “light as a feather, stiff as a board” repeatedly until the kid magically floats off the floor. Just good old-fashioned witchcraft at its finest, folks.

Well, as you can tell from the description above, you need more than a few people to do this one, but I improvised by getting my husband and dog involved. Since my dog doesn’t have fingers, she got to be the lucky one on the floor.

And she was not having it.

We attempted to do the chanting and the lifting, but she just wiggled around until we gave up. I mean, we were able to lift her, but it wasn’t really in the spirit of the game.

Concentrate

We’d do this one while waiting in lines in elementary school. Two people play. One pounds lightly on the other’s back while chanting “Concentrate. Concentrate. Concentrate on what I’m saying. People are dying. Children are crying. Concentrate. Concentrate.” Not awkward at all.

Anyway, creepy verses follow that have corresponding hand movements for effect. You can check out this link for the full thing. Afterward, the kid not chanting is supposed to open her eyes and find out how she’s going to die according to whatever colored door she sees. Makes sense, right?

My husband took a bit of convincing because, for some reason, he didn’t want to know how he was going to die. Go figure. He didn’t really have to worry about anything. I couldn’t get through it. It’s actually really weird to chant something to someone’s back, even if that person is your spouse.

Ouija Board

Um…no. Not touching this one. The closest I’m getting to these is this tin of mints I bought at Spirit Halloween last year.

If you want to play around with this one again, be my guest. But fair warning:

Do you want demons? ‘Cause that’s how you get demons.

Well, it was fun walking down memory lane, but it really made me realize how little boundaries children have…and how dumb they can be. Like, what were we going to do with Candyman if he showed up?

List, Movies, Top Horror Lists

Top 5 Most Disappointing Movie Monsters

May 17, 2016 thefrightowl Leave a comment

We’ve all been there. You’re watching a horror movie. Strange, scary things are happening, and you just know whatever is the cause has got to be equal parts creepy and awesome.

Then, it shows up. And it kinda sucks. Why did it have to suck?

So in honor of our shared disappointment, this Top Tuesday post is dedicated to the Top 5 Most Disappointing Movie Monsters.

Quick disclaimer: I will not be including any SyFy movies in this list or else it would’ve been too damn long. And it would have been redundant. Most of them are supposed to be stupid, right?

5. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark

I was pretty excited for this movie when it was advertised. I only saw the trailers that didn’t show the creatures (I try to limit my views of horror movie trailers so they aren’t ruined), so I had no idea that the BIG BAD THINGS were cute, little fairy-like creatures. I mean, I wouldn’t mind having one of these little guys as a pet. I’d dress it up, take it to the park, feed it nice things. One thing I wouldn’t do is be terrified of it.

4. Cloverfield

I can’t say so much that I was disappointed in what this monster looked like; I was just disappointed they showed it all. It wasn’t that bad or anything. In my opinion, the movie just went downhill after they fully showed the big guy. I liked the glimpses, just not the whole enchilada. It was too much enchilada. Like when you think you can eat three at a Mexican restaurant, but you really should have only tackled two. You don’t hate the enchiladas. You just know you had too much.

3. Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension

I’ve said before that I love the Paranormal Activity movies. I just do. I enjoy the subtle effects and the storyline. Toby, little Kristie’s best friend, is the malevolent force behind all the chaos in the movies, and I think Toby, in his invisible form, was pretty cool.

And then they gave us the sixth installment, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension.

It wasn’t exactly terrible. It just sorta ruined the air of mystery surrounding Toby. I admit I was pretty excited to find out that they were going to “show the activity” in this one, but I was pretty disappointed to see Toby as just another CGI ghost. Oh well. It didn’t ruin the series for me. I just wasn’t a fan of visible Toby.

2. Stephen King’s The Langoliers

This one’s a little obscure if you aren’t a fan of 90s-era Stephen King TV movies, but it makes the list because it annoyed me soooooo much as a kid. I was so excited about The Langoliers when it was advertised. I remember even asking one of my teachers in fifth grade if he knew what they were at recess. Surprise, surprise. He didn’t.

So I watched this movie. If you don’t know, it’s about a group of people on a plane that flies through the aurora borealis. Everyone who was awake when that happens disappears, and those that were asleep awake to find themselves wondering why the hell all these people left without their clothes, wigs, pacemakers, and dentalwork.

Thankfully, one of the sleepy passengers just so happens to be a pilot who is able to land the plane at a deserted airport. After some quick sleuthing and leaps of logic, they figure out they went back in time, proving what middle schoolers already know – history is boring.

One of the passengers, an annoying businessman expertly played by Bronson Pinchot, tells a story about the Langoliers, monsters his dad used to tell him would come and eat him alive if he was bad. They end up hearing a buzzing noise off in the distance and decide they should get out of there before the source makes it to them. When the source finally shows up – the titular Langoliers – they are nothing but flying cannonballs with teeth, eating the landscape and devouring time as we know it. WTF, guys?

1. Stephen King’s IT (*Not Pennywise. He’s Cool.*)

Yep. Another King entry. It makes me a little sad to add this one to the list, but as much as I love Stephen King’s It and as much as it holds a very special place in my heart, even I can admit the monster reveal at the end was a let-down. Maybe it was because Pennywise was so awesome. There just wasn’t anything they could do to top him, so I imagine the conversation went something like this:

Guy 1: “Okay, we need something to be the actual monster at the end, so what could be scarier than this clown guy?”

Guy 2: “Giant spider?”

Guy 3: “…Yeah. Giant spider.”

Guy 1: “I guess. Let’s tell the effects team.”

Fin.

So those are the top 5 monsters that disappointed me. Are there any that I missed that made you a little sad?

Scary Stories

Have You Heard of the Goatman?

May 13, 2016 thefrightowl 2 Comments

It’s another edition of Friday Night Frights, and for this one, I really want to draw your attention to one of my all-time favorite scary stories. Have you heard of the Goatman?

There are Goatman legends in quite a few parts of the country, namely the Pope Lick Monster in Kentucky, the Lake Worth Monster in Texas, and the Goatman of Maryland.

But I’m not talking about those.

I am from Oklahoma, so Native American folklore has always been pretty fascinating to me. I grew up around Native American burial grounds, and there have been more than a few arrowheads found around my childhood home. Since I’ve always been a horror junkie, these circumstances have fueled my imagination ever since I was little because – well – burial grounds = dead people = ghosts.

Like these guys but – you know – scarier.

So when I came across Anansi’s Goatman Story a few years ago, I immediately fell in love. If you haven’t read it, I suggest you go read it now…unless it’s still daytime. Wait until night for a better effect.

In my opinion, this version of the Goatman is the most terrifying. This story just speaks to me. My house was near the woods, so I have little trouble imagining myself in the same situation. I can remember so many fun times with my friends out there in the forest: camping out, having sleepovers with late-night treks through the trees, and telling so many scary stories that every snap and crackle we heard became a monster. I can’t tell you how many times my friends and I were alone out there at night.

Thinking about hearing strange jabbering noises coming from the dark woods while you’re helpless to do anything, smelling something so out-of-place it puts you on edge, and realizing one of the people in your group doesn’t belong – well, that just creeps me right the hell out. But in an extremely good way.

Because of the popularity of this story, other internet storytellers have hopped on board the Goatman train. And I love every story I read. There have been stories on Reddit’s No Sleep and Creepypasta that have a similar vibe, and I hope they keep coming. Just check them all out.

So what’s your favorite scary story?

Creepy Crafts, DIY Horror, Halloween, Props

How to Create Awesome Halloween Props with PVC Pipe

May 11, 2016 thefrightowl 1 Comment

PVC pipe. If you haven’t played around with this stuff, you’re missing out on some fun. It is so versatile. Just type PVC Pipe in Pinterest and feast your eyes on all the cool things you can do. You can find everything from garden watering systems to a homemade ball pit for kids to organizational projects for the home. And of course, you can use them for Halloween props!

I never knew how much I loved PVC pipe projects until I saw a picture of a zombie prop frame and decided to try my hand at it. I got my project list, headed to Lowe’s, and ended up with this just a little while later:

You’ll have to forgive the low-light pic, but just look at this cool thing. It was my first prop project, but it definitely wasn’t the last. Check out these fun monsters I also made with a PVC pipe base, some masks, clothes, and foam heads:

If you want to try some projects out for yourself (and I know you do), just go to your local Lowe’s or Home Depot and check out their selection. The pipe itself comes in multiple sizes, and there are fittings of different angles to make your wildest dreams come true!

Okay. Maybe not your wildest dreams, but you’ll be able to do some pretty cool stuff with it. They’re like adult tinker toys. Seriously. It’s so fun.

Here are a few tips and tricks to get you started:

Draw it out.

The only art skill you need for this is basic stick-figure drawing. Drawing your prop first and counting the angles and connection points helps greatly with knowing how many fittings of each type you need.

For example, this is my sketch for the large standing prop:

An artist I am not. But you really don’t have to be. Draw the basic shape of your prop. For this one, I just wanted him to be standing straight with a slight bend to his arms, so it was very simple. For props that need strange angles, just draw them to the best of your ability. These are the guides I used for my monster props in the pics above.

See? More complicated but not impossible.

Use yourself as a guide to determine how long you need each section to be and write that down. Add all lengths together, and that will tell you how much PVC pipe to purchase.

To easily determine the type and number of fittings you need, use a different color pen and circle where pieces of pipe connect. The basic types of fittings available are 90-degree elbow, 45-degree elbow, 3-way elbow, tee, and cross. There are other types in stores, but these are the basic ones you will most likely use. After you’re finished, count all the circles for each connection. Now, you know how many of each type of fitting to buy.

BUY A PVC PIPE CUTTER.

There’s a reason this one is in all caps. A PVC pipe cutter makes these projects go so much more smoothly and cleanly than using anything else. I tried using a hacksaw the first time followed by an extra small rotary saw blade. It sucked. PVC dust went everywhere, and that’s just not healthy. You can buy one of these cutters at Lowe’s or Home Depot for cheap, and it makes all the difference. Other tutorials recommend the hacksaw, but I’m super partial to the pipe cutter method.

Make it sturdy.

PVC pipe fits pretty snuggly by itself in the fittings, but over time, the pipe can loosen, which can cause your prop to fall or possibly break apart. If you want to make your props permanent, use PVC glue found at any hardware store. Or you can use them on select fittings to keep your props a little more stable but still able to be deconstructed easily.

I don’t use the glue much because I like to be able to take my props apart completely. When you have as much Halloween stuff as I do, space is a big deal. So I use screws. Small wood screws inserted into joints can make all the difference, but you’ll still be able to break down your prop for storage.

Be creative with other materials.

Use your imagination to make your props bigger and better by combining these projects with other prop-making materials.

Create a full base for a large-scale prop by wrapping chicken wire around a PVC pipe base and adding papier mache.
Add thickness and depth to your props by using chicken wire or cardboard under clothes/costumes.
Foam pool noodles can be used to flesh out arms and legs.
Use spray paint directly on the pipe to make cages or “steel” pipes in your Halloween display. There are just so many options.
Combine different sizes of PVC pipe with wire and cardboard to make other body parts. For instance, with some thick-gauged wire, cardboard cut in the shape of my palm, and masking tape, I made these creepy, skeletal hands and arms.

So get out there and try some fun projects of your own. There’s no wrong way to do it. Unless you don’t use a PVC pipe cutter. That’s just dumb.

Let me know your successes with PVC pipe in the comments! And be sure to check out my other DIY tutorials, including:

How to Corpse a Skeleton

How to Make a Flying Reaper

How to Create a DIY Giant Spiderweb

5 Ways to Use a Dollar Tree Skull

The Fright Owl