Chicago’s Most Haunted Hotels
Haunted Chicago is loaded with history. It’s also home to some great haunted establishments. From churches and theaters to restaurants and hotels, this city is rich in paranormal activity going back to the Chicago fire of 1871 and beyond. So we couldn’t think of a better city to visit to try to catch some glimpses of ghosts. Besides, we love us some deep dish! The Haunted Congress Plaza Hotel Who is haunting the Congress? The haunted Congress Plaza Hotel was built in 1893, 22 years after the Chicago fire killed 300 people and destroyed more than 3 square miles of the… Read more »
Of Sound Mind – The Most Overlooked Sense in Haunt Design
Contributed by Ken Webster of Sinful Audio Let’s be honest. For most haunts and escape rooms, the exhilaration of introducing new props, puzzles, animatronics and lighting effects has traditionally far outweighed the excitement of implementing new sound effects and audio reinforcement. It’s a well-established pattern that also includes film and stage productions. The reasons, which we won’t go into here, are various and often based on budget and what is perceived as the greatest value or “wow” factor in a production. So as I’m flying to Alaska to capture field audio and wild sound (makes us audio people sound like… Read more »
Robert Kurtzman Joins Paranormal Penitentiary: Monster Lockdown
Visiting a haunted prison is creepy enough, especially one featured in many popular TV shows and movies. But that’s just the beginning. This prison also houses one of Hollywood’s elite horror makeup artists in Robert Kurtzman. This triple threat is exactly what you’ll get when you visit the Paranormal Penitentiary in Mansfield, Ohio. With the help of Kurtzman they are transforming the Ohio State Reformatory into a monster mecca of epic proportions. Paranormal Penitentiary: Monster Lockdown Believe me, this isn’t your run of the mill haunted house experience. In fact, before you can enter Paranormal Penitentiary: Monster Lockdown you must first become… Read more »
Interview with Trick ‘r Treat Director Michael Dougherty and AtmosFX
Michael Dougherty, Director of Trick ‘r Treat, and Founders of AtmosFX Discuss Deal Featuring Sam as Latest Digital Halloween Decorations FrightFind recently interviewed Michael Dougherty, director of cult fav Trick ‘r Treat, along with Pete Reichert and Pete Williams, founders of AtmosFX Digital Decorations. After working together as animators and producers at MTV in 1990s, these three old friends got back together this year to seal a licensing deal to use the iconic character of Sam from Trick ‘r Treat as the latest product offering from AtmosFX for people to use in home Halloween displays and professional haunts. “It’s a dream… Read more »
AtmosFX Now Featuring Trick ‘r Treat Movie
New Scenes with Sam from Cult Fav Trick ‘r Treat are Latest Digital Display Offering from AtmosFX Seattle-based digital decorations pioneers AtmosFX has partnered with Legendary Entertainment and director Michael Dougherty to release a new product featuring the character of Sam, the mysterious being in the burlap-sack mask who ties together Trick ‘r Treat‘s intertwined Halloween-themed stories. This product allows fans to digitally decorate their homes and yards this Halloween season with unique animations that capture the spirit of Dougherty’s cult horror classic Trick ‘r Treat. The release date for the product is set for late September 2016 so you can add… Read more »
IT Remake: New Pennywise Look
ET brings us a new look at Pennywise the Dancing Clown from the 2017 IT remake. The first look at Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise got everyone’s attention. Now, the clown gets even more sinister with a peek at his hellish clown suit from another age. “There is almost a doll-like quality to the costume,” designer Janie Bryant told Entertainment Weekly. Photo Credit: Entertainment Weekly The full frontal of the clown suit is more authentic than the original Pennywise played by fan favorite, Tim Curry. Designed by Emmy winner Janie Bryant (Deadwood & Madmen) the costume resembles clown garb from a much… Read more »
The Mystery of Roanoke Island
We find the giant question mark surrounding American Horror Story’s 6th season theme very fitting when combined with the rumors that it might involve the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Even if AHS pulls the rug out from under us on Roanoke’s involvement, the mystery of the theme and the questions about what really happened to the Lost Colony seem very fitting. The Lost Colony of Roanoke One of the creepiest and most unsettling mysteries in the history of the United States might just be the story of Roanoke Island. Located just off the coast of North Carolina in modern day Dare… Read more »
Amazing Effects for Your Halloween Display with AtmosFX
Looking to ramp up the scream factor for your trick-or-treaters this year? Then add some pro-level 3D effects from AtmosFX Digital Decorations and be the terror of your neighborhood. A leader in digital Halloween decorations, AtmosFX illusions are the real deal. They allow you to project realistic images onto walls, windows, floors, TV monitors, your yard, or anywhere else you want to create an unforgettable scene indoors or out. Using the same technology that you’ll see in Disney’s Haunted Mansion, AtmosFX digital decorations are unmatched in quality and detail. You can literally transform your home into your own haunted mansion! Ranging from pee-yourself scary to… Read more »
Buyer Beware – Make Sure Your Scary Props are the Real Deal
Like you, we at FrightFind are big fans of all things horror. That includes all the clever and talented artists who create the make-up, masks, and other effects used in movies and attractions to bring nightmares to life in the best, most horrifying ways. So when we learned that Jim Brown of Eville J’s Creepy Closet was the victim of intellectual property theft we got fired up. We’re a big fan of Jim’s work and even travel with one of his nightmarish clown candy bowls. So when we heard this story, we thought the more people that hear it the better. Plus, these… Read more »
IT Remake – Tim Curry vs Bill Skarsgard
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the challenger in the blue corner: Standing in at 6 feet 4 inches and hailing from Vällingby, Sweden. He barks. He bites. He’s Bill “Don’t Cha Want It?” Skarsgård!!! And in the red corner: Standing in at 5 feet 9 inches and hailing from Grappenhall, England. Rated by many as the best pound for pound Pennywise there will ever be! The legend and current champion of the world … Tim “The Dancing Clown” Curry!!!!!!! There is no doubt that any fan of Tim Curry, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, or Stephen King’s original miniseries IT is keeping an eye on the… Read more »
Special Preview: Be the First to See Rob Zombie’s 31
Tickets to a one-night special sneak preview of Rob Zombie’s new scary clown adventure 31 are going on sale as of Friday, August 5th. The special screening of 31 will take place in select theaters on September 1st. This ticketing frenzy will cap off International Clown Week in style. How to Get Tickets to the 31 Sneak Preview Tickets will be available through Fathom Events. Ticketing Info: http://fathomevents.com/event/rob-zombies-31/more-info/details. We suggest you sign up for the mailing list to be alerted first when tickets are available. We’ll update as more info comes in. Regular Release Dates for 31 In case you don’t make… Read more »
?6 – American Horror Story Season 6 Theme Revealed
Now that most of us have finished binge watching Stranger Things we can turn our attention to the much anticipated 6th season of American Horror Story. Last season’s addition of Lady Gaga to the cast expanded the AHS universe to millions of Gaga’s “Little Monsters” exposing the show to an even greater audience. The anticipation of a Gaga return and the tight-lipped secret of the season 6 theme has kept AHS fans in suspense. Now we finally have answers. Read on. Will Lady Gaga Return to AHS Season 6? Will Lady Gaga return for season 6? That was the question… Read more »
Why are clowns scary?
Big shoes. Giant red nose. Squirting flower. Tiny car full of other face painted lunatics. CLOWNS! Millions of people fear them, but why do so few love them? I’m sorry to all you clowns out there, but it has to be said. You freak people out! But why? Clowns are supposed to make us laugh and bring joy into the world. Aren’t they? History of Clowns From the beginning of recorded history, there have always been men and women who could make others laugh. 5000 years ago, ancient Egyptians used African Pygmies, known as Dangas to amuse the Royal Families. China… Read more »
No more coffins? New way to bury the dead
An Italian company (Capsula Mundi) has a new way of burying the dead. Instead of coffins, they use seeds. Yes, they’ve developed a way to bring life from death by burying the dead in tree-growing pods. I like to call this, “How to make a haunted forest.” Capsula Mundi’s project is a “broad-based project, which envisions a different approach to the way we think about death.” The bodies or ashes are buried in an egg-shaped pod and then placed in the earth underneath a preselected tree seed. The pods are made of biodegradable material and are an eco-friendly alternative to coffins…. Read more »
Netflix’s Stranger Things: An Homage to the Greats
So you haven’t quite wrapped up Game of Thrones and are only half way through Orange is the New Black. We get it. You have a lot of options these days and you can watch just about any show, anywhere, with the click of a button. However, if you love great storytelling, and especially if you’ve been alive in the last 50 years, stop what you’re doing and go watch Netflix’s Stranger Things. You heard us right, after reading this article, go watch Netflix’s Stranger Things! Seriously. It’s full of everything you love from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and even… Read more »