Most haunted houses still stick with the scary basics- vampires, mad scientists, witches, zombies and the like. Costumed actors may suddenly appear in front of surprised visitors, and very realistic scenes of horror may be on either side of a marked path. The terror may continue all the way back to civilization, as trained workers do their best to keep guests on edge.
One of the most important elements of any haunted house is the creative use of fake (or occasionally real) blood to enhance the feelings of dread and danger. Many people already have a natural aversion to the sight of blood, so it's always effective to keep it flowing from beginning to end. Vampire characters need blood to establish their blood-thirsty ways, and mad scientists need blood to demonstrate how sinister their experiments can be. Blood is shorthand for horror, but it needs to be convincing in order to scare visitors. Here are several different sources of safe but effective blood substitutes:
1. Bright red nail polish. For signs and flyers, a supply of blue-red nail polish can add a sense of dripping blood. Purchase several bottles of inexpensive polish and use gravity to create natural drips across the sign or flyer. Nail polish can also be smeared across a map of the house itself, which creates the illusion of bloody fingerprints from the map's dead creator. Only use nail polish on temporary surfaces, not on permanent furnishings or clothing. Keep a supply of acetone nail polish remover for any messes. Nail polish should become tacky in a short period of time, but avoid touching the drips until they have completely hardened.
2. Red latex or oil-based paint. For large-scale decorations involving blood, haunted house designers can use mixed red latex or oil-based house paint. Warning signs can be painted with red lettering and allowed to drip. Graffiti and demonic symbols can also be added to the walls with red paint. Real blood used as paint would not act the same as commercial paint, so be sure to leave streaks and bare spots. Latex paint can also be allowed to drip along the floor to duplicate blood drops from a victim. In scenes depicting violence, 'blood' paint can be splattered against the walls with a brush or thrown from a small can. The effect should be convincing under low light conditions.
3. Commercial stage blood. Many theatrical supply companies produce very convincing supplies of fake blood. These products are safe for actors to place on their skin, hair and clothing and can fool most audiences. Real blood will eventually become a dull brown, but theatrical blood will remain bright and shiny for hours. Theatrical blood should be used whenever live actors are involved or customers may come in contact with the display. This fake blood product may be convincing and harmless, but it is not inexpensive. Other methods should be used if massive amounts of blood are required for effect. Theatrical blood is best used for close-up work by actors and enhancements on realistic mannequins or ghoulish displays.
4. Homemade stage blood. A convincing but sometimes problematic fake blood can be made from simple ingredients found at the grocery or drug store. Experiment with light corn syrup, glycerin, and red food coloring until a satisfactory product has been created. Homemade fake blood can look very convincing, and the syrup and/or glycerin gives it a proper viscosity. Actors may find the mixture to be sticky or uncomfortable, but a little may go a long way. This mixture could also be used in displays involving substantial amounts of dripping blood. For large displays, homemade blood may be far more cost-effective than commercial stage blood.
Another common blood effect can be created with the use of red jelly (for a coagulated look) or ketchup. Vampires may want to keep a few packages of ketchup on hand to enhance a recent kill. These fake bloods can become messy over time, so use them sparingly and provide an area for a quick clean-up after the performance.
5. Real animal blood. This isn't always the best solution for a haunted house situation, but real animal blood definitely wins the prize for realism. Check with a local meat processing plant or wholesale butcher for a generous supply of animal blood. The cost may be negligible, but transportation and storage can be problematic. Fresh animal blood will eventually become old animal blood, which means a very short window of opportunity for haunted house designers. Use of real animal blood should be limited to displays out of the reach of visitors. Try creating a dynamic effect with an electric aquarium or fountain pump. The effect of real blood is enhanced if it flows over real objects such as plastic body parts or latex masks on display. Another idea would be to use an aquarium filled with animal blood in a mad scientist's laboratory.
The tank could be filled with fake body parts or models of mutant animals.
Real animal blood should be disposed of immediately after the performance. It will attract insects and small animals if left unattended. For safety and convenience, other methods involving blood substitutes should be considered before importing real animal blood.
