ADVERTISEMENT

The Halloween tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people used to light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. So I guess nothing says 'Happy Halloween!' like something that scares you to death and makes you forget the world is celebrating in the first place.

Bored Panda decided to pay tribute to those who go above and beyond to create the right atmosphere for this spooky occasion. Whether it's an extremely gory massacre scene or a subtle, half-buried body bag, these Halloween displays were so next-level, some people thought there actually was something wrong and called the police to investigate. Continue scrolling and enjoy!

#1

When You Go "Too Far" With The Halloween Decorations

When You Go "Too Far" With The Halloween Decorations

Capinron Report

Texas resident Steven Novak is one of the people who went all out for Halloween this year. In his yard, one dummy lies with his head pulverized, one lies with a scale where his or her head used to be, and a few more lie in bloodied trash bags fallen off a wheelbarrow. All the while, in the window of the house, a zombie horde attempts to break out.

"I'm most proud of the wheelbarrow tipped over by the street full of Hefty bags, looking like a failed attempt to dispose of the dismembered bodies in the middle of the night," Novak told Dallas Observer. "A kid walked by and asked me what happened to them; I said they ate too many Skittles."

#2

Life-Size Michael Myers House

Life-Size Michael Myers House

Alex Sanchez Report

Add photo comments
POST
Shelp
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How much are some people ready to spend just for one day in the year?!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Novak's decorations have brought the police to his house multiple times. "Neighbors told me cop cars were in front of my house a lot during the day," he explained. "I was only home twice to receive them. They told met hey thought it was cool and that they were only there because they were required to reply to complaints from the sergeant."

ADVERTISEMENT

"They were in formation at the door and when I opened it they asked me if it was all mine. I asked, 'You mean the blood and the bodies? Yeah, that’s me.'"

"Honestly, though, I think I could’ve used more. [My plans] were way worse on paper. Next year though!"

#3

Now That Is How You Do Halloween Right. This Guy Got The Cops Called On Him Several Times In Dallas

Now That Is How You Do Halloween Right. This Guy Got The Cops Called On Him Several Times In Dallas

Report

Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. They celebrated their new year on November 1.

This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead got blurred.

In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Celtic priests to predict the future. Considering the Celts were entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies must've been really comforting in the face of a long, dark winter.

ADVERTISEMENT
#4

Woke Up This Morning To 6 Cops, A Fire Truck, And An Ambulance At My Door Because A Passing Car Was Concerned About The One Halloween Decoration I Neglected To Take Down

Woke Up This Morning To 6 Cops, A Fire Truck, And An Ambulance At My Door Because A Passing Car Was Concerned About The One Halloween Decoration I Neglected To Take Down

reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
mysty
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i want to commend you for that detail around the limbs

View more commentsArrow down menu

To commemorate the event, the priests built huge sacred bonfires, where everyone would gather to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically made of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes.

Who knows, Maybe Novak has some Celtic blood? Either way, his display sure looks like a modern version of the old celebration.

#5

Fake Fire Got People Calling 911

Fake Fire Got People Calling 911

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tiari
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is really cool and a bit different from all the dead bodies...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

Deadly Halloween Tableau Too Realistic For Some. Neighbours Called 911

Deadly Halloween Tableau Too Realistic For Some. Neighbours Called 911

ersal Report

#7

Neighbors Subtle Halloween Decor

Neighbors Subtle Halloween Decor

dovesondoves Report

#8

Terrifying And Realistic Halloween Decorations

Terrifying And Realistic Halloween Decorations

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Zophra
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd be pissed if I had small kids and that was my neighbor.

TheSneakyNinja
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah little kids can get really freaked out about that kind of stuff.

Load More Replies...
Kim Shannon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ummm...no. Halloween is supposed to be scary/fun, not a torture crime scene.

deanna woods
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you live in an adult neighborhood this is fine, but this is very inappropriate for a neighborhood full of children. It's called "Halloween" not "Show Everyone How Sadistic I Am"

Among Us
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WHAT'S WITH THE BODIES? Plus, usually it's little kids going Trick-or-Treating, not the adults and the CORRECT audience that should be seeing this...

Moezarella
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Purge comes to mind when I saw this...and while it is amazing, I dont really like it either

Amanda Bischof
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yikes don’t have people hanging from trees, there’s too much of that already and it’s more horrifying than any Halloween decor could ever be

Billy the kid
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

its cool but not sure about the last picture though. That looks to me like a kid on that pole

Jane Alexander
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And those who have lost loved ones or are about to lose one don't need this garbage either! My neighbor may be about to lose the 5th family member in the last couple of years.

Elaine Mattingly
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Halloween is for giving children a break, some fun ,they have enough reality in their life that would scare a person far more than decorations. Leave their little holiday for them , keep your morbid things in places for adults only. please.

Load More Replies...
Sam T Godfrey
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm surprised about the arguments here! At the first picture I thought that commenters would be going ballistic over the upside-down cross! Shows how little I know about religion... Seemed to me the idea was to make a display as scary as possible, but yeah, this is kind of morbid... I remember a century ago, the big deal was to create a surprise for the trick or treaters, much more fun! My uncle set up a ghost on a cable and pulleys that would fly past when kids walked up, worked great! So did getting dressed as a dummy and sit on the porch ready to move and growl when kids came up. Good fun!

Elaine Mattingly
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, your uncle did halloween! That is what it's for , children. Keep the dead people in the paid haunted houses for grown ups. Let the children have a squeel and a giggle and candy.

Load More Replies...
Petros Vrasivanopoulos
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

only kareans are complaining, wonder why? on second thought that what you karens do, complain when others are having fun. you hate that

Billy bob
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

omg I love this but not for public places there could be kids!!! The oain for them to see this is horrible

arryana webwolf
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

any parent getting bent out of shape about this is missing a golden teaching moment. 'see, this is what happens to kids who don't listen to their parents...'.

Riley Reynolds
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wpuld so drag my brothers to this house saying it was real😂😂

Zak McDonald
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m 13 when I was Younger I loved horror and I still do just tell your kids it’s not real

XxxPotatoes_rockxxX
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

although, the only thing i don't like is the upside down cross. That's why to fair!!Like yes some people have there own opion of god but what you just did is a plain up "NO" if you dont know what the upside down cross mean search it up. my family studies abt god and jesus alot and this just made me very upset- again i dont blame you its just for fun..but please stop ;n;

Miles
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where do you even get something this realistic!? .....asking for a friend ;)

Joshua Topash
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah and when your kids get scared it's YOUR job as a parent to tell them it's not real you know like any person with COMMON SENSE would do and if you don't like it DON'T GO NEAR THE GODDAMN HOUSE IT'S HALLOWEEN IV'E SCARIER S**T IN MY TOILET AND ON TV. but that's just my opinion I don't like the pole one though it look's like a kid and that is kinda messed up.

that rando_;)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd bring my family to this house every year just for this kind of scare.

*sigh*, The Yellow Teletubby
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

knowing the kids in my neighborhood, yes even the small ones, this would be the most popular house on the street. The younger parents might even take their kids there if they asked to go lmao

Emmanuel Gates
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everyone gangster until Lucifer pops up and says that’s their a big fan

Sophia Eressea
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it being "realistic" to have hanged/impaled people in your front yard is kind of sad...

Rosemary Paul
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Given us ideas for this Halloween! If you had figured a way to make some of the bodies wrapped in black plastic to wriggle. Not a lot, just once in awhile. Maybe rigged to a motion detector, so when an unsuspecting delivery person or dog walker passes by the body tries to move. To add a bit more macabre by putting a voice box in it so everytime it wiggles, a low moan or raspy, "Help me. Oh god. Please, help me" comes out of the bag! We got an honorable mention last year for our display. 2021 miIght be a good year to amp it up!

Smiley Rie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

errrr I'd be pretty concerned about the state of mind of those neighbours

invisible sheep
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is terrifying, what if your neighbors have kids?? this could be very traumatizing!

Jean Thompson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is horrible, over the top and would upset a lot of people. Yuck!

QoP1586
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is is a staked child! The owners of this house should be immediately psychologically evaluated.

Eagle Girl
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's almost biblical. Downvote if you must but you know The Romans let lions rip a man to shreds for sport & punished anti-followers by hammering them to a cross.

Mae Mosse
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a bit much. There is Halloween decorations and then there are demonic symbolism horror decorations. Maybe they want to stop biblebashers knocking on their door or Vlad the Impaler lives there

Julieta S.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Totally agree with Zophra... there has to be a limit to what they see!

Vivianne De La Garza
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I WOULD LIKE TO BE FRIENDS WITH YOU I WANNA KNOW HOW TO DO THIS SO I CAN SCARE MY FRIENDS

WildBerry
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you have any black friends? They usually get uptight about people hanging.

Load More Replies...
JJM
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think people would have more sense when they know young kids would see this. This scene would give anyone nightmares. I think they should have certain restrictions because of children.

Polly Culberson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is just too much. Kids or people driving past would be grossed out.

Rita Shapiro
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a neighbor steal a pumpkin of mine once because she thought it was too gruesome. A pumpkin. Seriously. There will always be tight lipped prudish women worried about 'what will the children think?' who wish to be the neighborhood decoration nazi. The problem with these scenarios is that they occur in neighborhoods full of a) stupid people who cannot tell reality from fantasy, or b) folks who delight in being judgemental and controlling.

Elaine Mattingly
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And thiefs who steal peoples pumpkins tell their children not to steel, hypocrite!. Moderation in all things people.

Load More Replies...
Todd Hollfelder
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh c'mon now! Children see this on TV/movies/church/the streets. Also, I wouldn't pass out candy and would have an adult party.

Elaine Mattingly
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

NOT ALL children see this on tv, they see it in their hospital room quit trying to group everything in one big pot of untruth.

Load More Replies...
Marlowe Fitzpatrik
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay.... I know this sounds weird because I loved the gory one with the blood-spatter, but this is actually too much for me. I think it's the kid on the spike that does it for me. Shows that a subtle thing can make all the difference between "cool" and "Hell no!"

Jane Alexander
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People who do this sh*t need to be watched very carefully. They are ugly sick.

Full Name
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would do this for sure. I may be ugly, but I have a sense of humour, and perspective. Nobody cares when someone dresses up as zombie so what's the difference? Stop cherry picking.

Load More Replies...
Spankathon
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I'd leave them up all year. Would stop cold callers.

Gavin Bothwell
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

"it's not holy, take it down!" - basically every Karen to see this

Stille20
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a kid on a spike.... most people should have an issue with it.

Load More Replies...
H Edwards
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have two little kids living next door to me, and I can imagine how upsetting this would be for them to see. Some people do need to dial it back a notch.

Load More Replies...
View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Fake Car Crash

Fake Car Crash

reporterjim Report

Add photo comments
POST
Zophra
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe people need to just put a sign out next to some of these saying "Happy Halloween" so people know what to think.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Body Bags Hanging From A Tree

Body Bags Hanging From A Tree

Report

#14

Suspended Dead Man

Suspended Dead Man

Report

#15

Creepy Clown Hanging The Whole Family

Creepy Clown Hanging The Whole Family

Report

#16

When Halloween Decorations Go Too Far

When Halloween Decorations Go Too Far

aligulpir Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda