A dark figure lurching towards you. An unsettling crackle and a crooked finger beckoning you into the next chamber. The tickle of hot breath on the back of your neck when you thought you were alone. Monsters are lurking!
Haunted attractions just wouldn’t be the same without the scare-actors who bring our monsters to life. They delight and terrify guests night after night. These creatures embody a mix of fear, supernatural horror, and suspense, making them essential in haunted house experiences.
While we truly believe that every scare-actor’s character is unique, there are a few themes that you’ll see popping up in almost every haunted house you visit. And we thought it might be fun to share our list of the top 10 characters you’ll commonly find in any haunt, regardless of the theme, size, or location. Let’s go!
1. The Ghostly Spirit
These ethereal beings often haunt the rooms and hallways, sometimes appearing translucent or disembodied. You never know what kind of voice to expect from these spirits: sometimes ghost characters are loud and shrieking tortured souls, while others are creepily quiet, communicating only with menacing gestures. Each is spine-chilling in its own way.
2. The Demented Doc
Step into the medical clinic from your worst nightmares. You’ll frequently find a physician and his staff performing gruesome surgeries or medical experiments on unsuspecting patients. It’s a bloody, gore-filled scene headlined by a deeply disturbed monster. The doctor will see you now…
3. The Decaying Zombie
Rotting, undead creatures that rise from the grave to scare or attack, often slow-moving but relentless. Zombies want only one thing: to crack open your skull and feast on your living brain. These characters often travel in groups, which can make encountering them in a haunted house a claustrophobia-inducing nightmare.
4. The Undead Vampire
Fanged, bloodthirsty beings that hide in the shadows or coffins, waiting for the right moment to strike. You might find one climbing out of a coffin, or surprising you in a dark hallway. And sometimes you’ll find these monsters on bungee harnesses, seeming to fly across the room or pounce on you from above. Talk about terrifying.
5. The Bloody Butcher
Slaughterhouse scenes are a popular theme in haunted attractions around the world. Maybe you’ll encounter the butcher inside a rural barn decked out with squirrel carcasses and other roadkill. Or it might be a classic mid-century deli where the meat grinders are being fed human appendages. Beware the butcher characters…they are out for blood.
6. The Feral Werewolf
Half-human, half-wolf creatures, often shown mid-transformation or as fully terrifying beasts. We just love a good werewolf character. They can fit into so many different types of scenes: a spooky forest, an abandoned village, a cemetery, or a city engulfed in flames. Werewolves often communicate with growls and grunts, and their movements can be feral and unpredictable, making them sinister monsters to encounter inside a haunt.
7. The Wicked Witch
Sometimes it’s classic evil witches with long noses, pointy hats, and magical powers, stirring cauldrons or casting spells. But you might find pagan practitioners, a modern coven, or even a siren or sea witch inside a haunt these days. Best not to linger, or you might be leaving the haunt with a hex on your head.
8. The Creepy Clown
Twisted, creepy versions of clowns that create a sense of unease with their disturbing makeup and maniacal laughter. There are so many possibilities when it comes to creepy clowns, and scare-actors come up with some pretty sinister characters in this category. While you can be pretty sure you’ll find some kind of clown in a haunted house, you really never know exactly what to expect.
9. The Demonic Entity
Possessed humans or outright demons, featuring horns, glowing eyes, and malevolent powers. There are so many different types of demons, but you’re likely to find one in almost every haunt you visit this season. Maybe it’s a gargoyle-come-to-life. Or a silent figure shrouded in a black, hooded robe. Demon characters can be silent and sinister or booming giants. We love encountering each one.
10. The Mad Scientist
Characters involved in bizarre experiments, with stitched-up body parts or gruesome creations. The scientist is sometimes accompanied by a Frankenstein’s monster or another one of his living experiments. The mad scientist is often larger than life, with over-emphasized features like electric-shock hair and a booming or shrieking voice. Maybe it’s to distract us just long enough for the good doctor to tie you up for the next experiment?
What did you think of our list of the 10 monsters you’ll find in every haunted house? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments!
