Halloween ’08 at Terror Syndicate
January 11th, 2009 by John Wolfe
One of my favorite home haunt sites recently added their Halloween ’08 images. These guys have raised the bar so incredibly high on the status of a home haunt, it’s not even funny. The only thing that entitles their creation to even be categorized as a home haunt is the fact it’s located in a subdivision – outside of that, it would be safe to assume it’s a pro endeavor.
From incredible looking static corpses, to pneumatic, air-driven skeletons and zombies, Terror Syndicate packs a hell of a Halloween punch, and that’s just on the exterior of their self-contained haunted house! Once inside, you’re met by creepy hallways, ambient lighting, more props and tons of other mood enhancing menaces. I can’t believe the Home and Garden Channel has yet to feature their haunt on the Halloween special: “What’s the Deal With that Really Haunted Halloween House?”
These guys perform some incredible feats of craftsmanship. Whereas I’m more of a paper mache haunter, TS believes in utilizing large volumes of Monster Mud. MM is a mixture of drywall, joint compound and paint, which is slathered over frames to create many of the corpses’ bodies.
I’m always in heaven when they post their most recent haunt endeavor! I bet that’s the first time anyone’s ever used the words heaven and haunt in the same sentence. 
Related Halloween Haunt Posts
A Pumpkinrot Halloween
Through the Patch
Beyond the Grave
Haunt Warehouse
Grim Hollow Haunt
January 11th, 2009 at 2:23 am
LoL, indeed, heaven and haunt…..what?
You know John, I’ve gone over all of the links you provide of other haunters and time and time again Terror Syndicate’s work freaks me the hell OUT! He’s got a creative streak, and means to makes what he wants, like I have never seen before. The size of them, the shape, the look, the all around look of horror with his work just floors me and I would swear he stole those props from Universal Studios or something. His, or their, work is truly horrifing in thee most extreme degree! Every year they just keep getting better and better…..their 08 pics were awesome. Thank you for sharing.
January 11th, 2009 at 2:29 am
For the note, NO, I would NOT go through that haunted hallway either!!!! You see that corpse glued to the ceiling, that thing would for sure have me running for my life, no way. Disneyland’s is as far as I’ll ever push it. No more haunted houses, or garages, or hallways or anything for me. A setting outside is one thing, being surrounded by walls and DARKNESS, uh let me think………….NO! LoL
January 11th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Oh yeah, I saw it. Did you see what comes out of its mouth? OK, so an outside setting suits you better, well how about going to Smith’s Grove with all those guys chasing you down the street? LoL.
January 11th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Absolutely, I agree with you. There are some incredibly talented haunters out there – Pumpkinrot, Grim Hollow, Spooky Blue, Johnny of Through the Patch, just to name a few, but for sheer size, artistic creativity and engineering smarts – Terror Syndicate pushes the envelope farther than anyone I’ve ever come across, while still being considered a home based attraction.
January 11th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Something else I was impressed with, other than how real everything looked, but how he was able to utilize such a small space in the backyard and turn it into something that seemed like the size of a haunted house from the inside. Even going through the pics, I thought my tour would never end
I was reliving the Florida little haunted house trip all over again and how I bolted out the double steel doors when I heard the chain saw come on over the top of my head………dude, I’m talking BOLTED!!!! Those last pictures………that gate…….BOLT right through the gate then be hooked up to an oxygen mask. This is just unreal work. I’m surprised someone from the movies hasn’t contacted him.
The two of you teaming up would be scary as hell with how ultra creative your mind is when it comes to Halloween, such passion, such drive, such strong desire. His 14 hour days would easily turn into 18-20 with you around. Hey, now with more time on your hands, are you going to begin, or resume I should say, creating your corpses for the 09 Halloween? I was just thinking about that last night as I was laying in bed………..trying to go to sleep after viewing THOSE photos, thanks alot John
January 12th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
The structure they use for their haunted house totally maximizes the space in their backyard. From the photos, that thing looks jam packed with all sorts of electrical lines, air hoses, and computer wires. They do such an incredible job.
I’m hoping to resume corpse work soon, so Halloween doesn’t sneak up on me quite as early this year. I really don’t have anymore extra free time now, since I’m now filling in the space of free time with my workout and exercise program. I’m hitting weights and/or aerobics, seven days a week, along with staying super consistent on meals. I’m really making blog entries, podcasts, and answering emails for both Wind of the Soul and Season of Shadows my priority, but as the time feels right and when inspiration strikes, I’ll definitely get back in the garage. I’m looking forward to eventually adding Halloween Haunter’s Reality 5 too. I have half of my Halloween 2008 video created, while the other half is waiting to be edited.
I hope you slept tight.
January 12th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
LoL, yeah, tightly wrapped up in my down comforter over my head
Ohhhh, so there will be a Haunter’s Reality 5!!!!? I thought you weren’t going to make the 5th one so this delights me to all end to know you DO have one your working on and that it’s half way done. I’m most anxious to see how it turns out.
My bad, I thought you had more time now but clearly you do not. I trust your having fun with the “big boy” while I CANNOT wait to pick up my “little boy” tomorrow. I only got 4 hours of sleep last night because of my excitment in that I finally have a high quality HP notebook and my Powerbook G3 days are far behind. Thank you again for the tip John, it means everything to me. My computer Hero….to the rescue again
January 14th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Haunter’s Reality 5 is probably a misleading title. It’s not going to be any how-to work, but rather video footage and still images of the 2008 haunt, similar to my 2007 Halloween night video.
Glad I could help out with your purchase. I’m looking forward to talking with you and seeing how you’re enjoying it.