For haunted experience actors, creating a playlist is a great way to get into the right character mindset. I worked as a haunt actor at a popular haunted house in my area for a few years. It was fun and built my confidence, but managing to stay in character in front of guests every night was difficult. Fortunately, we had intensive training before every Halloween season. However, I found that creating a playlist of characters was one of the tricks that stuck with me. Music can be a powerful tool to set the mood and build your alter ego. The following are a few songs that helped me get into character and give my best performance.
A Haunt Actors Playlist
“Martian Vs. Goblin” (Feat. Lil Wayne and Tyler, The Creator) – The Game
During the week leading up to my audition, I discovered this song by The Game. Apart from the abandoned hospital theme of the music video, the beat and lyrics were what hooked me into preparing myself for this scary experience. The beat is slow but strangely hyped up simultaneously; the sound feels familiar to the slow-downed music that played throughout the building. Music that has a slow, yet hyped-up feeling can be very effective in creating a sense of tension and anticipation, which is ideal for a spooky and scary character.
“House of 1000 Corpses” – Rob Zombie
Discovering this song and also the movie was solely because of the training process I went through when becoming a haunt actor. It was almost mandatory; everyone watched as the backwoods murderous Firefly family radiated the exact energy that a haunt actor should have.
Aside from taking notes on how to scare from characters like Baby, Otis, and Captain Spaulding, the film’s opening song also feels like welcoming someone to their worst nightmare. Which can indeed be a powerful way to welcome guests to their worst nightmares when they visit a haunted house. The combination of music, visuals and character performances can create a truly immersive and terrifying experience for the visitors.
“Death” – Flatbush Zombies
This definitely wasn’t the only Flatbush Zombie song on my usual music rotation, but it was easily one of the top songs on my radar. The opening song starts with a man manically laughing, and from there, the Flatbush Zombies do what they do best. The beats are mixed with noises similar to animatronics you might pass while walking through a haunted house or Spirit Halloween, followed by “Whatcha ya gonna do when them zombies come for you,” The eerie and manic laughter at the beginning, followed by the group’s distinctive lyrics and beats which indeed helped set the perfect mood for a haunted house.
“Be My Friend” – One-Eyed Doll
A little more fun than the other songs mentioned, but still with a creepy twist, Be My Friend was always the song that reminded me not to take myself so seriously. The silly lyrics mirroring the racialization of a serial killer’s reason for murdering and wondering why no one wants to be their friend is the perfect inspiration for a character.
Mean, murderous characters are a dime a dozen and sometimes an easy scare but being chipper and “sweet” while talking about gruesome acts and still disturbing guests is unique. Adding this element to your performance can effectively disturb and entertain guests because it can easily catch them off guard. It’s also proof that taking a creative approach can set your performance apart from the typical scare.
“Thrilla” (feat. Flatbush Zombies) – Bodega Bamz
Another actor put me onto this song as it was a top song on their character’s playlist. The choice of a song with a horror-themed beat, reminiscent of the violins in “The Walking Dead” theme song, is a clever way to build anticipation. Incorporating an iconic scene from “Frankenstein,” with the phrase “It’s alive” is a creative touch that adds to the horror theme. Other than its horror-themed beat, the lyrics alongside it’s the perfect hype song to get someone into the scaring mood. This type of attention to detail in selecting music sets the mood and contributes to the overall immersion and entertainment value of the haunted house experience.
“Creatures” – Motionless in White
What’s a haunt actor playlist without some screamo music? Quite a few were on my playlist, but this Motionless in White track was definitely on top. Being a haunt actor can be a great stress reliever and, if done correctly, a healthy way to release some anger, and what doesn’t help channel that then brutal vocals and guitars ripping.
Screamo music can be an intense and cathartic addition to a Haunt actor’s playlist. The aggressive vocals and powerful guitar riffs help channel and release stress and provide an outlet for pent-up emotions. The raw and emotional nature of screamo music can be a perfect match for portraying intense and frightening characters in a haunted house setting. It allows you to channel that energy into your performance, giving you the opportunity to create a genuinely unsettling and impactful experience for the guests.
“Coins” – Wax
A lot more lowkey than the other songs on the playlist, “Coins,” which samples the iconic Luigi’s Mansion theme song, is a filthy diss track. Every haunt actor knows the struggle of guests who need to prove they aren’t falling for our traps. There’s so much you want to say as your real self, but you can’t because most people aren’t worth breaking the illusion for. But there is still that anger that lingers, and this track is the perfect anthem for it, providing a distinctive perspective on the experiences of haunt actors. It’s always interesting when music can serve as a form of catharsis and self-expression.
Music can be a powerful tool for creating a memorable and immersive experience for haunted house visitors, and your choice of songs reflects the creativity and thought you put into your role. Haunt themes vary, but the spirit and energy a haunt actor needs is universal. Types of genres differ from person to person, but curating a character playlist could easily make or break your performance.
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