Meet this Year’s MVP – Most Valuable Props

Our most valuable props added this year are plentiful, and they stole the spotlight and developed absolutely zero humility. They’ve made every setup creepier, scarier, and just a little more unhinged—which is exactly the level of professionalism we expect around here.

These props didn’t just join our crazy collection; they arrived with main-character energy and a suspicious amount of confidence for objects that live in a cardboard box. Do we have favorites? Obviously! But don’t tell that to the older props!

They’ve turned ordinary moments into photo-worthy chaos, added personality to every scene, and somehow made us wonder how we ever survived without them.

Meet this year’s MVPs: Most Valuable Props.

Best in Show – The Giant Animatronics

Nobody does Giant Animatronics quite like Home Depot, which is why they top the list for the most valuable props.

So let’s start with the classic 12ft Skelly with a twist! No longer does this giant stand like an agent of doom; now it has enhanced options (and pricing), including:

The App-Controlled Skelly can record 30 sounds and control its head’s motions
20 different eye variations to pick from
Speak through Skelly in ‘live’ mode with voice-changing effects

This beast got a much-needed upgrade, and I can’t wait to see it in action!

Next up is the 15ft Galley Crow. No longer sold in stores, I got this giant (actually now two of them) at an amazing price at the end of the year!

Despite the time it takes to put together and the need for extra help, this guy towers over the rest of the Haunt. The fact that he is animated and glows makes it one of my absolute favorites. You can’t miss him!

Last is the 10ft Boogeyman. This was my first giant purchase, and I’ve had him for a few years. But it doesn’t take away how much passersby love him.

He’s not the largest of the Giants, but he does have a huge impact on the Haunt.

The New Carnevil Theme – Most Valuable Props

From new releases to past year’s purchases. These new Most Valuable Props for the Carnevil Haunt are some of my favorites.

Typically, the clown animatronics give me the creeps, but this year I decided to face the fear!

The Clowns/Carnival theme has enough products to top the list in quantity. So I wanted to ensure I got enough of the regular clown scares, but the MVPs come in when they stray from the normal “I’m going to eat your face” clown.

At the top of the list is the 7′ RingMaster from Spirit Halloween. He’s the perfect addition to tie the theme together. Add in that his chest is a projection screen with ghosts, and he’s one for the books.

Now, I would say the first should be a tie because the second is Servo Carnival Barker made by SVI. He stands out because he has updated Digieyes that blink while his head and body move.

And, it’s not just short clips he says; they are long and funny. So he’s not the standard run-of-the-mill animatronic. He really helps create that carnival atmosphere.

Last but not least is the Spirit Halloween Barnaby the Bear. He may growl, but the movement on the ball is exceptionally cool.

Barnaby stands out because few like him follow the carnival theme while incorporating not a person or a clown, but a part of the larger carnival-type show.

The New Forbidden Forrest – Most Valuable Props

9′ Dry Rot Dennis, 5′ Horrifying Hickory, and 9′ Murderous Maple

Even though the trees aren’t my favorite Halloween props, Home Depot stepped it up so much this year that I not only bought the trees but also almost all the rest of the Forbidden Forest Products.

Being able to create an entire scene with their products is why so many people wait for the July Drop of new animatronics, and this year they didn’t disappoint.

5.5′ LED Animated Evil Pixie

Last year Home Depot brought out evil skeleton pixies, and they were an absolute hit! So much so, when they brought them back as a 3-pack, they immediately sold out.

Add this new animated evil pixie within the woods, and you have an easy haunt theme that can take a decent amount of space up in a large yard.

I’m looking forward to seeing how they all pull together!

8′ Animated LED Brewing Witch

Once again, I’m not a huge fan of the witch animatronics unless there is something different or amazing about them.

So again, when the witch dropped in July, I knew she’d be the one witch I would finally buy.

The upgraded LED eyes, the stirring motion of the pot, and the cauldron on a tree base are the perfect add for the Forbidden Forest Haunt.

Indoor Animatronic MVPs

The maid and the classic deathologist are fan favorites. The pair make for a perfect indoor scene.

The Deadwater Parrot is amazing! This new technology interacts with you by answering your questions.

The new “Hipster” mixologist. A millennial twist on the classic deathologist, what’s not to love?

Personal Favorites – Most Valuable Props

Some old, some new, these props (Plague Doctor, Zombie Baby, and the Grave Robber) are personal favorites.

But the newest and most gruesome personal favorite is the Cyclops. Made by Distortions Unlimited (best prop builder in the game), this thing is fantastic. With this professional-level prop, I can’t wait to add it to my Haunt!