October has arrived and with it comes the start of spooky season, as people are already getting geared up to celebrate Halloween. If you're planning to take your kids out trick-or-treating, you might already have your eye on a fun costume for your little ones, or dug out your seasonal decor ahead of the big event.
One couple have taken their Halloween decorations to the next level with a mind-blowing Stranger Things -inspired display in their front garden - leaving fans completely gobsmacked thanks to the authentic-looking props. Dave and Aubrey Appel, a Chicago based couple who specialise in designing horror props, spent more than 1,500 hours decorating their home for Halloween this year and it seems to have paid off.
Not only have neighbours praised the incredible set-up, but the couple's decorations have gone viral online too as people simply can't get their heads around how they created a 'levitating' Max figure as part of the display.
Fans of the show will be familiar with the scene that the Appel's Halloween props are emulating, as Stranger Things character Max floats above ground when the evil villain Vecna tries to lure his victims to their death.
Footage of the couple's display shows a prop that looks strikingly similar to Max hovering high above ground, with no strings or attachments in sight, leaving people wondering how the Appel's created the magic.
Speaking to ABC News, Dave said of the incredible decorations: "While we were watching the new season of Stranger Things, I was just laying on the couch and my wife was sitting from across me and I'm like 'I believe we can do this whole set in pool noodles".
The mind-boggling decorations certainly lived up to Dave's vision - not only have the couple managed to re-creating a levitating Max, but their display also includes a 'miserable Chrissy Marie', the spooky grandfather clock and other chilling element's from Vecna's lair.
Hoping to maintain the mystery throughout spooky season, Dave said: "I don't want kids coming looking for how we're doing it, I want them to be like 'wow'. I want somebody's parents to show their kid and be like 'look Max is floating in this person's front yard' and that kid be like 'holy cow'".
"There's magic in front of their face. Adults have no explanation and that's not something you get much anymore".
The couple have said that they have even more Stranger Things magic up their sleeve for the upcoming weeks ahead of Halloween.
"For the past four weeks I've been putting nine hour days in, so we're probably pushing 1,500 plus hours," Dave added.
Praising the viral reaction to their display, Dave said: "The world is a weird place right now and we want to give people something to do, fun and exciting with their kids".
After the couple posted a video of their floating Max figure to TikTok, it swiftly went viral as thousands of people scratched their heads over how the prop manages to stay hovering in the air.
One person said: "I’ve now spent too many hours trying to figure this out. You all are amazing and I hope you don’t share a tutorial until next year…make us wait".
Others praised the impressive display, with one writing "This is so awesome!!" and another adding "This is my favorite prop for Halloween, love your decorations".
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