131 W. 2nd Avenue, new lenox, IL
year: 2013
Hills of Unrest is an excellent, creative, and seemingly homemade yard display in New Lenox. We first came across this display in 2012, and it was so well done that we made a point of heading out there in 2013 to see what new items were to be seen. As predicted, Hills of Unrest did not disappoint.
The display is set up like a cemetery, complete with large, wrought iron gates and a padlock. The house is decorated like an abandoned chapel of some kind, with creepy red lighting, boarded up windows, and a bell tower on top. Inside the gates is a variety of creatures, most looking very homemade (that is, none of them look like standard props that can be purchased anywhere). There are three witches in front of a giant kettle of noxious brew, a mad scientist and his lab, Frankenstein's monster in front of a crypt, and more. The best thing about this display is that many of the figures appear as if they were frozen in action. For example, in addition to the three witches and their brew, there are two other witches on brooms who appear to be suspended in the act of flying, and there is a figure of Freddy Krueger (also seemingly homemade) who appears to be lunging at visitors from a nearby tree. By far the best of these "action" figures are a jumpsuited figure and a werewolf figure, seemingly locked in an epic battle. The werewolf character is impaled on a chainsaw while in the midst of bearing down on the jumpsuited figure. It really does seem like someone took a 3D photo of two creatures engaged in battle. It's not something we've seen at other yard displays, and it really adds to the creepy nature of this one.
Additionally, there are tombstones, a grim reaper figure with a huge scythe, a hunchback of Notre Dame like figure holding a lantern, and even a figure that looks like the Crypt Keeper playing a pipe organ. Even the bell tower has figures in it, with what looks like two flying skeletons suspended in mid air, encircling the bell. All in all, Hills of Unrest is a fantastically designed yard display. It's not the biggest we've seen, and it's not full of animated props or things that jump out at you, but it does have lots of unique,realistic figures, unique sets, and atmospheric lighting, all of which combine for a great experience. Highly recommended! |
|