8211/8215 s. mulligan, burbank, il
years: 2010-2012
The Nephilim, named after the hybrid human/angel offspring of the Bible, is a dual yard display located across the property of two houses in Burbank. The Tourers first visited here in 2010, and the quality of the haunt has kept us coming back year after year.
There is a great deal to see at this display, from static props to animated props, to light up displays, to live actors both large and small. The Nephilim makes excellent use of the large amount of space available. Many of the props are homemade, and focus on unusual themes, such as zombie policeman and soldiers. One of the most disturbing props was a little girl in a fancy dress, who was actually a demon like creature with evil looking talons projecting from her mouth. She was animated and the top portion of her rotated, adding a very creepy dimension to the proceedings. The 2011 display featured a life size coffin surrounded by flickering candles. It was set back along the displays, and the fact that it was just sitting there in the background made it more atmospheric than if it had been up front with someone in it. However, lest you think that an empty coffin was the only one on display, fear not, for there was indeed a coffin in front that was populated with an actual person, so all bases were covered! Some of the live actors were excellent as well. 2011 sported a number of children dressed creatively, including one dressed as a devil, covered from head to toe in shiny red material. He wore no mask, but rather had a blank face, which was much more effective in our opinion. There were numerous adult actors as well, including a well done werewolf, a giant man with an even bigger axe, and a ghoulish soldier who pretended to be a prop in amongst the other props, then would come to life and sneak up on visitors. One of the best live actors was one dressed similar to Ghost Rider, complete with leather jacket with chains and a skull mask. Not only was the costume effective, but this actor also (like Ghost Rider), rode an actual motorcycle up and down the street. The bike had cool flashing lights on it that lit up when it was running, and the sight of a skull-headed individual driving past you on a motorcycle must have shocked quite a few people in the neighborhood! Overall there is so much to see at The Nephilim that it makes for a most enjoyable experience. From the unique props to the effective lighting to the live actors, the Nephilim has it all. Do yourself a favor and make sure to check it out if you are in the area. And if you're not in the area, make sure you plan to be so you, too, can experience it. |