Film noir inspired decor

One of the best parts about Halloween (aside from the sugar rush) is creating a super spooky look in our home. While there is no shortage of ideas when it comes to decorating with Halloween-themed supplies, there’s an easy (and inexpensive) way to decorate using a very powerful medium: light.

If you’re a fan of film noir you know that light and shadow are core to the visual appeal of that movie genre.

This powerfully clever lighting technique was really derived out of the need for filmmakers to be creative under budgetary constraints. Without the benefit of special effects or computer-aided design, these filmmakers were able to scare audiences out of the skins by simply placing light and shadow in the right spot at the right time.

You don’t need to study filmmaking or technical lighting to add this kind of drama to your home. Here’s a quick tutorial for how to effectively create that thrilling film noir look in your home this Halloween.

Use inexpensive lights

You can certainly use your own table and floor lamps that you already have but there are few other sources for gathering more lights for Halloween. Thrift stores are a great place to find cheap lamps. Just make sure you ask the store to test them with a real bulb to make sure it works and inspect the cord for hazardous fraying. Ask friends and neighbors if you could borrow a few lamps or spot lights for a week or two.

You might already own some construction or work lamps that can act as strong, main lights to your haunted house. These lights tend to get hot so don’t place them near fabrics or flammable objects. Your flashlights or camping lights might also come in handy, especially if you only want to use them for a few hours. Holiday string lights can also be used and are perfect for adding a soft glow to dark corners. Don’t forget to experiment with different bulb types. Try bright, cool white bulbs for a harsh effect, or flood lights for a “bigger” light. 

Create long, dark shadows

Halloween lighting should use lots of strong contrasts between light and dark as well as long shadows to create that dramatic appearance in the home.  In film noir, characters and objects are often partly shown, with dark shadows casting light over half their face. Or an object might be made more menacingly larger by placing lighting so that a long shadow is thrown against a white backdrop. 

Use up lighting

The spookiest of lighting techniques is lighting from below. Everyone remembers sitting around a campfire while ghost stories were told. Remember how creepy it looked when the storyteller held a flashlight under their chin? You can use this same technique for your home by placing lights underneath objects (like a skirted table) or behind objects (like behind a sofa). You probably already use this technique when you carve a menacing face on a pumpkin and place a candle inside.

This effect casts extra shadows, distorting the pumpkin. You can hang Halloween masks on the wall and light them from below, or add extra terror to ordinary objects like candlesticks. 

Make "cookies"

Cookies, or cucoloris in film speak, is a cut out or template of a pattern or design that is held in front of a light. The idea is that this cookie creates a shadow on top of something, adding drama and dimension. In your Halloween home, you could use foam core or cardboard to cut out a creepy silhouette. Place this cutout between a strong light and a wall, or place it in front of a window with strong backlight.

Or put the cookie outside the home and place the light down low and aim it high to create a tall, long shadow across your home. You can also use a cookie inside a lampshade. If you have a drum shade, try hanging a plastic spider on string or fishing wire inside the shade. When the light is on, the spider will cast a spider shadow on the shade. Experiment with the template by moving it closer or farther away from the light source - this will either make the shadow softer or darker.

Light bulbs can get hot, and can even start fires. Your first priority when setting up your creepy lighting is to ensure safety in your home. Never place flammable objects on top of a light bulb and make sure that cords are out of walkways. Halloween is already a dangerous night and you’ll want to make sure that your home is safe for trick-or-treaters. If you use strong lighting outdoors, make sure the cords are well out of walkways and never aim light bulbs at eye level.

Always use a power strip so you don’t overload an outlet, and turn off lamps and lights when you leave the house.

Does all this talk about lighting tricks and techniques have your curiosity piqued? Watch this video about how cinematographers create film noir lighting when making movies. And if you find yourself confused by your fuse box, or see that your outlets have died, be sure you hire an expert so you don't end up in your own film noir nightmare!