How to Make a Scary Face

Published: Jul 29, 2008
Updated: Feb 23, 2021
3 minute read

There are two great ways to make a scary face, since one is for nighttime horror while the other scares people during the day. One involves a flashlight in the dark and the other works in any kind of lighting. Both are simple and, if you like sick stuff, fun. You can make a scary face, or two, with some simple steps and a flexible face.

Photo by Ryn Gargulinski

Things You'll Need:

Things You Will Need

  • Flashlight
  • Mirror To Practice In
  • Flexible Face Muscles
  • Start with the nighttime scary face. Go in front of a mirror to see what you come up with. The first scary face should look like an alarmed ghoul. His eyes should be open wide, ready to pop out. His mouth should be the widest grimace you can manage, showing all your teeth and curling your lips under in a snarl. You should also smash your face back into your neck so all the fat on your chin and neck folds over and induces more terror.

    Shine a flashlight pointing upwards beneath your chin to shed light on your facial expression. Practice in a mirror so you get the angle of the flashlight right and are not simply shining the light on the bottom of your jaw. Once you get it right, go wake someone up in the middle of the night to see if it works.

    Move on to the daytime scary face. Place yourself again in front of a mirror so you can see the results. The daytime face should look like an annoyed gremlin on drugs. Start by practicing the annoyed gremlin on drugs without any further help just to get a feel for how an annoyed druggie gremlin should appear.

    Move on to the daytime scary face. Place yourself again in front of a mirror so you can see the results. The daytime face should look like an annoyed gremlin on drugs. Start by practicing the annoyed gremlin on drugs without any further help just to get a feel for how an annoyed druggie gremlin should appear.

    Pull on your face with your upside down hands. Place your thumbs in either corner of your mouth, one pinkie finger in each nostril and your index fingers at each outer corner of your eyes. This leaves your ring fingers and middle fingers free to be curled like claws. Pull your facial features back, making sure to keep your fingers and thumbs in place during the process for the most hideous effect.

    Warnings:

    • Do not try the daytime scary face if you happen to wear contact lenses. They will pop out. It’s best to practice these faces in private so you don’t look like a total goof ball. If you practice them in the classroom, at church or in the middle of a supermarket management might call someone to take you away.
    Ryn Gargulinski

    Ryn Gargulinski is a writer, artist and performer whose journalism career began in 1991. Credits include two illustrated books, "Bony Yoga" and "Rats Incredible"; fitness, animal, crime, general news and features for various publications;…

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