Baby Dolls That Will Give You The Frights

Creepy and unusual toys for Halloween that you probably shouldn't give to any kids.

By JillIan Pretzel

There are a number of creepy dolls sold online that would make for perfect Halloween props. (Photo by Fancycrave)

Say hello to the age of creepy toys.

You can now buy deformed, warped, or possessed dolls with crooked smiles and hollow eyes that are nothing like the Cabbage Patch Kids or Barbies of your youth. The stuff of nightmares and twisted horror tales, they’re often limited edition and one-of-a-kind, not to mention definitely not made for kids.

From werewolves to vampires to otherworldly creatures, there are a lot of freaky toys out there to choose from whether you’re decorating for Halloween or just in the mood to scare guests.

Check out our favorites and remember that these dolls exist for a reason: because people buy them. And even that is pretty scary to comprehend.  

WerePups

Gaze upon a WerePup and experience a mixture of repulsion and affection at the same time.

There’s something unsettling about baby dolls that look too real, but when that doll also happens to be a baby werewolf, well, it’s even more terrifying. The handiwork of special effects artist Asia Eriksen, WerePups look so realistic they often shock unsuspecting strangers. With glass eyes, hand-painted skin, and hirsute bodies, their features can be customized to resemble pets, friends, or family members. You can even send in your loved one’s fur or hair to make it extra personal —or creepy.

One WerePups fan in Los Angeles — who owns eight — had one of her dolls made with teeth from her dead cat.  While the small versions, called Pocket Pups, cost a few hundred dollars, the full-sized dolls, especially if they’re customized, can put you back more than $1,000. But if you’ve always dreamed of raising a little werewolf of your own, this might just be worth it.

Day of the Dollies

If you think Chuckie is scary, you obviously haven’t seen Day of the Dollies’ creations.

Porcelain dolls have never been particularly cuddly with their cold, fragile limbs and dead, lifeless eyes. But Day of the Dollies takes their spookiness to the next level. The artist uses a chisel and hammer to crack regular doll heads and crudely glues them back together before painting their skin a spooky blue-grey. They’re usually dressed in sweet, frilly clothes painted to look aged and dirty. The end result is a nightmare-quality doll, perfect for displaying in crumbling, bat-infested haunted houses.  

Robert the Doll

The gift-shop-version of Robert the Doll also has those creepy puncture marks on the doll’s face.

Robert was the favorite toy of a little boy named Gene who received it in 1904 as a birthday gift from his grandpa. A 40-inch soft doll dressed in a sailor’s uniform, he was often used by Gene as as a scapegoat whenever the child caused mischief or got into trouble, which many believe led him to absorb bad energies

According to legend, Robert has supernatural abilities and can change his facial expressions, move, or giggle. He’s also said to have caused car crashes, broken bones, and even divorces. Arguably one of the most famous haunted dolls ever, he’s now on permanent display at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida. The gift shop sells Robert the doll reproductions and you can take one home for $39.95. The nightmares are included for free.  

Twisted Bean Stalk Nursery

One of Twisted Bean Stalk Nursery’s spine-tingling baby dolls.

Let’s be honest: Some babies are ugly. But the baby dolls sold by Twisted Bean Stalk Nursery are a whole other story. Twisted Bean Stalk Nursery creates zombie, vampire, and even dragon baby dolls that look just like real life bundles of horror.

Washington-based artist Bean Shanine begins with a Reborn Doll Kit (basically a blank canvas build-your-own baby) and transforms it into a little monster, often featuring fangs, green skin, and hollow eyes. But even if the dolls don’t scare you, the price might. These babies go for as much as $1,000 on Etsy.

(This article was originally published on October 25, 2018)

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