Animatronic zombie that rises out of your garden and chases people, dragging its entrails

Posted by Cory Doctorow, August 8, 2008 12:06 AM | permalink

The Fright Catalog's Dead Fred runs on two 12V battery and sports four separate motors that allow it to sense passers-by, rise up out of the earth and chase them, howling and growling and dragging its entrails behind it. It's $2650, so it's a little pricey for Hallowe'en, but that sum does compare favorably with the total cost of ownership for a pet dog or cat, so when the kids start complaining that they need a companion who'll follow them around and do tricks, this might be a good choice. Dead Fred Zombie Chaser (via DVice)

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Discussion

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#1 posted by GammaBlog , August 8, 2008 12:29 AM

Thoughts of instilling a bit of Wednesday Adams in the little one, Cory?

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#2 posted by BizarroPippy , August 8, 2008 4:02 AM

Wouldn't any passer by worth their zombie survival salt just shoot it in the head or chop it to itty bits with the weapon they are inevitably carrying and you would be out $2650?

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#3 posted by Bobdotcom , August 8, 2008 5:04 AM

OMG I totally want this! But yeah, it *is* a bit pricey for our modest income.

@1 Gammablog: nothing wrong with that. I for one, am always looking for ways to soothe my inner Gomez Addams.

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#4 posted by Shrdlu , August 8, 2008 5:40 AM

I'm going to dig a hole in my front yard and hire someone to play the zombie. In fact, I know some people who would likely do it for beer. I'm all about value.

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#5 posted by Alkwerte , August 8, 2008 7:21 AM

Mix it with an automatic lawn mower !

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#6 posted by alisong76 , August 8, 2008 7:55 AM

I'd steal it.

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#7 posted by ployntabs , August 8, 2008 8:17 AM

A real zombie would be cheaper and more fun.

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#8 posted by horseradishroad , August 8, 2008 10:54 AM

any reason the zombie sounds like a flabbergasted oliver hardy, or perhaps a horny scooby doo? more ridiculous than frightening.

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#9 posted by mr.skeleton , August 8, 2008 11:17 AM

Surely there must be a way to up the power and attach it to some sort of sinew and bone rickshaw.

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#10 posted by Drew Blood , August 8, 2008 1:50 PM

BizarroPippy has the right idea! Steal the concept, hire someone (or to share the fun have Halloween partygoers work in shifts), and the effect would be cheaper and more entertaining. Still and all, if you've got $3000 or so to throw about, it's pretty fun. My car cost less than this thing though.

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#11 posted by GammaBlog , August 8, 2008 10:12 PM

Must be the economy, people are eager for the zombie-in-the-hole jobs. Cheaper than robots, we.

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#12 posted by Shrdlu , August 9, 2008 5:01 AM

#10. I thought that was my idea.

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#13 posted by moonracer23 , August 9, 2008 8:33 AM

I like the decorative robot lawnmower idea!

I think the add might have worked better if it wasn't so close up (at least half could have been a full lawn shot) and there wasn't some person adding lame groan sounds in the background.

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#14 posted by anthropomorphictoast , August 10, 2008 1:28 PM

Looks cool but...wtf is up with the SOUND? I make better zombie noises when I wake up too early. ;P