Bow River Solutions Blog

Data Analytics Meets Halloween: A Spooky Tech Tale

Written by Melissa Latournerie | Oct 29, 2023 5:15:00 PM

Halloween, a time of spooky costumes, pumpkin carving, and haunted houses, might not seem like the ideal playground for data analytics, but tech-forward professionals know that numbers and fright can make for a chillingly good combination. In this article, we will explore funny and informative examples of data analytics applied to this fright night. So, grab your candy corn and dive into the data-driven world of the supernatural!

Predicting the Scariest Costume

Have you ever wondered if data analytics can predict the scariest costume? Well, it turns out, it can! By collecting data on costume popularity, horror movie trends, and social media buzz, data analysts can predict what is going to be the spookiest costume of the year. Google reports a surge in searches for Barbie costumes, while in Ontario "Taylor Swift costume" searches have spiked by a staggering 5,000% in a brief period -likely attributed to the release of the Barbie movie in July and Taylor Swift's Eras Tour-.

The Haunted House Experience

You might think that a haunted house scares are random, but data analytics can enhance the experience. Sensors and visitor feedback data can help organizers understand which scares were the most effective, allowing them to fine-tune the horror elements for maximum fright. Imagine Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights spookier than ever, thanks to data analytics and IoT! Smart sensors could gauge the terror level in their 8 terrifying haunted houses, adjusting scares to your fear tolerance. IoT-connected wristbands could help locate your scream squad in the dark, ensuring you survive Vecna’s curse in the Stranger Things 4 haunted house. With IoT and data, you could brave Southern California’s scariest event.

Candy Distribution Optimization

In the world of big data, even candy distribution is not safe from analysis. By analyzing past years' data, candy preferences in different neighborhoods, and demographics, homeowners can optimize their candy purchases. Data can help you discover that Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are disappearing faster in neighborhoods with more kids, M&M's are vanishing from teen-friendly areas, and Snickers are devoured wherever adults lurk. Armed with this sweet insight, this year you can ensure every trick-or-treater gets the candy they are craving.

Horror Movie Marathon Planning

Tech-savvy fright enthusiasts can use data analytics to plan the ultimate horror movie marathon. By analyzing IMDb ratings, scare factors, and running times, you can create a schedule that maximizes terror and enjoyment. Do not worry we did the work for you; here is our suggested Halloween movie marathon schedule:

🎃Before 2000

  1. "The Shining" (1980) - IMDb Rating: 8.4 | Scare Factor: Psychological horror | Running Time: 2h 26m
  1. "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984) - IMDb Rating: 7.5 | Scare Factor: Supernatural, slasher | Running Time: 1h 31m
  1. "The Exorcist" (1973) - IMDb Rating: 8.0 | Scare Factor: Supernatural, psychological horror | Running Time: 2h 2m

After 2000🎃

  1. "The Conjuring" (2013) - IMDb Rating: 7.5 | Scare Factor: Supernatural, jump scares | Running Time: 1h 52m
  1. "Get Out" (2017) - IMDb Rating: 7.7 | Scare Factor: Social thriller, psychological horror | Running Time: 1h 44m
  1. "Hereditary" (2018) - IMDb Rating: 7.3 | Scare Factor: Psychological horror, supernatural | Running Time: 2h 7m

By dividing the movies this way, you can explore the evolution of horror cinema and enjoy a well-balanced marathon that displays classic horror from before 2000 and more recent contemporary scares.

In Conclusion

Halloween and data analytics might seem like an unlikely pairing, but for tech-forward professionals, it is all about unleashing the potential of numbers in the spookiest of ways. From predicting the year's scariest costume to optimizing candy distribution, data analytics is the key to terrifyingly fun. So, the next time you are haunted by the question of how to make your ghostly celebration even ghostlier, remember, there is a data analyst somewhere conjuring up the perfect solution. Happy Halloween! 👻

Interested in data analytics as a solution for your business? Contact Oscar Cruz, our CTO, at oscar@bowriversolutions.com. Bring your data to life.