I should really be wrapping presents right now, but there’s one thing I had to share with you before we all disconnect for the holiday weekend. I’ve been waiting a whole year for this. Ever since he shared his family’s gingerbread rendition of The Shining with the internet last Christmas, I’ve been discretely stalking Aaron Keeling’s instagram account for the 2016 reveal. Making incredibly elaborate gingerbread houses has been a tradition in Keeling’s family for the past decade and this year, they certainly did not disappoint. After all, nothing says “Happy Holidays” quite like a cult horror movie turned miniature gingerbread wonderland!
Welcome to the Bates Motel ladies and gentlemen! The set from Alfred Hitchcock’s cult movie Psycho, in gingerbread! Aaron is a young filmmaker himself and pays huge attention to detail. With every he photo uploaded to the net, he gives details of how the gingerbread house came together. Everything except for the base and lights is edible…
Ground is covered in crushed graham crackers and chocolate cookies, coffee, and shredded wheat.
Windows are made from melted candy, walls and roof are covered in fondant.
Roof [and porch] railing is made from tiny cut pieces of painted noodles! Check out that detail…
The entire base is four feet by four feet, and the highest point is about two feet tall.
The stairs are made from dyed rice krispie treats… that neon sign though.
Motel roof covered in flaxseed, painted noodles for the support poles.
Ice machine words printed on edible paper…
A view into Norman Bates’ taxidermy parlor. Clear window made from thin pieces of dried gelatin.
Peeping through the hole in the wall into Marion’s room! Fun fact, the painting on the floor is the same one from the movie. Furniture and props made from marzipan, gum paste, fondant, and gingerbread. Paintings printed on edible paper, rug printed on super thin fondant.
Room 1, where Marion Crane stays. Notice the black purse on the counter and the notes on the desk.
Lamp made from a bite sized Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. On the bedside table, the stack of $40,000 wrapped in a Los Angeles Times!
Check out the suitcase, the bird pics on the wall, and the tiny key that Norman picks up after the murder!
The most iconic scene. Shower rod made from painted noodles, curtain made from clear gelatin. And notice the tiny chocolate chip shower head.
We took some liberties with the amount of blood in the scene.
Marion’s car sinking into the swamp behind the motel.
Bushes are marshmallows covered in frosting, weeds are made from sour candy straws, and trees are chocolate dipped grape stems with rice krispie leaves.
The swamp is made from melted jolly ranchers! The car is several pieces of gingerbread wrapped in fondant and hand painted. It even has the same license plate from the movie.
Arbogast getting stabbed on the staircase…
Check out that gingerbread staircase. And notice the small detail of Norman’s dark hair sticking out from under mother’s wig!
Pretzel railing, fondant plants, poured candy frames with edible paper paintings, and printed fondant rugs.
Stained glass window in the back and fireplace, also on edible paper.
View from the back into the final interior scene – the basement…
Lila Crane turning around the chair to find Norman’s dead mother! But watch out Lila, Norman’s coming in behind you!
And there it is! The Keeling Family’s 2016 Morbid Christmas Creation. Does your family have any neat-o traditions?
You can see last year’s Overlook Hotel gingerbread house by the Keelings here and find all the photos and detail close-ups over from their 2016 Bates motel over on Imgur and follow Aaron Keeling on Instagram.
