Watchly Safety Review

iPad2 Halloween Costume- Gaping hole in torso

Mark Rober

0:50 · 14.6M views · October 30, 2011

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Some ConcernsReviewed June 2026

1Moderate Concern

5Minor Flags

This is a creative DIY Halloween costume tutorial showing how to create an illusion of a 'hole through the body' using two iPads and FaceTime. While the concept is clever and the execution is harmless, the fake blood and gore imagery may be startling for younger children who don't yet understand special effects.

Content Breakdown · 6 Categories

Strong & Crude LanguageA little

Contains one mild crude term 'sucky' in reference to WiFi quality. This is borderline crude language but very mild and not profane.

See evidence (1)

“if you're at a place that has sucky y5 [WiFi]”~0:30-0:35

Substance Use & Sports BettingA little

Brief reference to a party context where the costume might be worn. The phrase 'if the party rats kind of lame' suggests a party environment, though no explicit substance use is mentioned or glorified.

See evidence (1)

“if the party rats kind of lame then you can always reverse”~0:40-0:45

Hidden Advertising & Sponsored ContentA little

Multiple product mentions (iPad2, FaceTime, MiFi hotspot) and social media promotion. However, the creator explicitly states the iPads were borrowed and the costume only cost $4, suggesting this is not paid promotion. Social media links are provided but this appears to be standard creator self-promotion rather than hidden advertising.

See evidence (4)

“NOTE: The iPads were borrowed. This costume cost me $4 to buy a white shirt a Goodwill.”Throughout video

“Check out my Channel”

“Follow me on twitter”

“Facebook Fan Page”

Parasocial & Emotional ManipulationA little

Standard creator calls-to-action for social media follows (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube channel). These are typical promotional elements but not particularly manipulative or emotionally coercive.

See evidence (3)

“Check out my Channel”

“Follow me on twitter”

“Facebook Fan Page”

Engagement Baiting & Manipulative CTAsA little

Standard social media promotion CTAs present but not particularly manipulative. No guilt-tripping, superstition, or fake giveaways detected.

See evidence (3)

“Check out my Channel”

“Follow me on twitter”

“Facebook Fan Page”

Playful & Fantasy ViolenceSome

The costume creates the illusion of a 'gaping hole' in the torso with fake blood, which is clearly Halloween/fantasy violence. This is presented as a costume special effect for Halloween, not realistic violence. The gore is simulated and the context is explicitly costume/entertainment. Parents may want discretion around younger children regarding the blood/gore imagery, even though it's clearly fake.

See evidence (4)

“gaping hole in torso”Throughout video

“looks like you got a hole in your body”

“use some fake blood red paint”

“Add a little red paint”

What Parents Need to Know

This video demonstrates a tech-savvy Halloween costume that creates the illusion of a gaping wound through someone's torso using iPads, fake blood, and video chat technology. The content is purely instructional and the 'gore' is clearly fake and explained as a costume effect. There's no actual violence or disturbing imagery beyond what you'd expect from typical Halloween decorations. The tutorial does assume access to expensive technology (two iPads), which may not be realistic for all families. The casual mention of a 'lame party' uses mild language but nothing inappropriate.

Talk to Your Kids About

1How do special effects and illusions work in movies and costumes? What's the difference between pretend scary and real scary?
2Why do people enjoy dressing up in spooky or scary costumes for Halloween? What makes something fun-scary versus actually frightening?
3This costume requires expensive technology. What are creative ways to make fun costumes with materials we already have at home?
4How can we tell when something that looks real (like the hole effect) is actually just a trick or illusion?

iPad2 Halloween Costume- Gaping hole in torso

Protected Viewing

What's This Video About?

A description of a relatively simple Halloween costume using 2 iPad2s to make it look like you have a huge hole in your torso. You'll also need a MiFi hotspot (if you don't have a WiFi network available where you want to use the costume). Basically you start a FaceTime chat between the iPads and then tape one to your front and one to your back. Add a little red paint and you're good to go. It's supposed to look like you have a gaping hole in your torso. Check out my Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/onemeeeliondollars Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MarkRober Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRoberYouTube NOTE: The iPads were borrowed. This costume cost me $4 to buy a white shirt a Goodwill. If you spend more time than I did on the blood and the flesh part and lining up the iPads it could look pretty cool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this video too scary for young children?

The video shows fake blood and discusses creating a 'gaping hole' costume effect, which may be unsettling for children under 8 who don't yet fully understand the difference between real and pretend. However, the tutorial clearly explains it's a costume and shows how the illusion is created, which helps demystify the effect. Parents should preview if their child is sensitive to Halloween gore imagery.

Does this video promote materialism or expensive purchases?

The costume requires two iPads and potentially a mobile hotspot, which represents significant expense (likely $1000+ in equipment). While the video doesn't explicitly push purchasing these items, it does assume families have access to this technology. Parents may want to discuss creative alternatives or emphasize that great costumes don't require expensive gadgets.

What educational value does this video offer?

This tutorial teaches practical problem-solving, creative thinking, and basic technology applications. Children can learn about video chat technology, optical illusions, and how special effects work. It's a good introduction to STEM concepts like connectivity and visual perception, wrapped in a fun Halloween project.

Are there any safety concerns with this costume idea?

The main safety consideration is protecting expensive electronics from damage at a party or while trick-or-treating. The fake blood could stain clothing, and the costume requires maintaining a video connection which could drain batteries quickly. Otherwise, it's a safe, non-violent costume concept that's clearly presented as make-believe.

Does this video contain inappropriate language?

The video uses casual, conversational language including the phrase 'sucky WiFi' and calling a party 'lame,' which are mild colloquialisms but nothing vulgar or inappropriate. The language is typical of informal tutorial videos and shouldn't concern most parents.

Is this appropriate for my child's school Halloween celebration?

This costume concept is creative and non-violent, though individual schools have different policies about gore imagery and electronic devices. The fake blood aspect might violate some schools' Halloween guidelines, and bringing expensive iPads to school poses theft or damage risks. Check your school's specific costume rules before attempting this for a school event.

What age is "iPad2 Halloween Costume- Gaping hole in torso" appropriate for?

Watchly's safety review recommends "iPad2 Halloween Costume- Gaping hole in torso" for ages 8 and up. See the content breakdown above for the category-by-category findings behind this recommendation.