Six years after its initial debut, creator Gilbert Sotero Jr. is resurrecting The Doll in the Hall—a horror-inspired, Elf on the Shelf-esque interactive experience designed to turn October into a daily family Halloween ritual.
The updated project launches Oct. 1 on Kickstarter as part of “Witchstarter,” the platform’s annual Halloween season celebration highlighting projects inspired by magic and the supernatural.
Built around an original haunted character named Deadra, The Doll in the Hall blends daily searches, storytelling, suspense, and interactive play. Each morning, parents unlock Deadra from her keepsake box and hide her in the house. Children must find the doll and return her to the box before bedtime—or risk finding playful mischief around the house the next morning. The experience continues through Halloween night, ending with a small parent-selected reward.
The package includes a 12-inch articulated Deadra doll, an illustrated storybook, and reusable keepsake packaging styled with a door flap bearing the warning: “DON’T OPEN! HAUNTED DOLL INSIDE!”
“I wanted to create more than a Halloween decoration or collectible,” said Sotero. “The goal is to give families a tradition they can look forward to every October – one that creates suspense, laughter, courage, and memories together.”
Deadra is the flagship character in a larger planned Doll in the Hall universe. The company’s immediate focus is successfully introducing her through Kickstarter and building the first community of families who will help bring the tradition to life.
The Kickstarter campaign runs Oct. 1 through Nov. 2. Sotero is currently offering a limited VIP reservation offer, allowing supporters to lock in a private $34 reward tier for a $1 deposit before the public launch.
For more information or to back the project at launch, visit The Doll in the Hall Kickstarter page.
