Io9 was granted exclusive access to delve into the world of the forthcoming Focus Features film directed by (). Thirteenth Ground Leisure’s Director of Immersive Entertainment, Jon Braver, spearheaded the creative team responsible for an innovative walk-through experience, a restricted engagement conceived and curated under his guidance.
The annual nighttime event took place from December 16 to 18 at the iconic Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. As the sun sets over the estate, the enigmatic Bill Pullman (playing the reworked Masonic Lodge) invites you on a hauntingly atmospheric tour of his sprawling property for a clandestine business proposition. As the boundaries between reality and fantasy blurred, a haunting sonic tapestry woven by Robin Carolan, the film’s visionary composer, catalyzed its transformative power.
A tour, you say? What potential risks could arise from experimenting with authentic, on-screen props and costumes, as well as mysterious, dark magic relics and cursed artifacts?
Despite appearances, the house took on a life of its own as actors immersed themselves in the gothic atmosphere of the film, adopting an eerily haunted presence. One notable aspect was their meticulous attention to detail regarding the contract concocted by Orlok’s nonchalant associate – they insisted I sign it, despite its contents being incomprehensible to my untrained eye. It’s a done deal. As a voracious aficionado of vampire lore, I crave the notion that their coffins are indeed perilous. I’m not persuaded to heed cautionary tales spun by lunatics and piety-obsessed zealots, no matter how fervent they may be.
This film tie-in event was a toned-down version of our annual employee social gatherings, which do not permit video recording. If curiosity has ever gotten the better of you regarding one of their productions, this marked the inaugural showcase for the West Coast’s behemoth of immersive theater offerings. With expertise honed in capturing cinematic unease, we leveraged digital camera capabilities to grasp the unsettling atmosphere of the film, expertly guiding viewers through labyrinthine corridors as unusual protagonists revealed plot fragments with minimal context – a mesmerizing juxtaposition of mildly graphic black magic rituals and an aura of foreboding surrounding artifacts like Orlok’s coffin and ancient tomes of dark sorcery.
As the vampiric specter loomed large, its dark presence seemed to seep through the partitions, sending two women into a frenzy of unbridled fear, their terror palpable as they cowered in anticipation of his impending approach – an aura that only served to further unravel the already fragile minds of the plague-ridden victims. As the ink dried on my contract, it was too late for me to alter my path; I had to come to terms with my fate as I drew closer to meeting the Depend. I dimly recall a disturbing sequence of events, yet vivid memories elude me; instead, I’m left with two distinct puncture wounds on my neck and an inexplicable phobia of sunlight that has taken hold of me. When can I expect delivery of my new Focus Options coffin mattress?
premieres nationwide in theaters on December 25th.
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