Halloween Reviews: Nightmare, Paranormal Activity, Sinister and Boo at the Zoo

The Princess and the Warlock pretty much celebrate Halloween all October. As we like to say in our household, October is our favorite holiday. We try to pack our weekends full of fun events such as haunted houses, scary movies and Halloween parties as much as we can.

This past weekend we visited local haunted house “Nightmare”, saw two horror movies (Paranormal Activity 4 and Sinister) and went to the Bronx Zoo to check out their Boo in the Zoo event. So rather than do a separate post to review each and every event, we’ve decided to just review it all in one big post.

 

Nightmare Haunted House 2012

Nightmare

We’ve been attending Manhattan-based “Nightmare” haunted house for the past six years. Over this time, we’ve seen the productions vary from the outstanding to the underwhelming, though mostly the house is a crowd pleaser with only two years of the six being in the “underwhelming” category. This year? It gets the stamp of approval from us.

Every year Nightmare tackles a new theme. This year’s serial killers theme was its most controversial so far, but director Tim Haskell is not one to shy away from his artistic vision, nor does he sacrifice integrity either.

Without giving away any spoilers, let us begin by saying that this year’s house starts out very different than its previous iterations which set the foundation by making the small group of guests feel incredibly venerable. This vulnerability certainly carries over to the next room which is quite unexpected and delivers home the message that the artistic directors are mindful of the content they have created. It was this second room which had us and our friends talking at great length around a diner afterwards. The dialogue and theme presented in this particular room were a tad jarring but ultimately we felt it was probably a very important message to send the audience to ground them before diving ahead.

From then on, we traveled through a number of rooms featuring various serial killers, from the past and in more modern times. The acting and set designs were well done and certainly raised the bar from the past three years. The scares were a wonderful mix of your typical haunted house jump-out-of-the-dark-and-into-your-face scares to the more twisted and disturbing psychological mind screws, such as the Jeffrey Dahmer trial room which was the room both the Princess and the Warlock found the most unsettling. In addition to this, other highlights included the fact that the Princess bravely jumped down John Wayne Gacy’s crawlspace alone and was later “killed” by Jack the Ripper (she had one heck of a night!).

The only detractions to the house were three main issues we had. The first was lack of sound proofing. In several rooms we could hear the group in front of us shouting and screaming which muffled actor’s performance and made it hard for us to hear what was being said. The second issue was that, before you enter the house you are asked if you wish to be touched by performers or not. If you opt for the more immersive experience (like the Princess and the Warlock did), then you are marked with a bloody “X” on the forehead to alert actors. However, there were a number of our group (about 6) who all decided against it. The problem was that despite this option, those in our group who were unmarked were still touched which made our friends feel rather uncomfortable and annoyed. The biggest offender of this was the actor portraying Anne of Bathory. The third issue was an isolated incident, but needs to be noted all the same; in the Jack the Ripper room, when we entered the majority of the group pressed to a wall and when a door in the wall slams open unexpectedly, two of our friends were hit with the door because there was no warning not to be near it. This resulted in a bruised arm and elbow of said friends. (On the good hand, the actor playing Jack the Ripper was very conscientious about actively checking the group for marked targets).

Overall, Nightmare is an intense journey into dark, psychological terrain. It was a disturbing, albeit, entertaining journey that got our hearts pumping and our minds spinning, but it is certainly not for everyone and if you have any issues related to claustrophobia or feel uncomfortable with people getting in close proximity to you, it’s best to sit this one out.

The Princess’s rating: 4 stars

The Warlock’s rating: 3 stars

Paranormal Activity 4

The day after our visit to the haunted house, the Princess and the Warlock spent the majority of their Saturday having a movie marathon at the local cinema. First up – Paranormal Activity 4.

We’ve watched all the previous movies in the series and as much as the “found footage” craze is growing a bit tired, we couldn’t help ourselves from checking out the next chapter to the story.

While the film certainly has its moments of scares, overall it was lackluster compared to the first two movies, though the Warlock found it better than the third and the Princess found it comparable to the third. And that third chapter is the one that we feel set the series on a downward slope. Without spoiling too much, the third movie sets up certain elements in the series’ internal mythology that pulls the action away from being a universal experience and makes it much more insular to the specific characters and lessens the scare factor by explaining the unexplainable, leading up to a disappointing climax. Unfortunately, the forth movie follows this mythology and whereas the previous movies had a delightfully slow build- up of tension which left you on the edge of your seat with anxiety, this one failed to pull off that same rise that made the first two movies a sensation. And when the main scares do show up at the end, they are meager as they are delivered not by a more tangible force rather than the unknown.

This being said, the use of the laptop cameras and Kinect were innovative and provided some rather creepy moments. Overall, it was okay but nothing special. If you are a fan of the series it’s worth checking out, otherwise hold off for a Netflix view on the comfort of your own couch.

The Princess’s rating: 3 stars

The Warlock’s rating: 3 stars

 

Sinister

The premise of Sinister is that a down-on-his-luck true crime novelist played by Ethan Hawke moves his family into the home of a family that was recently murdered. A crime which he is investigating for his latest book.

After discovering a box full of troubling super 8 film, Hawke’s Ellison Oswalt finds himself deeper into the mystery than he expected and at the center of it, a supernatural entity known as Bughuul who lives in the images of himself.

The idea certainly isn’t original (see “The Ring”), but it provides memorable enough scares to make it unique and stand on its own. We don’t want to spoil too much, so we’ll just say this – Yes, it is scary. In fact, both the Princess and the Warlock were freaked out enough by this one that they needed to go see a third movie (Argo, we both give it 4 stars – but not theme relevant so we’re not reviewing it) just to get their mind off of the idea of Bughuul following us home. The great part about this film is that while it takes so many overused and seemingly unoriginal concepts (ie. creepy ghost children, the boogey monster) and reinvents the elements to transform it into a classic. It is hands down the best horror movie of 2012 to date and probably the best one we’ve seen since the Grudge.

The Princess’s rating: 4 stars

The Warlock’s rating: 4.5 stars

Boo at the Zoo

The Princess hasn’t been to the Bronx Zoo since she was a wee lass, so the Warlock had been promising her to take her for a while. Luckily, the Princess’s friend Dalin of Magic ala Mode decided to invite us to check out their Boo in the Zoo Halloween event.

Together with another friend, Nina, the four of us had a blast on the fine crisp, autumn day. The event is perfect for families looking for a fun day to spend with kids. Costumes are encourages for both children and adults alike. With Hayrides, free candy stations, a parade, face painting and of course lots of animals, it makes an ideal trip for locals looking for something a little less scary.

Down the Rabbit Hole: A Review of "Then She Fell"

 

As a gamer, theater nerd and writer, it’s safe to say that I have a healthy imagination.  I simply never outgrew playing pretend. So you can imagine how thrilled I am that a new wave of immersive experiences is taking the theater world by storm lately. My favorite among them? Third Rail Project’s Then She Fell, an immersive theatrical dance performance which thrusts its audience head first down the rabbit hole straight into Wonderland.

I’ve been following the company’s Steampunk Haunted House productions for the past three years, which was my first experience into this type of theater. They had me hooked from the start. Now, with Then She Fell, they’ve pushed the envelope.  

When you first arrive, you are given a ring of keys and encouraged to explore by opening the various locked boxes and chests you will find in rooms throughout the performance. However, you may not open any closed doors nor may you speak unless spoken to. The reason? It is a guided experience which has been carefully choreographed to provide a seamless, personalized journey for each of the audience members. The no talking rule is a staple of immersive theater and is in place for a good reason; eliminating your ability to speak allows you to observe more acutely rather than forcing yourself to make nervous chatter with other participants which can distract you from the heart of the experience. To really get the most out of this event, you must surrender to it. Do not resist, just embrace it. Give up control and just let it sweep you up in the story. Of you are able to do this, you will not be disappointed.

With only 15 audience members per each 2-hour performance, the show is designed to give participants a level of intimacy that many other, more popular immersive shows, lack. This means that audience members will frequently have one-on-one time alone with a number of Lewis Carroll characters such as the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, Alice, or even Lewis Carroll himself.

Throughout the show, you are guided through a series of vignettes where you watch the narrative unfold in a disjointed, dreamlike fashion. The order in which things occur and the things you witness changes from person to person as each participant has a different experience, making it fun to catch up with friends afterwards to discuss over coffee and compare journeys. For myself, I got to be a guest at the Mad Hatter’s tea party, I scribed for Lewis Carroll while he dictated a letter to Alice, I was tucked into bed by the White Queen and told a bedtime story, I got trapped behind a looking glass, imprisoned in a room full of roses by the Red Queen, had a conversation with Alice about love while I brushed her hair, followed the White Rabbit from room to room and ate and drank various elixirs and treats as they were given to me. As a Kickstarter backer for the production, I also had a personalized medical record hidden somewhere on the set which I managed to find. My diagnosis? Catalepsy resulting from delusions and an overactive imagination. It seems they know me well.

The show itself takes place at the formerly abandoned Greenpoint Hospital in Brooklyn which has been transformed into a performance art center. It is a site that was made for this show and adds another layer of depth into the narrative of the story, by adding a cast of nurses and a doctor shuffling throughout the environment occasionally coming to escort you onwards or force characters to take their meds, which leaves you to question if this is all just a shared hallucination of mentally ill patients after all. The story itself is a beautiful merge of the speculative relationship between historical, real-life figures of Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) and Alice Liddell and Carroll’s beloved writings which have become a classic icon of literature for adults and children alike. But make no mistake, with its heavily sexual themes and connotations explored, this is performance is adults only and you must have a valid ID with you when you show up.

In addition to the relationship aspect of the story, The She Fell also delves into themes revolving around duality which can be found both subtly and overtly through the show. And as mentioned earlier, the presence of hospital staff and interior environment also adds a layer of subtext and thematics related to the idea of imagination vs reality and the thin line between. It may seem like a number of intense topics to present into one production, but Third Rail Projects’ cast and crew pull it off with an unparalleled level of brilliance and masterful integrity to their vision. The performers themselves wear the characters like a second skin and convey a heartbreakingly beautiful depth of emotions in their every movement and every glance.

With all their shows currently sold out, a lot of people are unfortunately going to miss out on this gem, but they occasionally have last minute cancellations and there is talk that the show might have an extended run in the future, but whether or not the production will stay housed at its current location or reinvent itself in a new location remains to be seen. If this sounds like something you want to experience, I highly recommend subscribing to the company’s mailing list and following them on Facebook. All in all, I cannot praise this transcendent piece of theater enough. If you get the chance, see it.

Then She Fell
Third Rail Projects

Review: Second Life Gaming

Online gaming has certainly come a long way since back when the Princess used to play in the chat rooms of Q-Link. Rather than just relying on text based encounters with other players, we have visual representations via customizable avatars. While many of these online gaming platforms can be considered a glorified chat room, the level of detail and visual appeal they offer certainly raises the bar from what online gaming used to be like.

One such platform is Second Life. While many may argue that Second Life has lost its appeal and is old news, it still offers a variety of RPG sims for players to engage in. Like any game/system/platform, roleplaying on Second Life has its ups and downs. After over four years of experience playing and being involved in a number of sims, we’ve had a chance to see ups and the downs.

1)      On the good side, it can be much cheaper than many other MMORPGs out there.

There is no monthly fee and if you are a savvy enough user, you can create a good looking avatar for cheap (if not free).  Paying for Lindens (Second Life’s monetary units) is purely optional. To create a perfect representation of what you envision for your character, you might have to shell out a bit. But you can likely make what you want for under $10.

2)      You don’t have to worry about rounding up your friends and working with everyone’s hectic schedules – you can just log in and play wherever there are players. And with players located all over the world, you are bound to find plenty of people on at any given time. It can be hard to wait in between regular game sessions. Second Life game sims offer a great way to get a gaming fix in to pass the time.

3)      You can find sims that offer a deeper RP experience than a regular WoW style dungeon crawl. Many MMORPGs are focused more combat oriented games that leave out the role play aspect many of us are looking for. There are plenty of sims that offer a more enriched RP experience while still having combat, so you can get the best of both worlds.

But then we come to the dark side. These issues are not unique to Second Life gaming, but they are certainly quite present.

1)      Anonymity breeds poor behavior. This above all else might be the one thing we cannot abide more than any other of the problems inherent to an online gaming experience. For some reason when people log in to online platforms they think they have the right to become complete jerkwads. Some use the argument that “It’s the internet. Deal with it.” While others claim that while they are being blunt, they are only being honest. No. You’re not. You’re being a jerk. All because you are hiding behind an avatar doesn’t make you any less of a jerk. In fact, it makes you pathetic on top of being a jerk. Being online does not excuse poor behavior. You will encounter MANY players that think it does. So be warned, because you will be sure to encounter these types. The only way to deal with it is to calmly confront the person one-on-one via IMs, ignore them, or leave for greener pastures. Whatever you do, don’t take what they say to heart because odds are they have more issues than Time Magazine.

2)      You may be looking for RP but they are looking for cyber.  Yes, we know what type of RPing is often associated with online gaming. And, hey, if that’s your thing, then have a blast. However, if you are looking for an actual RP experience that doesn’t involve tentacles and leather whips, then you need to make that clear in your user profile and steer clear of game sims that advocate that style of play. Even if you are playing in sim that doesn’t allow it, you still may run into players who are looking for that type of experience regardless of the rules. If you feel uncomfortable about it contact the player or else a staff member to make your feelings known. 

3)      Poor internal game structure. After participating in a number of RPG sims on Second Life, we’ve noticed that it is rare to find one with decent and organized leadership. Whether it is that the rules are not clearly laid out, a lack of leadership present in the sim or the leadership exerting too much control, don’t expect much professionalism. We’ve played in some drama plagued LARPs and table tops in our day, but we’ve never seen the level of immaturity like we have in these sims. Like any game, the underlying problems are specific to each sim. Just be aware that you are likely not to encounter a stable game structure in this environment.

So would we recommend Second Life as a gaming platform? Well that depends on what you are looking for. As a quick fix for something with more depth than a standard dungeon crawl, it’s good. But only if you can ignore the drama that goes along with it. If you want it as a means to just kick back and play on a casual basis while waiting between LARPs, yes, it’s a good filler. But if you are looking for a group of like-minded individuals that share your style of game play, you may become frustrated. Sims are often made up of 60+ players. With so many players and the often poor game structure, most players have conflicting ideas about genre so it can be a feat to find any who share your game style. Pair that with the fact that generally speaking, these players tend to be in the late teens to early twenties, and hopefully you get the picture that, as a veteran gamer, you may not be able to find players with enough experience that meets your expectations. The lowdown is, if you set your expectations low, then yes, you can potentially have a fun time, but don’t get caught up in the BS. Do we have fun? Sure! But only after we learned that it really isn’t worth sweating the small stuff.

Nightmare Review

Sorry that we’ve been away so long. Life has gotten busy and we were away for a while on vacation celebrating the Warlock’s victory our one year anniversary. So without further ado, a review…

Last week, we got the chance to visit a popular local haunted house, Nightmare. Every year, director Timothy Haskell, creates a new theme and house. The idea behind Nightmare is not just to scare, but to disturb you. The cast and crew work to create a truly immersive experience. We’ve been going to this house for the past four years, so we’re excited to have the chance to tell you more about it.

The Princess’s Take:

This year’s theme was “Superstitions”. Being somewhat superstitious myself, it was a thrill for me to be confronted with some of the things I am actually apprehensive about. I suspect that most people are at least a little bit superstitious about one thing or another. Nightmare takes those fears and throws them in your face, forcing you to be face to face with them, exploiting your natural human emotions for a very visceral experience.

In my opinion, both cast and crew have done an excellent job at creating something new and exciting this year. The actors possess great timing and keep control of their given room (or hallway). Costumes and props appear to be detailed well crafted (though it’s hard to get a great look when you are fleeing from monsters coming at you). From prop work to overall story, it’s clear that a lot of thought went into the creation of this year’s house.

One of my favorite aspects of this year’s house is the level of interaction. At several points during your journey different members of your group will be singled out. As one of these people, I can speak from experience that it really gets your heart pumping when you are forced to leave the safety of a group and walk into the great unknown by yourself. It’s this quality that makes you feel like you are a part of the story rather than an outside viewer.

The rooms themselves were innovative and clever, creating plenty moments of unexpected scares and surprises. It’s a real feat and a testament to the staff’s talent at how they are able to create some many moments of surprises by diverting your attention only to have something come up right behind you when cramped in a small room.

4 out of 5 stars

The Warlock’s Take:

Having had to manage such places in the past I was very impressed with the effort put into this year’s house.  The added interaction and basic story line added so much and it was fun to have to flee some rooms, and wanting to flee others but being trapped and forced to talk to one of the ‘patients’.  The rooms were cleverly designed, and had some good effects.  Being familiar with the different superstitions can definitely add to the horror and appreciation of each area.  But the rooms don’t come off as gimmicky, there are a lot of subtle touches that just add to theme without distracting you from the story. It was a lot of fun to go back and talk about each room, and how it all tied to the Superstion in ways we hadn’t realized at the time.

As for the actors I would love to have such talent in any of my dungeons.  There was a great sense of timing and some nice physical work.  Costumes were for the most part simple but effective with some nice makeup work.  But with a few nice pieces that are really able to stand out when used.  The entire crowd gets worked over so you’re not really safe in the back, middle or front, that’s if you manage to keep any semblance of order at all going from room to room.   

Over all it was a great scare for a wide range of horror seekers with a good mix of physical and psychological thrills to entertain anyone looking for one, the other, or both, and skilled actors ready to give you a great Halloween experience.  The whole experience is worth it whether you are a first timer, haunted house pro, or a fellow haunter interested in the art.

Also the shirts are really cool.

4 out of 5 Stars

Video Game Review: Limbo

This isn't quite what little Billy had in mind when he said he wanted to hang out with his friends.

Limbo is a new game developed by Playdead Studios available on Xbox Live. It is a puzzle based game featuring a surreal, monochromatic setting in which you play a young boy searching for his little sister across a ghastly, ever-changing landscape. The game was released on July 21st, 2010.

The Princess’s Take:

The Warlock heard about this from Game Informer. Between the haunting description of the game and the critical praise it received, I was instantly intrigued. We checked it out and I have to say – it did not disappoint.

The gameplay is very simple, with only two main commands (jump and walk/run) and the option to push and pull various objects. Despite having such a limited range of options, it is amazing how many clever puzzles are presented. One of the things I loved about these puzzles was I found their challenge level optimal – not too easy to the point of you getting bored but also not too difficult that you are pulling your hair out. It’s challenging, but in no way impossible.

One of the great things the developers did with this game was to not have background music, but instead focus on atmospheric sounds. This effect works wonders to create truly eerie experience to an already creepy game. You can hear the boy’s feet crunching against the grass; hear the cracking of glass and the currents of electricity passing through power lines. It was an effective technique to draw players into the setting.

As for the visuals, the black on white silhouette style makes it look like you are watching some kind of horrific shadow puppet show. It’s another element that helps create a complete thematic of the macabre. The interaction with the environment is the main part of puzzle solving in this game, and the developers did a terrific job at doing just enough details to foreground without compromising the simplistic allure of the game.

This is a pretty quick game to play. It took me and The Warlock roughly six or seven hours to get through. For some, it might seem too short for the price tag ($10 USD), but I like playing quicker games and I think the price is well worth what you get in return.

Overall, this game hit all the marks for me. It’s pretty much got exactly what I want out of a game and has such a captivating stylized format that I think many gamers will find this an enjoyable play.

5 out of 5 stars



The Warlock’s Take:

Besides being a simple well put together game this is a great hook to pull in someone who plays video games more casually, or doesn’t want to watch you play Modern Warfare or WoW. While it’s single player it’s still fun to figure out puzzles with a partner, and the creepy setting can set up a nice horror movie effect, complete with sudden deaths, and squeals. Just the thing to set the right mood.

The simplicity of the controls makes it great for handing off as well, and the game can engage both experienced and new gamers.

I won’t get into the great visuals and audio as The Princess already hit on them, but it is amazing what they did with a minimalist game in a world currently ruled by hyper-realism.

For the down side: The replayablity of the game is limited, with the exception of running around to get all the achievements, once you’ve figured out all the puzzles that’s pretty much it, and the game is fairly short. But it’s a downloadable game and 10 bucks and your already getting everything else we mentioned out of it. It can be a fun thing to throw on for a guest, and can even lead to some philosophical debates and conversations, not bad for a download.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: The Expendables

Last weekend, we got a chance to see our favorite childhood action heroes come to life in The Expendables. It’s an hour and a half action packed romp about a group of mercenaries who are hired by a CIA operative to the travel to South America overthrow a tyrant. In the process, the team tries to liberate the dictator’s daughter who helped aid them bring down her father.

The Princess’s Take:

This is a pretty straight forward action flick. Don’t expect any great cinematic achievements or award winning performances – this movie is all about the explosions and epic fights of action hero legends. And really, that is what you came for. And you get it. In spades.

The cast does a great job at doing their thing (kicking butt). The fight sequences are intense and plentiful, although the shaky camera occasionally hurt my eyes and made it difficult for me to keep up with the fights. But I got what I came for. Violence, violence, and more violence.

As someone trying to keep a megalomaniac in check, I definitely could sympathize with the tyrannical general’s daughter, Sandra. It’s a shame she didn’t just try to distract him with the cunning use of Facebook Apps and cookies-n-cream milkshakes. Works like a charm for me.

My only real let down was that Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger only make the briefest of cameos in the film. But the barbed dialogue during the scene is quite enjoyable. I also wish that the rest of the cast, especially Jet Li, could have been a bit more prominently featured.

Overall, I’ve seen better, but I’ve also seen worse. But if you’re a 1980’s action movie buff, it’s a must. It may not be exactly as epic as you would like it to be, but the nostalgia factor is well worth the price of admission.

3 ½ out of 5 stars


The Warlock’s Take:

A great popcorn movie with enough action to sate your bloodlust for the evening. You should go in knowing that it’s a Stallone and Statham movie with a lot of great cameos, and probably not the ensemble piece you had in your head. Be that as it may, it’s still a fun ride and worth seeing if you are looking for an action packed afternoon.

For the fights Jason Statham steals the show, with honorable mentions to Dolph Lundgren and Stone Cold. Jet Li’s limited action was disappointing but he does help to showcase the others. With any cast this large screen time is always going to be an issue, but this movie does handle it better than most of the contrived Hollywood all-star line ups that came before it.

On the villain’s side, no great masterminds or inspirational schemes we haven’t seen a hundred times already, but Stone Cold does play a great enforcer, and shows all the right qualities a starting or even established warlock should look for in a right hand minion.

By the end of the day, there’s nothing in the movie you didn’t already know was there, except a bit real acting by Rourke, and Willis, but still enough action to keep you entertained throughout, even if you can never really go back to your childhood.

3 ½ out of 5 Stars