While there is a cauldron of spooky treats to attend this year, three of the most popular local events are in full scare mode for residents and visitors to get their fright on!
DELUSION
First up is 13th Floor Productions’ “Delusion.” Based in Pomona, the roughly 45-minute experience begins in an old mansion and continues around the property, into a back house, through an underground passage, and back out again.
Telling the continuing story from last year’s “Delusion: The Hallows,” which was about the rescue of a girl from a cult, “Delusion: Valley of the Hollows” continues that story in the search for the girl’s brother.
The experience is done in small groups of about 8-10 people. It takes you through several paces, including sneaking aboard a hitched-up trailer, hiding in an empty mass grave, into a house of unnerving people and terrifying events, and finally coming face to face with creatures that protect and haunt the halls of the Hollows.
It’s a fun experience, but be sure to be mobile, wear comfy shoes, and don’t be afraid to get a little dirty. The actors are fully committed to their roles, and the terrific scenic design and creepy location make the entire night incredibly effective.
There is a VIP experience where you can slink off to an upstairs bar and try out a claustrophobic maze you have to partially crawl through – all in the dark.
While the price might be daunting for some, it’s definitely a singular experience you won’t get at places like “Knott’s Scary Farm” or “Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.” Bring your friends, and get ready to be a part of your own horror movie!
Find out more: www.enterdelusion.com.
LA HAUNTED HAYRIDE
13th Floor Productions also has its annual “LA Haunted Hayride,” invading Griffith Park, complete with a hayride, three mazes, a stage show, and food trucks. Truth be told, the hayride was pretty much the same as last year, and to be honest, it felt underpopulated and not the least bit scary. It’s toned down from years before when sets were more elaborate, and the actors really committed to scaring the pants off of people.
The three mazes (Midnight Mortuary, Slaughterhouse, and Trick or Treat) that inhabit the fake “Midnight Falls” town environment you descend into are a bit more fun and well-designed. Again, though, they felt underpopulated by actors ready to get the guests screaming. Many just sort of gave a half-hearted “rawr” or just slunk by you as you made your way through the maze.
The sets are designed well (dare I say better than “Halloween Horror Nights”) but not as jump-scare frightening as the billion-dollar studio.
Food vendors are the typical fare and do not include any alcohol.
I’d love to see the Hayride itself really get back to its roots with choreographed sequences and more concrete ideas. When people get off the tractor-trailer bed and say “that’s it?” Well, you know you need to up your game.
Find out more: www.losangeleshauntedhayride.com.
HALLOWEEN MOVIES WITH CINESPIA
Lastly, LA’s most popular outdoor movie source “Cinespia” continues its Halloween-season tradition of scary movies in the cemetery on a Saturday night. Join 4000 other guests as they picnic, dress up, play in the photo booth, and enjoy a classic horror film under the stars… IN A CEMETERY!
Upcoming films include:
The Craft (1995) – October 14th at LA State Historic Park
The Thing (1982) – October 15th at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Carrie (1978) – October 22nd at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) – October 29th at Los Angeles Theater DTLA, complete with a dance party, cash bars, and photo ops! Costumes required.
Find out more: www.cinespia.org.
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Each of these fun Halloween experiences feels “so very LA” and are fun in their own way. So before All Hallow’s Eve arrives, gather your ghouls, get on your broomsticks, and fly off to something a little scary, a little grotesque, and always a blast!
