Blackout
Blackout Haunted House redefined the immersive horror experience, blending psychological fear with intense, choice-driven narratives. Known for its intimate and deeply unsettling encounters, Blackout pushed audiences to confront their deepest fears in a fully interactive environment.
Type of Project:
Horror + Immersive Theater + Performance
My Roles: Narrative Designer and Set Designer
The Experience
The Blackout experience was crafted through disturbing scenarios, branching improvisational performances, and haunting environmental design, all created to immerse participants in an atmosphere of fear and vulnerability.
Blackout became a cultural phenomenon, influencing a new wave of immersive theater and horror experiences that challenged traditional boundaries and expectations in storytelling.
WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS FLASHING LIGHTS
“There were no monsters, vampires, very little make-up... The whole goal is to create an effective experience of fear, which is subjective. We don’t try to be scary as much as be effective. This is more about performance art, rather than ghosts and goblins.”
— Blackout Creators
The New York Post
Blackout: Haunted House,” a grisly evening of sado-masochism that, while right up my alley, is not for the faint of heart. Indeed, for all the physical contact in “Blackout,” the most unsettling part is when you’re left alone for minutes in utter darkness. As you stand there waiting for something to happen you begin to cower, sensing that, in fact, you are not alone. Someone, something, is stalking you, reveling in your fear.
Blackout Reviews
Indie Wire
Going through Blackout dredges up feelings of horror, but it’s also giving empathy to go along with it. Blackout isn’t strictly a virtual reality experience, but it’s a window into what might be to come. It offers a glimpse at what we can expect as “immersive” becomes an entertainment option that’s democratized and removed from specific places or means. This is the train coming at the audience. And it’s not asking us if we’re ready. It’s shouting in our ears until we listen."
The New York Times
The goal is clearly not to give your nerves a safe tickle; it’s to titillate, unsettle and generally mess with your mind. It succeeds magnificently. But its greatest accomplishment is that most of the shocks take place inside your head. Giving away too much would ruin the fun, but imagine a Pinter pause dragging on for minutes, but instead of watching it from the comfort of your seat, you are living it. It’s not merely a cheap trick. This production has a fairly consistent narrative and the way it evokes dread is more psychologically perceptive than most shows on Broadway.
The Documentary
The Blackout Experiments documentary explores the groundbreaking immersive horror experience. Known for its psychological intensity and interactive nature, Blackout pushed audiences to confront their deepest fears and for some, had a therapeutic effect . Featuring interviews with creators and participants, the film delves into the experience, the cultural impact of Blackout. However, what starts as a thrill-ride develops into an obsession that becomes deeply personal.
