The Raven & Black Cat

Friday, December 16, 2011

REVIEW: Nightmare (Before Christmas): The Experiment

Nightmare (Before Christmas): The Experiment
Los Kabayitos Laboratorio
107 Suffolk Street
New York, NY

To celebrate the holidays, Nightmare creator Tim Haskell is presenting Nightmare (Before Christmas): The Experiment, an extended and revamped version of the second part of October's Nightmare Fairy Tales. What was a 15-minute assault on the senses is now a 50-minute interactive theatre performance that manages to involve nearly the entire audience in a series of 10 fear-based experiments. As the performance progresses, a strange sense of community develops in the room full of strangers as each audience member becomes a lab rat.

Is it Scary?

According to their website: " It will be like being in one room in a very scary haunted house that you get tormented in for 50 minutes."

The Raven & Black Cat says: Fear is subjective, but you are pretty much guaranteed to cringe, gag, shudder, and/or squirm uncomfortably in your seat.

What I Loved

There is a lot to love. Not only are the experiments delightfully creepy, but the performance is infused with humor. Many of the funniest moments are courtesy of the research team's "corporate sponsors." Other highlights include: a brief (but amazing!) video, a unique take on Santa Claus, and watching the reactions of fellow audience members.

What Could Be Better

We noticed some small opening weekend hiccups, but overall this unique interactive theatre piece is holiday horror perfection. We hope that Nightmare (before Christmas) becomes an annual event. We'd love to see a walk-through style haunted house with a Christmas theme.

Final Thoughts

The Experiment combines humor and fear to create repulsive holiday fun. Don't miss this special holiday gift.

The Experiment Runs

December 9 - 23rd

Discount Tickets

Full Price Ticket Prices
Admission: $20.00

$10 Tickets - Click Here!

$12 Admission with Promo Code: FB1

$12 Admission with Promo Code: LABRAT

Additional Info

Official Website

Facebook Page

Twitter

Buy Tickets

Times Scare Location Featured on Biography's 'My Ghost Story'

Don't miss the season finale of 'My Ghost Story' on A&E's Biography Network tomorrow: Saturday, December 17th at 10pm.

The building that is now home to Times Scare will be featured in the first episode of next season.

Celebrate the premiere at a Times Scare Special Event featuring: GHOSTINK.TV, Ghost Magnet with Psychic Kevin Demaria, Chris Consiglio, Dennis Gatti, David Hernandez, Ronny Gattoni, and Amanda Burke. Click Here to Buy Tickets.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Get Your Tickets For Nightmare (Before Christmas): The Experiment

Hooray for Off-Season Haunts!

We are super excited to attend Nightmare (Before Christmas): The Experiment on Decemer 11th! This haunted house for the holiday season opens on Friday. Make sure to get your tickets!

Running time for The Experiment is 50 minutes!

Nightmare (Before Christmas): The Experiment Runs

December 9th - 23rd

Discount Tickets

Full Price Tickets: $20

$10 Tickets - Click Here!

$12 Admission with Promo Code: FB1

$12 Admission with Promo Code: LABRAT

Additional Info

Official Website

Facebook Page

Twitter

Buy Tickets

Sunday, November 27, 2011

REVIEW: Times Scare Haunted House

Times Scare Haunted House
669 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY

'The Halloween Experience' at Times Scare is New York City's only year-round Haunted House. It is also the only haunt in the country that takes you into the psychotic world of Michael Myers. "S" and I have had the privilege to survive the experience twice and it gets better every time.

Is it Scary?

According to their website: "Now, if you dare, groups of 6 to 8 are taken on a one-of-a-kind tour through this cutting-edge haunted experience that is guaranteed to scare even the bravest of visitors… possibly to death!"

The Raven & Black Cat says: Yes. Fear is subjective, but there is something here for everyone. Startle scares, gore, mental patients, and psychotic clowns are just a few of the things waiting for you inside with Michael Myers.

Here's A Tip

Go early and grab a drink at one of their two deliciously creepy bars. The cocktails are to die for and the liquid courage will help you make it through the haunt. Don't miss Dan Sperry's sick and twisted Magic Show every night at 8pm! (For discount tickets use Promo Code: magicshowbb)

What I Loved

There is so much here to love. This is not a one person per room kind of haunt. There are crazies coming at you from every direction. The large cast of actors is supplemented by top-notch special effects that create an atmosphere that is extremely disorienting. The spectacularly committed actors run amok through a detailed set that creates several beautiful moments of cinematic horror. Highlights include the bearded straight jacket psycho, a super scary baby carriage, decapitated clown heads, and the curtain of syringes.

What Could Be Better

This bombardment of horror continues to change and grow so no two visits to Times Scare Haunted House will be exactly alike. Every moment is detailed and incredibly thoughtful until you reach the very end. It was unclear that it was over. I would encourage the addition of something that indicates that you have reached the end. Perhaps asylum exit doors? Our only other complaint is that with so many actors giving committed high-energy performances, it made the two that were unsure or self-conscious (or new?) really stick out.

Final Thoughts

Times Scare: The Halloween Experience is a practically perfect haunt. Jason Egan's unique brand of imaginatively detailed horror is a must see!

Times Scare Haunted House Runs

Year-Round! Times Scare is Open Every Day

Discount Tickets

Full Price Ticket Prices
General Admission: $24.95
VIP Fast Pass Tickets: $39.95