Displaying items by tag: Scary

Lou (Cher Álvarez) and James (Patrick Heusinger) are in their bedroom. They are so focused on each other that they don’t notice the flashing light in the bedroom down the hall. The catch? Lou and James are the only ones in the house. So that leaves the question – who is controlling the flashing lights?

Many of us are familiar with this moment in a horror film. The first scare is crucial and sets us up for what we are about to experience. We may not know exactly what is happening, but we do know that this simple game with the lights suggests that all is not quite normal in this house. Lou and James are not alone, and whether or not we are ready, we are soon going to learn what is keeping them company.

However, this is not a film. This is a horror play, and while the moment provides a similar purpose, you might find that the experience is quite different. Gasps could be heard across the house at this particular performance. Looking around, folks were pointing to fellow audience members – making sure that they too took in the flashing lights. Whispers could be heard, and suddenly, it felt like we were part of the performance. As the scares grew over the course of the piece, reactions only intensified. Audience members shouted, screamed, and even at times tried to warn the characters of what they were clearly missing. Director Felix Barrett and his design team skillfully create what might feel like an immersive experience. As the tension on stage grew, I personally could feel the same happening to the audience surrounding me. To put it simply – we were hooked, and there was no escape until we finally got our answers.

Writing by Levi Holloway, Paranormal Activity follows married couple James and Lou who move from Chicago to London to escape their dark past. We slowly learn that their previous home was haunted, and they assumed that a full ocean could make that go away. However, they soon discover that it’s not always a place that is haunted. Sometimes it’s people, and whether or not they are ready, it’s time to confront their past before it’s too late.

That which truly pushes the experience over the top is the work of Illusions Designer Chris Fisher – along with the collaboration of Associate Illusions Designer Daniel Weissglass and Illusions Consultant Skylar Fox. The stage magic is often hard to grasp with how authentic it feels, and you may find yourself wondering if you even believe what is in front of you – much like the characters on stage.

We witness the couple at the center slowly unravel – particularly James. As with so many horror stories, he begins as a non-believer. As the ghostly interactions become harsher and harder to avoid, we see him question everything he ever knew. Both Álvarez and Heusinger perform quite a feat. As we witness their marriage completely fall apart at the mercy of the hauntings, you might find yourself feeling sorry for the genuine relationship they so clearly set up at the beginning.

With haunting stage magic and a story that takes no prisoners, Paranormal Activity is not just a play – this is an event. Fans of the horror genre will not be disappointed. This is an experience that keeps you guessing from the moment the curtain rises to the last glimmer of light at its conclusion.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Run Time: 2 hours, with intermission

Paranormal Activity runs through November 2 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater – 800 E. Grand Avenue.

Face your fears at Disturbia: Screams in the Park

Imagine: You are walking down a long, dank hallway, towards a clown. He waits for you behind bars. If you're brave enough, you keep eye contact with the clown as you walk closer and closer to the door. You must push open his jail cell door - there is no other way. The clown towers over you, his height intimidating. Either you stay and join him in his cell, or you push past him, walking very, very quickly. If you stay longer, who knows what he’ll do.

Disturbia: Screams in the Park returns to Rosemont to once again test the bravery of the souls who dare to visit this October. This thrilling haunted trail was ranked third in top Chicago-area haunted houses by the Chicago Tribune and Haunted Illinois. I beg to differ. The creators, Joseph and Mike Pantano, the characters and designers deserve first place. The amazingly horrifying costumes, decorations, make-up, settings, and interactive nature make this haunted house stand out from the rest. This haunt has 35 bone-chilling rooms full of terror, such as, an insane asylum managed by murderous psychopaths who are killing for laughs and a maze of underworld passages. For a couple of the rooms, you are unable to rely on your sense of sight to help you escape the monsters following you.

Where: The basement level of the parking garage at MB Financial Park in Rosemont (5501 Park Place)

When: Open from 7 P.M. to 11 P.M. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. 7 P.M. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Days of Operation:

October 2-4

Oct. 9-11

Oct. 15-18

Oct. 21-25

Oct. 27 - November 1

Ticket Sales: This haunted trail is indoors, so it will be operating - rain or shine. Also, parental discretion is advised. General Admission tickets are $25 per person. VIP tickets, which allow ticketholders faster access and less wait time for the haunt, are also available for $45 per person. Discounted tickets are available for groups of 10 or more at www.grouptix.net. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at www.disturbiascreams.com. Tickets can also be purchased on site.

Parking: Parking is free with validation from the ticket booth. After parking in the MB Financial Park parking garage, follow signage to the main elevators and go to the “LL” to descend into the underground world of “Disturbia: Screams in the Park.”