Open House by Screamworks -2024
Open House is the latest adventure/game created by Screamworks in their East London venue, and comes in 2 different versions depending on the complexity and level of scares you want to experience. We obviously plugged for the full 90 minute show, and soon found ourselves loitering outside, the venue waiting for our viewing of a very special house that was up for sale.
Once inside, we were directed into our first room, and within seconds the first game began. Like many escape rooms we just needed to find the code to get out, but the way the game was presented was really fun. Each room effetely has a ten minute timer and the 90 minute show plays across about 9 different rooms. We don't want to ruin any surprises, but highlights included a tasty gift from the vending machine, a cheeky glass of wine from the kitchen and the strangest game of Pool we have ever played.
The scenes ranged from puzzling to creepy, and as we progressed further through the experience - it was clear that something evil was in the house with us! To this extent the use of video footage was perfect. In one room we found a TV that was playing CCTV footage of the room we had just escaped from. To then see our assailant, breaking down the doors of that very room to get to us , really created an intense sense of anticipation and dread. With a few well timed bangs and rattles - it was easy to believe we were just about to meet an untimely end!
Of course, by having some obtuse puzzles there were a few rooms that we just didn't complete properly, but these didn't upset the flow of the game and after some secret passages, some very tight tunnels and a number of great scares - we finally got out the front door.
We have to commend Screamworks on creating such a fun and immersive experience. Although presented as a new story - it was nice to see the whole thing circle back to the original circumstances in the first Screamworks production. Not that this was important to the story and it wouldn't be off-putting for a newbie - but for those of us who have been visiting since the start - it was a nice little Easter Egg.
All in, we loved the crazy ingenuity of the show and the very diverse (and sometimes quite frankly bizarre) tasks we had to complete. It is clear that the team had a lot of fun creating this attraction which come out in the game play and the experience. In fact we were having so much fun to start with, that it was quite a contrast when the story took a much darker turn than expected.
Open House has just opened and is planned to run well into the New Year. Although it's not a traditional escape room in any shape or form, it will appeal to horror and escape fans alike.
Once inside, we were directed into our first room, and within seconds the first game began. Like many escape rooms we just needed to find the code to get out, but the way the game was presented was really fun. Each room effetely has a ten minute timer and the 90 minute show plays across about 9 different rooms. We don't want to ruin any surprises, but highlights included a tasty gift from the vending machine, a cheeky glass of wine from the kitchen and the strangest game of Pool we have ever played.
The scenes ranged from puzzling to creepy, and as we progressed further through the experience - it was clear that something evil was in the house with us! To this extent the use of video footage was perfect. In one room we found a TV that was playing CCTV footage of the room we had just escaped from. To then see our assailant, breaking down the doors of that very room to get to us , really created an intense sense of anticipation and dread. With a few well timed bangs and rattles - it was easy to believe we were just about to meet an untimely end!
Of course, by having some obtuse puzzles there were a few rooms that we just didn't complete properly, but these didn't upset the flow of the game and after some secret passages, some very tight tunnels and a number of great scares - we finally got out the front door.
We have to commend Screamworks on creating such a fun and immersive experience. Although presented as a new story - it was nice to see the whole thing circle back to the original circumstances in the first Screamworks production. Not that this was important to the story and it wouldn't be off-putting for a newbie - but for those of us who have been visiting since the start - it was a nice little Easter Egg.
All in, we loved the crazy ingenuity of the show and the very diverse (and sometimes quite frankly bizarre) tasks we had to complete. It is clear that the team had a lot of fun creating this attraction which come out in the game play and the experience. In fact we were having so much fun to start with, that it was quite a contrast when the story took a much darker turn than expected.
Open House has just opened and is planned to run well into the New Year. Although it's not a traditional escape room in any shape or form, it will appeal to horror and escape fans alike.
Ghost Hunt by Screamworks 2013
Following their successful run of Bloodbath and their escape room, Screamworks are back with a brand-new experience for Halloween.
After a short introduction we were invited inside the house by paranormal investigator Heston Phoenix and were encouraged to explore the rooms at our own pace. Looking for clues or ways to progress through the house. Of course, soon enough the ghosts of the dead family started to appear, and we had a number of great scares as we moved through the different rooms and discovered more about what really happened to the family.
We loved the unhurried nature of this attraction and the fact that we were left to explore and discover on our own. The casual pace at the start of the show actually lulled us into a false sense of security, so by the time the narrative took a shocking twist, we needed no extra bidding to escape quickly through darkened tunnels as we searched for a way out!
A really interesting thing about this story is that it is based on real characters and scenarios that happened in the building. Now used as offices and bars etc – the railway arches that the attraction is built in, used to house people (as can be seen in the picture below.) The fact that we could have been meeting any of the actual ghosts from the building added an extra element to the show.
Compared to the more visceral and shocking elements of Bloodbath, Ghost hunt was definitely more of an immersive story telling experience and actually worked really well as a structured piece of entertainment. The shocks and scares never seemed to be random and really added to the overall story and the atmosphere Screamworks were looking to achieve. Also - apart from a few obvious similarities (ie the ladder is still there) the building feels unrecognisable from the previous attraction.
All in, we thoroughly really enjoyed the show, and we look forward to the next experience from this exciting new production company.
After a short introduction we were invited inside the house by paranormal investigator Heston Phoenix and were encouraged to explore the rooms at our own pace. Looking for clues or ways to progress through the house. Of course, soon enough the ghosts of the dead family started to appear, and we had a number of great scares as we moved through the different rooms and discovered more about what really happened to the family.
We loved the unhurried nature of this attraction and the fact that we were left to explore and discover on our own. The casual pace at the start of the show actually lulled us into a false sense of security, so by the time the narrative took a shocking twist, we needed no extra bidding to escape quickly through darkened tunnels as we searched for a way out!
A really interesting thing about this story is that it is based on real characters and scenarios that happened in the building. Now used as offices and bars etc – the railway arches that the attraction is built in, used to house people (as can be seen in the picture below.) The fact that we could have been meeting any of the actual ghosts from the building added an extra element to the show.
Compared to the more visceral and shocking elements of Bloodbath, Ghost hunt was definitely more of an immersive story telling experience and actually worked really well as a structured piece of entertainment. The shocks and scares never seemed to be random and really added to the overall story and the atmosphere Screamworks were looking to achieve. Also - apart from a few obvious similarities (ie the ladder is still there) the building feels unrecognisable from the previous attraction.
All in, we thoroughly really enjoyed the show, and we look forward to the next experience from this exciting new production company.
Horror House by Screamworks
After the success of Bloodbath, the team at Screamworks have extended the shelf life of the venue, by creating a day based escape room adventure, that uses the same rooms and settings, but has added a supernatural element to the storytelling.
As such, each room has a particular puzzle element that needed to be solved to continue our journey through Jack, the serial killer's house. The puzzles ranged from simple padlocks, searches for certain objects and even an unusual task with a cheese sandwich and some gherkins!
For anyone who has experienced the main show, the "silent disco" headphones were put to great use through one scene with one of our team picked out for a "shocking" piece of treatment! As the show continued we experienced more puzzles, a number of great jump scares as the "demons" started to come after us, and an exciting finale with some amusing effects and a fun interaction with Jack himself.
All in - Horror House was a great use of the Bloodbath space and although sharing a lot of similar DNA - the attractions are suitably different enough that both can be enjoyed independently or as companion experiences.
Both Bloodbath and Horror house are closing down at the start of August for a the construction of Screamworks' new show - The Ghost Hunt. So if you want to have some fun with a serial killer - we would suggest you get down to London very soon!
As such, each room has a particular puzzle element that needed to be solved to continue our journey through Jack, the serial killer's house. The puzzles ranged from simple padlocks, searches for certain objects and even an unusual task with a cheese sandwich and some gherkins!
For anyone who has experienced the main show, the "silent disco" headphones were put to great use through one scene with one of our team picked out for a "shocking" piece of treatment! As the show continued we experienced more puzzles, a number of great jump scares as the "demons" started to come after us, and an exciting finale with some amusing effects and a fun interaction with Jack himself.
All in - Horror House was a great use of the Bloodbath space and although sharing a lot of similar DNA - the attractions are suitably different enough that both can be enjoyed independently or as companion experiences.
Both Bloodbath and Horror house are closing down at the start of August for a the construction of Screamworks' new show - The Ghost Hunt. So if you want to have some fun with a serial killer - we would suggest you get down to London very soon!
Bloodbath by Screamworks
Bloodbath is the first production from Screamworks, and describes itself as an immersive horror experience that allows guests to step inside the home of a real serial killer.
We knew very little about this show before entering, which just made it even more terrifying whilst waiting outside. The website warns of physical contact, being restrained, the concept of consensual non consent, and as we were stripped of all our personal belongings (keys, wallets, phones) etc - we couldn't help wonder what he had signed up for. In case this was about to turn into an "extreme " scare attraction - we diligently memorised the safe word, ready to deploy it if things got too tough. Fortunately they didn't - but this show is no walk in the park either...
Basically once hooded and led inside we were greeted with a story about two brothers, and their twisted and unusual relationship with their beautiful mother. Left to explore the first few rooms it was clear that the inspiration for the story was Ed Gein - the infamous serial killer who fashioned clothing and accessories from human body parts!
It wasn't long until we ran into the first of the brothers, and in a chaotic scene we were welcomed into the house by the mono- syllabic Abel. Fortunately we had heard it was his birthday so brought him a chocolate muffin as a birthday cake. We're hoping that's why he decided to play nicely with us, but the next few scenes featured a number of scares, a rather tasty pasta bolognese dish and even a nice glass of wine! Of course nothing was as it seemed...
As we were drawn deeper into the twin's world, the show definitely took a deeper turn as we were forced to confront the truth about what was happening. An extremely dark and disturbing scene suitably challenged the voyeuristic nature of us even attending such an event, but also challenged us to as to what we would do in certain circumstances. It's uncomfortable watching - not only for the nudity on display but also the sheer violent nature of the act. You really cant help but feel culpable, basically by being a willing accomplice to murder!
Other scenes were more reminiscent of a traditional scare attraction with crawl spaces, sudden scares and a real sense of danger before coming face to face with killer Jack himself.
Unlike the lumbering brute that was Abel, Jack was a far more nuanced character which made our interactions with him even more interesting. The use of the different styles between actors really complemented each other and helped make the overall experience a theatrical story and not just a stand alone scare attraction.
All in - we were in Jack's house for just about an hour and enjoyed every part of it. It cleverly mixes scare attractions tropes and effects, with detailed storytelling and performance to make a truly immersive event. For something we were SO nervous about going into - we came out with big smiles on our faces. As such, we really look forward to seeing what this talented (and slightly twisted) team come up with for their next event.
We knew very little about this show before entering, which just made it even more terrifying whilst waiting outside. The website warns of physical contact, being restrained, the concept of consensual non consent, and as we were stripped of all our personal belongings (keys, wallets, phones) etc - we couldn't help wonder what he had signed up for. In case this was about to turn into an "extreme " scare attraction - we diligently memorised the safe word, ready to deploy it if things got too tough. Fortunately they didn't - but this show is no walk in the park either...
Basically once hooded and led inside we were greeted with a story about two brothers, and their twisted and unusual relationship with their beautiful mother. Left to explore the first few rooms it was clear that the inspiration for the story was Ed Gein - the infamous serial killer who fashioned clothing and accessories from human body parts!
It wasn't long until we ran into the first of the brothers, and in a chaotic scene we were welcomed into the house by the mono- syllabic Abel. Fortunately we had heard it was his birthday so brought him a chocolate muffin as a birthday cake. We're hoping that's why he decided to play nicely with us, but the next few scenes featured a number of scares, a rather tasty pasta bolognese dish and even a nice glass of wine! Of course nothing was as it seemed...
As we were drawn deeper into the twin's world, the show definitely took a deeper turn as we were forced to confront the truth about what was happening. An extremely dark and disturbing scene suitably challenged the voyeuristic nature of us even attending such an event, but also challenged us to as to what we would do in certain circumstances. It's uncomfortable watching - not only for the nudity on display but also the sheer violent nature of the act. You really cant help but feel culpable, basically by being a willing accomplice to murder!
Other scenes were more reminiscent of a traditional scare attraction with crawl spaces, sudden scares and a real sense of danger before coming face to face with killer Jack himself.
Unlike the lumbering brute that was Abel, Jack was a far more nuanced character which made our interactions with him even more interesting. The use of the different styles between actors really complemented each other and helped make the overall experience a theatrical story and not just a stand alone scare attraction.
All in - we were in Jack's house for just about an hour and enjoyed every part of it. It cleverly mixes scare attractions tropes and effects, with detailed storytelling and performance to make a truly immersive event. For something we were SO nervous about going into - we came out with big smiles on our faces. As such, we really look forward to seeing what this talented (and slightly twisted) team come up with for their next event.
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