Horror enthusiasts are well aware that October is usually packed with spine-chilling delights. This year, one of the most thrilling scares comes courtesy of Blumhouse and Peacock. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend Blumhouse and Peacock's Overnightmare at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. Although I had heard of the Stanley before—the eerie hotel that inspired Stephen King's 'The Shining' and is famously haunted—I had no idea what to expect from an 'immersive overnight experience' based on Blumhouse films.
Upon arriving at the Stanley Hotel's Lodge, I was welcomed by a 'conci-scare-ge,' a term used in the event invitation. Initially, I thought it was just a clever play on words, but I quickly realized I was wrong. My conci-scare-ge, named Avery, was dressed in a blue plaid shirt, sweater vest, and glasses. Interestingly, all the other conci-scare-ges were also named Avery and dressed similarly, adding an unsettling uniformity to the experience.
Avery promised to help me 'face my fears' as they led me to my guest room, which, to be honest, wasn't the most reassuring welcome I've ever had at a hotel. Each room was themed around one of four Blumhouse films—Freaky, Happy Death Day, The Purge, and Insidious—and my room was themed to Insidious. The decor included creepy drawings, books on astral projection, a metronome, a baby monitor, and other spooky items, creating an atmosphere that made me wonder how well I'd sleep that night. (Spoiler: I slept great. Travel is tiring, and the beds at the Stanley are incredibly comfortable.)
After settling in, I explored the Hospitality Suite and the Blumhouse Bar, both of which were extremely creepy but at least the bar had drinks. Dinner was followed by my first scare experience. There were four different scare experiences available, each themed around the same Blumhouse films that dictated the guest-room decor. For those who wanted a less intense experience, Freaky was a lower-level of terror, while Insidious was billed as the most horrifying. Wanting to experience the full spectrum of terror, I chose Freaky and Insidious.
The Freaky experience was about 15 minutes long and highly individualized. With only four guests participating, we were brought to the third floor of the Lodge. The area was set up like a high school house party, complete with streamers, neon lights, and red cups. The twist? A serial killer prowling the rooms and murdering guests. Although it was the least spooky experience, it still managed to surprise me a few times, especially when I had to learn a very basic dance. (No footage exists, so just imagine me doing really well.)
The next night, my companion and I embarked on the Insidious scare experience. This was significantly more terrifying. We were instructed to wait in my room until someone came for us. While waiting, the baby monitor—which I had assumed was just decor—sprang to life, filling the room with the howling screams of what I can only assume was the World's Most Upset Baby. After a few anxious minutes, Avery knocked on the door and led us upstairs to a long hallway with slightly ajar, glowing red doors. We were taught how to astral project into the 'Further,' a terrifying dimension filled with demons and monsters, to save a young boy. Unfortunately, once we found ourselves in the astral plane, the only thing waiting for us was a demon, and we had to escape and save ourselves. Thanks, Avery.
The event also offered various activities to fill the days between scare experiences. I opted for a tour of the hotel themed around 'The Shining' and a more ghost-focused tour. Our guides were exceptionally knowledgeable and showed us areas of the hotel we wouldn't otherwise see, like the Caretaker's Cottage and the spooky underground tunnel system. In the evenings, the event offered screenings in the resort's Concert Hall. On the first night, we watched 'Speak No Evil' (2024), and on the second night, we enjoyed the first two episodes of Peacock's new horror series 'Teacup,' which added an eerie context to the various props and theming around the hotel.
Overall, the Overnightmare experience was a ton of fun and perfect for fans of immersive horror. My only regret is that I couldn't do all four scare experiences—The Purge in particular sounded like a blast, as other attendees informed me that several other guests were secretly planted scare actors, whose role was, let's just say, patriotic. Although there don't appear to be plans to revive Overnightmare for a sequel, my hope is that it will become a recurring event. And, hey, maybe by the time it comes back, I'll finally have learned how to do that dance.
Source link: https://www.gamespot.com
