REVIEW: MURDER HOUSE PRODUCTIONS: WENDIGO
October 18, 2019
REVIEW: MURDER HOUSE PRODUCTIONS: WENDIGO
The essence of what makes a fantastic haunted maze is an amalgam of three elements: creativity, dedication, and community partnership. The duo behind Murder House Productions - Kyle Warner and Aurora Persichetti - master this balance well and have been creating beautifully immersive mazes every Halloween season for the past four years. Their haunts are even more impressive considering the depth and detail which is achieved within the space of a three car garage. The themes and narratives of MHP’s haunts change every season, while consistently maintaining an exceptional creative force that manifests in the most singular and extraordinary Halloween experiences.
This year’s maze tells the story of the Wendigo, a mythological beast whose lore is rooted deep within the culture of Algonquian Nations. This supernatural entity embodies the converse traits of both gluttony and starvation, while practicing cannibalism and cursing any victims it comes into contact with. Within MHP’s version of this legend, you are taken deep within a forest where you follow the trail left behind by a curious explorer who is on a quest to find the Wendigo. As you enter into the maze you are surrounded by the walls of a cave, echoing the sounds of death as dim lights illuminate animals frozen in the act of eating flesh. You then will come upon an encampment drenched in blood, where you see the explorer’s tent and find that it contains scattered notes and a lit flashlight that has been flung aside. As you hear the howls of a demonic dog, you realize that you are following the path of an evil presence.
Once you exit the tent you walk through a darkened forest filled with the scent of pine trees and a distant full moon guiding your path. You then arrive at a barn house within which fabric, bones and guts are strewn about. Possessed animals (animated by amazing puppeteers) come out to taunt you as a demonic entity rips out the heart from a human body and sprays you with blood and then disappears. As you leave the room you finally encounter the immense and horrifying Wendigo - a massive creature who is a magnificent work of art puppeteered by the incredible Murder House team.
We cannot emphasize enough how absolutely stunning each detail of this maze is. From the ceiling (created with lights and illusions to give the height and depth of the night sky) to the scents (fresh pine in the forest) to the floor (pine needles, foliage, and mulch), each component has been carefully constructed in order to create the perfect immersive experience.
Even though Persichetti and Warner are younger than most of their haunt cohorts, they have set the bar high for what can be achieved through intense dedication, enthusiasm, and visionary work. Haunt legend Bruce Stanton (Reign of Terror) summarized it best as he stood smiling outside the Wendigo maze, saying “They remind me of when I started...” while staring at Kyle and Aurora’s work with a sense of wonder. We definitely agree that Murder House Productions has a long and impressive career ahead of them as they superbly channel the magic and spirit of the Halloween season year after year.
VC
October 18, 2019
Hauntsofla.com
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