Numerous friends have reached out to me, asking if there was one experience to attend this Halloween, what should they choose? My answer to all of them has been CreepLA Ghosts by JFI Productions. The next question I get is: do I have to have seen Ghosts on CBS? My answer: No. No, CreepLA Ghosts is a unique story that evokes themes from the show without the comedy. It’s a dark, creepy, unsettling, and evocative look at life after death, what the end means, and how ephemeral our time here just is. This here is my recommendation: go see JFI’s CreepLA and then come back and read the rest of this article.

Photo by Jeremey Connors

CreepLA Ghosts is an hour-long immersive, theatrical experience that leads audiences through the historic Beckett Residence in Adams-Normandie in Los Angeles, California. In partnership with CBS’s sitcom Ghosts, JFI Productions has utilized their CreepLA brand (if you missed our 2-hour retrospective, check it out) to infuse their own incredible storytelling, calling upon themes from the show and highlighting the horror and emotion over the comedy from the show (this is not a light-hearted experienced). There is one branching path for those who want to attend twice, no audience touching, and light interactivity. As mentioned above, you do not need to be familiar with the show to enjoy this; the experience is unique, with brand-new JFI-created characters and narratives to follow.

There is a pre-show area to the experience located across the street in a gorgeous mid-century modern home decorated with orange lights, carved jack-o-lanterns, and some bewitched lighting. My guest remarked that this house felt as if “Halloween was Christmas.” This is the perfect place to take a breath before venturing to the home of the CreepLA Ghosts.

Photo by Jeremey Connors

The narrative of CreepLA Ghosts consists of small vignettes of a ghastly tales woven together through the overall narrative of an aging woman dying in a house full of ghosts. Each room consists of different ghosts, each lamenting their death, welcoming you to the afterlife, reliving their days prior to death, or showing you that ghosts can still affect the living. This is wonderfully done through various subverted tropes and evocative scenes. The scenes feel magical, scary, dark, and whimsical, eliciting a feeling that this is not the real-world, and the magic that exists within the walls is real.

JFI Productions is known for their talented acting and this may be my favorite in that realm. Mason Conrad sets the tone with an otherworldly creepiness that is part friendly and part menacing as he welcomes us to the property. From there, Mike Merchant and Morgan Taylor spin a tale of love lost and the lengths you’ll go to reclaim that feeling. Romeo Armand is perfect in his delivery, as his mind is lost and he repeats the same phrases over and over and over as the chittering of teeth speak through him. Melany Smith may have been our group’s favorite, crying while holding a smile on her face, showing that hope is the saddest regret there is. Austin Minard becomes both a threatening entity and a thought-provoking guide, as he asks guests to reflect on their lives and the regretful choices they’ve made during it. Claire Dellamar brings forth the monsters of our nightmares, peering a little too far over the veil, and creating some of the best jump-scares in the entire experience. Will Coile proves that magic exists in this world and that whether we believe or not, ghosts will make themselves known. And the incredible Melinda Dekay elicited tears from our group as she reflects on a life once lived and how lonely the end can be.

Photo by Jeremey Connors

I have been to the Beckett Mansion for numerous immersive experiences in the past, including Delusion and Meyer2Meyer’s Haunted Soiree. Yet, upon stepping foot inside, there were moments where I did not know where I was in the house. Areas inside felt like an outdoor cemetery, with loose, dirt-like floors, massive tombstones, and coffins. Other areas felt like a well-curated library, a séance, a high-school student’s bedroom, and even a hidden space between the walls where secrets are left as bones. The set design is jaw-dropping, each room exceeding the last, making this feel akin to a dream that you don’t want to wake from.

I always look forward to any JFI Production show, but even I was surprised at just how impressive CreepLA Ghosts was. CBS Ghosts does deserve credit for creating this opportunity, trusting JFI with their property, and allowing them to craft their own ghost story to honor this great television show. I started watching Ghosts to prepare for this immersive show, but even though the experience did not require that viewing, I’ll keep watching because I’m glad that immersive experiences like this exist and have the backing to transport me to another world—even if it’s across the veil of the living.

Photo by Jeremey Connors

For more information about JFI Productions or CreepLA, checkout their Facebook, Instagram, and website. For information about similar events, check out our Event Calendar.
 

Haunting is a resource for immersive theater and horror fans in Los Angeles and across the world, promoting art and community. Want to help us reach even more people, and get some cool perks and experiences? For as little as $1 a month, you can join our Patreon and help us keep bringing content to life.

If you like the above article and want to find more like it, make sure to join our community. If Facebook is your favorite, follow us there and become a part of our groups for Immersive Horror fans and/or Immersive creators. We’re active on Instagram, posting evocative imagery and informative stories to promote our reviews and recollections; follow us there. You can even find us on twitter; click here to follow. And subscribe to our event calendar to get emails for all or specific events (look for the link right under the calendar)!