Full On Fear - Haunted House - Extreme Haunt - Mouth of Madness - Raleigh, NC

Mouth of Madness – An Interview with David Wampole of Full on Fear

David Wampole, a military vet who served for 21 years, is bringing the world of extreme haunts to a plain suburb outside of Raleigh, NC. While scouring the web for “haunts near me” to complete this Halloween season, I came across the website, and subsequent facebook page for Full on Fear. The moment that I saw the word “extreme” my attention was grabbed. For years, I had been searching for an extreme haunt to attend, and suddenly one was popping up in my little town. I sat down with Wampole shortly after to discuss Mouth of Madness, Full on Fear, and the challenges associated with his endeavors. This is an interview with David Wampole of Full On Fear.

 

Full On Fear - Haunted House - Extreme Haunt - Mouth of Madness - Raleigh, NC

How did you first become involved in haunting? Is Mouth of Madness your first haunt? First extreme haunt?

“I got involved in the industry as a home haunter, as most haunted attraction owners actually begin, just running that yearly home haunt. I did it with a neighbor of mine several years ago. Taking the idea of it… I started running it where we started doing it as a fundraiser on a slightly larger scale. I did it one year as a nonprofit but I was still doing it out of my home. We were in a town home so it spread across both homes. Then I did it as an actual event sanctioned by the [town] in front of a youth center during my fifth year as a standalone attraction. At this point, it was a mobile concept that we had developed.”

Mouth of Madness was not his first haunt, but it is Wampole’s first extreme one. It has been run once before out of Fort Bragg, and will be coming to Apex, North Carolina in 2021.

 

Can you speak to the team behind Full on Fear? What is the mission and vision of the company?

Wampole states that what he wants is to “have a medium sized, at best, local mom and pop feel with a professional execution”. His company strives to perfect each show that they are producing, focusing on the show individually rather than expansion of the company. Their mission statement is as follows: “Full On Fear is committed to producing world class entertainment while remaining partnered with local non-profit organizations to serve as a reputably generous small business benefiting local communities.  Our goal is to deliver phenomenal experiences at the best cost to the consumer by leveraging psychology, innovation, technology and live performances.”

When asked about the vision of the company, Wampole says, “Full On Fear productions envisions a haunted attraction market, wherein, we are the best haunted attraction in the local market. We see ourselves as ‘mom-and-pop/home haunter meets professional, innovation and world class execution’. We want the local markets to recognize the themes, titles and name of the haunts that we create versus the name of the production company itself. We want to create a market that is diverse, unique and fresh. We want to bring quality haunted attractions to various regions and cities across the east coast and rotate the narratives and themes among them every season. Full On Fear may never be the household name in haunted attractions, however, should parent several of them.”

 

What safety precautions are you taking to ensure guests’ well being during this experience?

“First and foremost, we meet all Building Codes and NFPA requirements for the local, state and federal requirements. Second, we plan extensively with the help of local police and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to exceed all public safety standards. Third, we work closely with our insurance carriers and have to provide detailed risk management plans before achieving coverage required by the industry.

“In respect to the extreme experiences, we have a professional team of military and law enforcement staff members known as handlers. These staff members have specific training and practical experience in detainee handling, counter interrogation techniques, SERE training and other applicable skills required to replicate a hostile but safe environment.”

 

Full On Fear - Haunted House - Extreme Haunt - Mouth of Madness - Raleigh, NC

What should guests expect in terms of contact in your experience?

“The public should perceive “anything goes” IF they elect to voluntarily add the extreme experience to their walk, as we call it. I cannot elaborate further, than to say that we value all of our customers and intend to “scare, not scar”, even if it is an extreme walk.”

 

What themes or tonality should guests experience within the walls of your experience?

“Themes are dependent upon the narrative. The psychology of fear, the narrative and the overarching theme is transcendent. For Mouth of Madness, the narrative is loosely based on our spin on “The Russian Gas Experiment”; an old campfire story. The themes that follow are based on a perceived deterioration of the mind as the gas propels the normal person into insanity after weeks without sleep. This insanity is depicted as an altered human form, based on semi-cognitive behaviors and sober memories.

“Other narratives drive different themes. One of our narratives plays on the same premise of mental distortion, however, is a bit trans-dimensional. It is the idea that the brain is powerful enough, if invoked correctly, to cause an actual metaphysical travel, hence, trans-dimensional. The themes that follow this narrative are a bit more sinister and not necessarily human based.”

 

What inspired you to create this experience?

“I have always loved haunted houses, theatrical shows and creative writing. After my time in the military of more [than] 20 years and multiple combat experiences, I was left with some significant issues with anxiety. I overcame those issues through years of cognitive therapy. In the process I learned a lot about the psychology of anxiety, stress and of course, fear. I just combined all four to come up with the concept. It’s a theatrical haunted house production based on a profound understanding of fear.”

 

Full On Fear - Haunted House - Extreme Haunt - Mouth of Madness - Raleigh, NC

What difficulties have you run into creating an extreme experience in a suburban area?

“Our biggest challenge is the “where”. There are a lot of costly requirements governing what’s considered “special amusement”. We are still on the hunt for the right space. We are considering long term leases on pre-existing commercial properties that meet the requirements of “special amusement occupancy” and we are considering building our own facility. We need support and are looking at our first “production” requirement as an advertisement video aimed at equity and investment partners and supporters. The numbers according to the NRF and Forbes are relevant and significant, but it will take some capital to pull it all off.”

 

How do you plan to engage new audience members and make your experience approachable?

“Through the experience. By marketing the challenge but displaying satisfaction and safety on camera, we will reach new audiences. Pop culture and pioneers of extreme haunting have created the market. I just want to mass produce the effect by replicating these environments professionally by way of perception, power of suggestion, and the art of illusion.”

 

How do you see Full on Fear expanding in the future?

“Our entire business model centers around one word: multiplicity. Dominate the 90% of the market and leave the 10% to have their fun and drive the culture and interest for us to capture, enhance and satisfy!”

 

Full On Fear - Haunted House - Extreme Haunt - Mouth of Madness - Raleigh, NC

 

For more information about Full on Fear and their upcoming Mouth of Madness show next year, check out their website, Facebook,  and Instagram.  For more Halloween and horror events throughout the year, check out our Event Calendar.

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Full On Fear is a Haunted Attraction in Raleigh, North Carolina that has extreme shows like Mouth of Madness. Check out Haunting for more shows like Mouth of Madness. 

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