Below is a minimal spoiler review of the pre-show for Heretic’s The Cabin. Every guest’s pre-show is distinct and personal, so this should only be considered representative of one guest’s experience.
“I woke up in glass.”
Her eye is swollen shut. Her face bruised, battered, and covered in blood. Her body limp. She’s barely conscious, whispering so softly that I lean forward, mere inches from her face, just to hear her quiet voice. “They ran us off the road. My boyfriend and I.” Her fingers grab at my face, as if to make sure I’m real. “I don’t know how long I’ve been here.” As a tear rolls down her cheek, she touches my face once more.
“They’re still out there. In the woods.”
These woods she mentions are the same ones I will venture into on Saturday, July 15th for Heretic’s third and final iteration of The Cabin. The Cabin is a horror-lover’s dream come true: a personalized horror film for you and five friends away from the comforts and familiarity of the city lights. This experience promises to be brutal, abandoning the campy tones of Evil Dead and replacing them with the rawness of Last House on the Left. The experience has the unique opportunity to unfold over hours rather than minutes—giving you time to notice small shifts in the room, a bump outside your cabin window, changes in the wind. These small moments create a true atmosphere of dread.
The bruised and bloody girl is from a portion of the story, out of sequence, introduced to me through The Cabin’s pre-show. In this one-hour experience, I entered a stranger’s house to assist in a desperate search for an unknown box. But what’s in the box? While the search remained fruitless, I was able to find the girl and try to comfort her through her last remaining breaths.
This pre-show marks new territory for Heretic: this experience was not extreme in nature. Serving as an introduction to The Cabin, it was purely narratively driven, relying on strong acting, stunning special effects, and a mystery that propels us into the main event. Adrian Marcato once again showcased his superb ability to transform people into monsters and victims alike. This should come as no surprise for those who know Marcato’s background. He made a name for himself with his make-up work for Knott’s Scary Farm and Haunted Hayride, and expanded into SPFX work for films such as Dead Sea and Hatchet III. With an actress only inches from my face, Marcato’s work was realistic to the point that my stomach turned just looking at it.
The normal “tormentors” are usually busy clawing, tearing, or suffocating guests—but in the pre-show, they were able to demonstrate their acting abilities. They perfectly conveyed the utter chaos of entering a house in which eight people are desperately tearing through it for something. “Stranger” (played by the talented Matthan Harris) handed me gloves, a faulty flashlight, and a painter’s mask as I entered. His persona perfectly captured the frenzy and paranoia in the room–instructing me of contingency plans, hidden guns, and methods of covering my tracks. While I was never quite sure if I could trust him, he did provide a glimpse of familiarity among the unknown terrors inhabiting that space. Of all the characters, Suziey Block (the bruised and bloody girl) carried the emotional weight of the show. For a girl who lost everything and was trapped in a hell, death was her only escape. In the short time we spent together, she made me care about her before fearlessly embracing her fate.
Once the pre-show was complete, I ran back to my car and jumped in. As I sat down to catch my breath, I slowly realized there was something on the passenger seat that hadn’t been there when I left the car: a journal, a large manila envelope, and a pile of VHS boxes with the words THE CABIIIN ANNIVERSARY on the front. The VHS cases have stickers that signify them as “Horror”, “Used Copy”, and “Staff Pick”. The Heretic logo adorns the back, reminding viewers that “violence, grisly images, language, and some nudity and sexuality” are inside. One is even signed “To Taylor, Best Wishes, Lucas White”—famed adult film director who was arrested for numerous murders in which the eyes were removed. There is even a VHS tape inside one of them—but I shudder to think of what is on it. The detail on these items demonstrate the love and craftsmanship that Heretic has for this experience. These are the perfect keepsake, designed with an attention to detail that instills a sense of nostalgia and excitement; I will proudly display mine for years to come. After all of this goes through my head, I’m left with one final thought: How did they get in my car while I was inside?
The Cabin pre-show proves that Heretic is far more than just an extreme haunt. They are masters of brutality and fear, but also expert storytellers with an impressive skillset in make-up, prosthetics, and special effects. Their actors are natural and evocative, providing more feelings than just fear. It also proved that their narratives fit in an expanded universe, as the mysterious group known only as Them appears to be recurring in Heretic shows ranging from Vanish to their partnership with Obscura Horror.
The pre-show solidified my excitement and terror for the main event, but I know there’s one thing I can’t forget:
Taylor has loved immersive theater since his first experience at ALONE in 2013. Since then, he has written, produced, & directed immersive theater, consulted for numerous immersive companies, acted in others, and attended even more. He has his PhD in Bioengineering, an MBA in Organization Leadership, and currently works fixing broken hearts.
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