Last year, Midsummer Scream was born, a convention that truly cared about the success of haunts, escape rooms and immersive entertainment. Propelling itself above and beyond the boundaries of normal conventions, this one devoted itself to providing the best Halloween experience possible, complete with nostalgic imagery, streamlined logistics and a staff as passionate as they were knowledgeable. Midsummer Scream 2017.
After the resounding success of 2016, once again helmed by the creative forces behind Theme Park Adventure and CreepyLA, Midsummer Scream returns to the Long Beach Convention Center this weekend, July 29-30. There are scores of devious delights to look forward to, but below are some of the experiences that Haunting is most excited for (in no particular order, of course).
Halloween Horror Nights’ 2006 re-emergence was accompanied by Larry Bones’ Bone Yard Effects, who brought to life the impossibly nightmarish masks and costumes that have been one of the event’s hallmarks. This year, Bones and Co. are creating their very own experience with Into the Black, bringing haunting back to Pomona’s Fairplex for the first time since 2013’s Great American Nightmare. At 4PM on Saturday, Larry and Cheryl Bones will screen the haunt’s backstory film, which will serve as a prologue to the Victorian-themed haunt, followed by a Q&A with select cast and crew. Bones’ haunt and accompanying virtual reality experience are some of our most anticipated events this October.
The haunt community has become endlessly intertwined with the art of immersive theater, so it only makes sense that Midsummer Scream would enlist Jeff Leinenveber and Jarrett Lantz (Co-Creative Directors of Scout Expedition Co.) to impart their knowledge of crafting a full, 360-degree set designed to transport their audience to another world. At 1PM on Sunday, the pair will teach eager Screamers how to craft the perfect environment for such an event, and just how to make it perfectly haunting.
3. Mable’s 6 Feet Under
Anaheim’s Motel 6 Feet Under burst onto the haunt scene in 2015, combining intense practical scares with the noble cause of providing jobs to underserved adults. The haunt’s enthusiastic cast and labyrinthine interior made Motel 6 Feet Under a sleeper hit, which means we’re all the more excited now that the sinister Mable has taken over. Look for Mable and the rest of the crew at Midsummer Scream’s Hall of Shadows all weekend long.
4. Submitted for Approval: “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”
For members of a certain generation, Nickelodeon’s “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” was an early ‘90s touchstone for all things horror. At 4:30PM on Saturday, co-creator/executive producer D.J. MacHale, director/writer Ron Oliver and director David Winning will explore the show that made every Saturday night just a little bit sleepless.
5. H E R E T I C – T H E P A R A l l E L
While Midsummer Scream’s Hall of Shadows will showcase various traditional haunts and walkthrough experiences, there is always a part of the convention meant for more…well, daring tastes. This is where T H E P A R A l l E L comes in, a preview of what H E R E T I C has in store for 2018. Convention-goers can expect to choose one of two corpses presented to them, at which point they will assume the role of the deceased.
6. Beyond the 5th Dimension: Creating the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
At the beginning of the year, horror aficionados were dealt an unfortunate blow when Disney’s Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was closed for good. Noon on Saturday will see select cast and crew from the ride reunite to examine its lasting legacy.
7. ALONE [an existential evocation]
If there’s anything that the folks behind ALONE know how to do well, it’s maximize an environment or locale to their Lynchian, psychologically affecting benefit. This year’s Midsummer Scream iteration, [an existential evocation], is sure to be no different. There are no specific times or locations being advertised just yet, but be on the lookout for ALONE’s ever-present triangle for potential clues as to how to initiate the “evocation.”
8. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group’s URBAN DEATH
Zombie Joe and his crew of immensely talented performers have been putting on URBAN DEATH for years, challenging guests with unsettling themes and decidedly adult content. Each year sees a new URBAN DEATH, so be sure to check out any of ZJU’s performances all weekend long.
9. Shine On Collective’s Sweet Dreams
Responsible for fan favorites like Devoted,Shine On Collective has proven deft with immersive storytelling. At Midsummer Scream, the Collective presents Part Two of their latest installment, Sweet Dreams, in which guests will search for a missing girl. The catch? She can only be tracked down through dreams.
10. Stage and Scream: Immersive Horror Panel
The very last panel of the entire weekend (4:30PM on Sunday) will see an in-depth look at some of the best immersive horror around. No Proscenium’s Noah Nelson will host a panel examining the various creative visions that go into crafting a uniquely terrifying immersive experience, including representatives from Zombie Joe’s, Wicked Lit, and the Overlook Film Festival.
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Tyler Davidson is a nationally published journalist, having contributed to publications like Alternative Press, Hustler Magazine and The Argonaut. His incessant love of haunted attractions began in 2008, and has taken him to haunts all over the country ever since. He also plays a cult leader on TV.
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