Opechee Haunt | LA Murder Tour | Sam Kellman

LA Murder Tour – Opechee Brings a Killer Halloween Haunt

In the evening’s darkness, I briskly walk down the dirt path to the second overhang of trees, the cold air nipping at me. I’m only feet away from a residential neighborhood and safety, but I continue forward into the park and stop at my destination. I press PLAY on my phone to listen to the next audio track, trying NOT to listen to the snapping twigs and crunching leaves coming from the ominous foliage, and trying NOT to let my mind play wicked tricks on me… LA murder tour

 

Opechee Haunt | LA Murder Tour | Sam Kellman

 

This year, instead of an whimsical in-person Halloween experience, The Opechee Haunt, created by Sam Kellman, showcases the young man’s knack for storytelling. The Opechee Haunt has guests safely isolated in their cars while embarking on an “LA Murder Tour” of a residential Glendale neighborhood. Through a series of audio tracks, guests drive between five different locations, listening to your guide detail the tragic story of Gary Keene before potentially becoming a part of the tour themselves. The success of the LA Murder Tour lies in the effective narrative and useful psychology of letting one’s mind play tricks on them.

 

Reminiscent of an on-location Lore podcast or like a car-based Internal, LA Murder Tour explores the (fictional) horrifying multiple-homicide committed by 7-year-old Gary Keene. While one could listen to this story safely from home with the lights on, Opechee Haunt aims to bring guests out of the house and immerse them in the environments of the story: where Gary played with his grandmother, where he grew up in foster care, where the murders took place… Audiences can exit their cars if they choose, at designated locations only, and each location adds an extra layer of creepiness to the story, as audiences dive deeper into the mind of the troubled killer.

 

Opechee Haunt | LA Murder Tour | Sam Kellman

 

Being an LA Murder Tour, guests are expected to travel the streets of Glendale – and optionally exit their vehicles at the first two stops – at night. This presents some logistical issues that could be fixed with a few tweaks. For example, traveling around in very narrow streets in the evenings in residential areas can be quite difficult. If guests miss a location, or can’t find parking, the narrow lanes require excellent K-turn skills. The locations that are included in the LA Murder Tour are closed to the public – at least at night – and not much can be seen. It would help passersby discern which locations are to be visited if there were some sort of markers or decorations, or even an in- or out-of-character performer at the addresses (even if they don’t interact directly with guests), especially for lone haunt-goers’ safety. I got approached twice – once by security in the park, and once by a concerned neighbor – as to why we were idling in the area.

 

The audio tracks themselves are excellently done and prep guests to create their own worst nightmares. While listening to a first-person perspective of the killings, putting them in the killer’s shoes and creating a superbly creepy and tragic vibe, guests might find the darkness of the woods comforting. Others, however, might feel uneasy, wondering what might be out there lurking. The narration – done by AJ Danna, with a Dexter-like intensity – is a thorough, graphic, and intricately woven tale. The gentle, haunting music and sound effects enhance the mood and ambiance of the tragedy unfolding, building gradually with the tale. And the imminent (implied) danger of the climax will most likely elicit a jump-scare from unprepared guests, making Opechee Haunt best suited for ages 16+.

 

Opechee Haunt | LA Murder Tour | Sam Kellman

 

Another logistical issue with the LA Murder Tour is the organization. While the files – audio tracks, instructions, addresses, and supplemental photography – are exceptionally done, they can get disorganized when extracting. Guests are required to download a ZIP folder of content, to be readily available on their phones/devices for the duration of the show. Since the reception is spotty in the neighborhoods of the experience, instructing participants to have the files downloaded on their phones is a very smart idea. Downloading the files prior to leaving home is not an issue itself, but the labeling of the files could cause some confusion. For example, the folders are labeled _Bear and _Child, with several files within each called “Listen” and “Instructions.” It might be beneficial to re-label the folders and files with numbers as well – 1-Bear contains “Listen-1” and “Instructions-1” while 2-Child contains “Listen-2” and “Instructions-2” – for clarity, especially since multiple locations are involved and the climax of the show relies on good timing. Or, if Opechee wishes to remain mysterious in the file names, it could also label the files by group – “Bear-Listen” and “Bear-Instructions,” for example.

 

One of the most difficult aspects of immersive entertainment is how to end the experience and send guests off, back into the dark – and Opechee has one of the most successful endings we’ve seen recently. In a surprise that won’t be shared here, the narrative takes a twist and guests’ expectations are subverted. The narrative pays off in a way that feels rewarding and earned, and leaves the experience in participants’ minds long after they return home safely.

 

Opechee Haunt | LA Murder Tour | Sam Kellman

 

Opechee Haunt presents a technically impressive LA Murder Tour that allows guests to spook themselves from the safety of their vehicles, or in the “woods” of Glendale. While the circumstances of the haunt – the narrow streets and parking – are occasionally difficult to navigate, the effective audio tracks and live finale impress, especially in this new Covid-safe haunt season. With a few tweaks to file names, and perhaps a marker of sorts for lost guests, LA Murder Tour is sure to make a killing!

 

LA Murder Tour is sold out, but check out The Opechee Haunt’s website, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram for more information and upcoming events. Be sure to bookmark our Event Guide to keep up to date on Halloween and horror events throughout the year.

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The LA murder tour took us on the roads of glendale for the LA murder tour. The la murder tour was great.

About The Author

Lacey Pawlowicz
Ever since seeing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video, Lacey has been obsessed with all things horror and Halloween. Now, she watches, produces and acts in horror films, and is lucky enough to attend haunts/immersive events and write about them. Groovy!

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