The cobbled street is uneven and rocky; my feet are more careful. But it’s not just my steps that are hindered here, the fog is dense and has a certain weight to it. It’s amplified by the narrow corridor of London businesses, huddled together as if their uniformity could protect them from the plague spreading across town. A door is thrown open and a man in a black cape and top hat emerges, pausing in the alleyway. Through the door, bathed in a vermillion glow is a woman in a nightgown and mask. “Please help me,” she begs. “It’s Jack… Jack the Ripper.” She falls to the floor—but I can’t help her, I must get Jack. But he is already down the hall. I give chase and turn to corner, only to see his shadow disappear behind a doorway and the door slam shut in my face. Rotten Apple 907’s Evil In The London Fog sends us through the murderous past of London.

Now celebrating its 30^th year, Rotten Apple 907 is bringing 1800s London to Burbank with Evil In The London Fog, a theatrical walk through attraction that showcases the best of London horror. In its ten-minute length, it offers guests a chance to come face to face with Jack the Ripper, rats and ravens transmitting a dangerous plague across the land, Mrs. Lovett’s Meat Pies, Sweeny Todd, and the workers that bring the meat pies to life—or death I should say. It’s an incredible and impressive undertaking, recreating all of this in front of their home for guests of all ages to explore and experience.

While evil in London may be the through line, the evil is specifically designed to two main storylines: Jack the Ripper and Sweeny Todd.  While the two aren’t necessarily interlaced, each is given enough room to truly shine. Yet, the story truly reaches its climax with Sweeny Todd, in which multiple rooms reveal the truth behind Mrs. Lovett and her meat pies. It’s a fantastic build up with a worthy payoff.

As with Rotten Apple 907 each year, the set design is impressive. A massive façade of London shops and pubs have been erected in front of the Rotten Apple property, creating a sight that can be seen from down the block. But it’s not until you step through the gates of London that you truly feel immersed in the London fog. These small streets are perfectly crafted with no detail overlooked. From the signage to the posters calling out for Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror to end, they all serve the immersion. But to me, the uneven shops and street is what does it most; there aren’t panels decorated to look like London—they look like real shops that people could go to work at.

The Evil In The London Fog sets only get more gruesome from here; as the plague has left the dead to be collected in the streets. Here, you’ll find body parts strewn about, and rats and other vermin ready to scare you with their animatronic parts. The ravens move and caw, distracting you from a snake ready to strike. Mrs. Lovett’s shop further adds to the feel of unease and creepiness, as ears, eyes, and fingers line her kitchen table. Even a maggot filled rat can be found among the food. But none of this prevents her from making the food and teasing that you’ll be inside.

The acting serves to only elevate the experience, providing some memorable moments. While the scenes aren’t terribly interactive, they are engaging and provide some moments of discomfort and dread. Jack the Ripper is spectral, disappearing into darkness only to reappear behind your group. The narrative focuses more on the carnage he left in his wake, connecting audiences into his victims and their pain. Mrs. Lovett is interactive and engaging, hinting at truth behind the pies. And it’s in the next room that Todd himself is revealed, brandishing a straight razor with a victim already seated in the barber’s chair. The experience doesn’t end here though; there’s another room showcasing the child labor that produces the meat pies, as a young child is burning the meat grinder, pumping our sausages for the pies.

As for the scares, the experience is more theatrical than scary. Obviously with a theme Evil In The London Fog, there’s going to be an exploration of the horrors of mankind—but apart from some gore and dead bodies, the experience is more about creating a sense of dread through immersion in their world. There were no jump-scares, except for potentially the ghost-like presence of The Ripper, which may create a real scare. But this experience is one that creates an aesthetic and atmosphere, immerses you in it, and then tells you a fantastic story.

For the past 30 years, Rotten Apple 907 has shown that they are experts in the home haunt arena—and Evil In The London Fog is only one more piece of evidence to show that. This is one home haunt you must do, and with the theme changing each year, it’s one you should try to attend each year. It’s a perfect example of how to make a great haunted house, whether it’s a professional haunt, a home haunt, or even an immersive theater experience. We just hope that the evil in the fog doesn’t follow you home.

For more information about Rotten Apple 907, checkout their website, Facebook and Instagram pages. For information about similar events, check out our Event Calendar.

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Rotten Apple 907 celebrates their 30th year with Evil In The London Fog.