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iHorror Exclusive: Vegas Haunt Gives You The Ultimate “Victim Experience”

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Las Vegas. Bright lights. Casinos. Drunken shenanigans. That’s pretty much what comes to mind when you think of this town, correct? Well, you’re not to far off. Although, it is when the most beautiful holiday of the year rolls around, Vegas shows another side of itself. This town embraces the holiday close to no other. Could it be the lack of the actual fall season, and the setting that makes this city attempt to one up any others? Possibly. Halloween time, Vegas is filled with haunted attractions that run on every side of town. Many are done up quite nicely and earn some great fright points; but there can only be one that can top them all. The Freakling Bros. and their Trilogy Of Terror does just that and like no other. Not only do they host the most theatrical and terrifying haunted houses this side of the United States; They have been ranked in the top 5 of the nation in scariest haunted attractions. But it doesn’t end there. A special treat for those extremists out there, they offer  something they call “The Victim Experience”. Which I will expand on further into this article. Read on.

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In it’s frightfully impressive 22nd year of scaring the shit out of people, father and son pair Duke and JT Mollner have come a long way since 1992, when the attraction first opened.  “We wanted to stand out from the rest, so that it’ll be an experience you’ll never forget.”  attraction owner JT explained in an exclusive interview with Ihorror. When you pull up to the Trilogy of Terror, the ambiance hits you right off the bat. As to what looks like a mini carnival, the trio of haunted houses sit in a triangle of nightmares in an abandoned parking lot. Walking up to the entrance, the sounds of eerie music and shrieks of terror from the people inside fill the air. One performer, who goes by Scorch The Clown, put on an impressive fire breathing show in the middle of the parking lot “arena”. Freakling Bros. consists of three major haunted houses. The Circus Of Horrors, Castle Vampyre, and the R- rated Gates of Hell. Each unique for a different scare experience as the night goes on, at considerably affordable prices: $12 each for Circus and Vampyre, $15 for Gates; or get a deal of $30 for all 3 and or $40 for an all night pass. They also offer a fast pass T shirt for $10, which pretty much puts you in front of the line. I would recommend it on a Friday or Saturday night especially. Operation dates and more pricing can be found at  the official Freakling website by clicking here.

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The Circus Of Horrors

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The Circus Of Horrors has been a long standing staple at Freakling Bros. for many years. This, in it’s last year of running is definitely one to check out. The house will be replaced next year with something different TBA. While we were standing in line, that jolly ol’ clown Scorch, creeped his way into the front of the line to give us a little entertainment while we wait. Entertainment such as, sticking a giant needle up his nose and stapling admission tickets to his head. Along with a few scares, and gags while waiting to enter, it was refreshing to see such interaction outside the haunt. Greeted first by the “ringmaster”, then twisting and turning our way through the haunt was a fun experience. Again, the actors really get into it and make this one a must see for any horror fanatic. The house itself is really well thought out with a different surprise around every corner. Including a room full of giant balloons and rubber balls with a nasty painted nightmare chasing you inside. For me, it gives off that Killer Klown From Outer Space vibe. Fantastic.

 

Castle Vampyre

Vampyre

Greeted at the entrance by a seductive goddess of the dead, Castle Vampyre is a exciting and terrifying haunt based on Nosferatu. Inside the haunt, the rooms encourage attendee interaction. Mysterious hallways require guests to get down on their knees. Doors open and close on their own. At one point in the attraction , you will find yourself inside a room with no way out. You look up, when the spiked ceiling you see hovering above starts lowering, forcing you to duck down. The talent in this vampire maze is on point. Many of the guests left screaming running for their lives out the haunt exit. 

 

The Gates Of Hell

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The Gates Of Hell is the twisted brainchild of JT Mollner. First established in the haunt in 2011, it is the first R rated haunted house in Las Vegas and the biggest attraction out of the three. Mollner said, “It is something that has never been done before, and we wanted to separate ourselves from the pack rather than use the usual haunted formula that most houses have to offer; This haunt offers something up for the more extreme type.” The attraction offers up severe profane language, touching, grabbing, controversial violence, getting jabbed with an electric prod… Sounds peachy! Basically what it is a Faces Of Death theme of sorts. Various rooms with a different experience of death. You’re first greeted with a skeptical (to say the least) satanic priest. (he really takes a shine to the boys mind you) who makes you sign a waiver before heading in. The terror begins immediately stepping in as you’re right away separated from your group and thrown into a coffin like tight space for what seems like an eternity. Not to fear tho. You’ll catch up with your buddies soon. From dark twisted mazes that seem to offer no way out, to a firing squad, and one hellish surprise at the end, Gates is not for the faint of heart. It definitely takes scaring people to the extreme. They do offer you a safe word if the house is too much for you to handle. As a matter of fact, within my first five minutes of being there I witnessed three people screaming this safe word from the inside and had to be let out. Now that’s how you run a haunt people. Take notes.

 

The Victim Experience

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Now here is something for the ultimate thrill seeker. The Victim Experience is only for 18 and over, and you must do this on your own. First starting in 2013, the number of tickets is limited for this exclusive shock treatment starting at $120 and $150 for Halloween night. The entire thrill lasts about 30 mins give or take. Sometimes longer or shorter depending on the victim. JT explained in detail, ” The whole idea behind this is making the guest feel like they are in a death camp. And that death is immanent and it’s going to happen to them. It’s very criminal and sexual, with of course staying in bounds with the law. We wanted to create something immersive, the victim goes through a roller coaster of emotions; from erotic to paralyzing fear. It’s extremely realistic and not for your average haunted houser. Compare it to skydiving. It’s an extreme rush of adrenaline.” The Victim Experience is like The Gates Of Hell on steroids. According to JT, he’s received a good amount of hate mail from feminists over the idea of glorifying the whole victim idea. ” I’m in no way glorifying or trying to offend anyone. The majority of people who made it through the whole thing are women. We’ve had more men cry for the safe word. I’m all for feminism. Hell, I’m a feminist myself. And I can tell you every one of these people that have gone through this experience here, have come back for more. And we’ve kept in touch and formed a bond with a lot of these people. Some have even gone as far to say, we’ve given them a new outlook on life.”

 

Mollner has expressed interest in moving the Victim Experience to Los Angeles, where he calls home when the Halloween season is over, to set up an off season type gig. When he isn’t scaring the crap out of people, he is working in LA on his own films. He recently wrapped up an indie movie starring the legendary Dee Wallace (ET, CUJO), Robert Craighead  (Children’s Hospital, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia) and JB BLanc (The Count Of Monte Crisco, Breaking Bad). The movie is called Flowers In December. The basic plot is that of a “bad girl” in her mid 50’s, who gave up on life years ago when she lost her one true love to uncontrollable circumstances. Even though, on the surface, it seems as though she’s picked up the pieces, a deep obsession with her lost love still consumes her, and she will stop at nothing to reunite with him, even if it means the destruction of her new family, madness, or worse. It is now in post production. His next film project is one called “Outlaws and Angels” Mollner described this as a Last House On The Left type deal. Production is TBA.

All in all my experience here was one for the books. On a scale of one to 10, I rate this one at 11 screams. The performers are stunning, the ideas are unique and bringing all these elements together is a must see and experience for any Halloween fan. So if you’re in the Vegas area, or visiting from another town, make sure you put Freakling Bros. on your destination list. They have my horror stamp of approval.

 

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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