News

Queen Mary Dark Harbor 2019 Sets Full Scream Ahead

Published

5 years ago

October 25, 2019

Everyone loves a good scare. This time of year, people pay good money to attend a variety of haunts, mazes, and attractions to be scared. Perhaps one of the most unique would be the Dark Harbor event held at the port of the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. The Queen Mary itself being a former British ocean liner and modern day museum, hotel and attraction. But every time around Halloween it becomes The Dark Harbor, an attraction of mazes, ghouls, and all manner of entertainment. I recently took this terrifying voyage with fellow iHorror correspondent Jonathan Correia to experience The Dark Harbor first-hand.

The evening began with the opening ceremonies held by the accursed Captain of the Dark Harbor, only to be interrupted by the eccentric Ringmaster and leading to some playful/deadly banter. The gates opened and a swarm of killers were unleashed as we were allowed into the fairgrounds proper. The event is styled like a carnival, complete with delicious meals like turkey legs and cheesy corn and even rides. Each maze featuring a signature mascot monster or maniac that you can encounter during the journey.

Our first stop being a ‘ride’ on The Intrepid. A ghastly ghost train created by The Iron Master, a former shipyard worker who became obsessed with the Queen Mary and sold his soul to a witch for the power to create mechanical monstrosities, becoming a magical mashup of flesh and steel. You ride on the train to the Scottish Highlands and venture through crypts and caverns and misty moors as you eventually encounter the diabolical Iron Master.

What’s scarier than being on a ghost ship? How about a capsized ghost ship. You’re on a version of The Queen Mary that’s been knocked over by a massive rogue wave and now must find a way off… if the deranged crew doesn’t stop you first. Some great water and fog FX highlight this particular maze and the upside down sets can really disorient you like The Poseidon Adventure.

With the carnival style of Dark Harbor, it’s no surprise that there was a carnage filled carnival maze to venture through. With The Ringmaster at the helm, it’s filled to the brim with all manner of killer clowns and deadly pranks.

A big ship like The Queen Mary requires a big kitchen. And wouldn’t you know it, there’s plenty of meals around… and you’re the main ingredient! A psychotic cannibal Chef has returned from his oven grave to turn the passengers into the next dish. Walk through the actual corridors of the Queen Mary, decked out with rotting meat, ghoulish cooks, and a massive meat grinder to prepare you for dinner!

Room B340 on The Queen Mary has a terrible history. Being the room of serial killer Samuel The Savage, a satanic maniac who went on a murder spree before being detained… and mysteriously disappearing in his room. Now, follow the trail of a tragic private investigator trying to uncover the truth. Only to discover unholy horrors onboard. Now, follow the trail of blood and bodies and pentagrams as you walk the bowels of the ship and encounter the demons of the past.

The fun never ends in the swimming pool area of The Queen Mary… and neither do murders. The ghost of a young girl named Mary, now Scary Mary, haunts the pool since she drowned there in 1952. Mary just wants to play with you… to death. Mary and other assorted ghosts will try and get you to take one final dip into the pool as you try to find a way out.

Another highlight of The Dark Harbor is a most curious carnival attraction. A flying swing ride. But not just any neon colored flying swing ride, but a flying swing ride from none other than Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Authenticated and still running.

As well, for an immersive experience outside of walking mazes, The Queen Mary features a theatrical experience like no other. Panic A 4-D Experience that puts you into a twisted version of the ship where you are pursued by ghosts, ghouls, and unholy abominations. A fun attraction with plenty of scares.

With a fun and unique setting and backdrop, as well as some original mazes with plenty of FX and distance, The Queen Mary Dark Harbor makes for a hell of a Halloween attraction. Open until November 2nd, check it out before the Dark Harbor sets sail!

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News

Jake Gyllenhaal’s Thriller ‘Presumed Innocent’ Series Gets Early Release Date

Published

29 mins ago

April 26, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Jake Gyllenhaal’s limited series Presumed Innocent is dropping on AppleTV+ on June 12 instead of June 14 as originally planned. The star, whose Road House reboot has brought mixed reviews on Amazon Prime, is embracing the small screen for the first time since his appearance on Homicide: Life on the Street in 1994.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s in ‘Presumed Innocent’

Presumed Innocent is being produced by David E. Kelley, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, and Warner Bros. It is an adaptation of Scott Turow’s 1990 film in which Harrison Ford plays a lawyer doing double duty as an investigator looking for the murderer of his colleague.

These types of sexy thrillers were popular in the ’90s and usually contained twist endings. Here’s the trailer for the original:

According to Deadline, Presumed Innocent doesn’t stray far from the source material: “…the Presumed Innocent series will explore obsession, sex, politics and the power and limits of love as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.”

Up next for Gyllenhaal is the Guy Ritchie action movie titled In the Grey scheduled for release in January 2025.

Presumed Innocent is an eight-episode limited series set to stream on AppleTV+ starting June 12.

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

19 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

21 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.