30 Days of Halloween Horror Nights: What’s Your All-Time Least Favorite Scarezone?
Halloween Horror Nights 19’s “Cirque du Freak” scarezone had a lot of potential. It was based on a then-upcoming film (“Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant”) that, in itself, was based on a popular series of supernatural-themed young-adult novels. These novels were chock-full of interesting characters and settings that would make great fodder for a scarezone. Unfortunately, the movie was a flop (38% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), and the scarezone flopped right along with it.
In my opinion, the “Cirque du Freak” scarezone never felt “odd” enough to be exciting. Let me tell you what I mean: carnival sideshows, which is what “Cirque du Freak” is at its core, make their trade by playing on an audience’s curiousity, mixed with a hint of fear. Can a human being really hammer nails into their face? Is it physically possible to swallow swords without dying? Do human/animal hybrids actually exist? If I see something truly bizarre, can I handle it?
“Cirque du Freak” featured its own versions of sideshow acts, but they were very obviously scareactors portraying characters from the movie. There was no hint of danger, no sense of fear, no mystery at whether or not something was “real.” What we got were imitations of imitations: Rhamus Twobellies can eat anything! This woman has a beard! Evra the Snake Boy, looks like a snake . . . and carries a snake!
Halloween Horror Nights has previously utilized the carnival motif, and to much better effect. HHN 17’s “Freak Show” scarezone included costumed scareactors as human/animal hybrids (like “Cirque”), but it also featured some very real sideshow acts. “The Enigma’s” genuinely unpleasant feats and Brian Brushwood’s magic gave the scarezone an edge that “Cirque du Freak” totally lacked.
I can’t say that I blame the Universal Art & Design guys, as, to me, this felt like a case of being handcuffed by a license. If the film’s character and creature designs are weak, then what can A&D do? You can’t change them, you’ve gotta work with what you get.
What’s your all-time least favorite scarezone? Leave us a comment on Facebook!
Photo by HHN Yearbook.