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Get Scared On The Strip With Evil Dead, Fright Dome And Goretorium

July 30, 2012 at 10:52 PM | by | Comment (1)

The corpses are piling up on The Strip. And, not in a good way.

We’ve been warning you of the impending haunted-house-style-super-scary-splatter–fest attraction, Goretorium, coming this September. It’s set in a Vegas resort where things go bump in the night. More on that below. It’s also time for Circus Circus to gear up promoting their Halloween spooktacular, Fright Dome. Even more on that below. But, right now at Planet Hollywood you’ll venture into the basement and within the woods to kill off demonic spirits with a chainsaw, axe and shotgun. The Evil Dead have arrived. In 4D. We’ll have to explain. And, frankly we wish we didn’t.

In 1979, a group of very enterprising, fledgling filmmakers, made a feature called The Evil Dead. Low budget. Very high on ingenuity, black humor, genuine shocks and all-out fun. Stephen King called it the “the most ferociously original film of the year.” The sequel, a sort of re-imagining was even better. This writer saw the London premiere in a tiny sold–out theater, with happy horror fans sitting on the floor, crushed into the space. It was a cult movie series in the eighties. It’s still a cult series today.

Sam Raimi, the film’s director, went on to make the Spider-Man trilogy. You might have seen Bruce Campbell, the film’s star, in the TV series, Burn Notice. Folks have great affection for Evil Dead. Spin-offs include video games and comic books. It’s a franchise. Now, it’s a musical.

Warning: spoiler alert ahead. (insert maniacal laugh)

The plot?

Five college students take a vacation in a cabin in the woods. They find a creepy old book written in a cryptic text, bound in human skin and a tape recorder that contains a narrated translation of the texts. The tape recites the incantation that summons the wood’s demons who promptly start possessing the guests. Then mayhem starts. Way, way over the top mayhem.

On film, it's an absurdist joy-ride. On stage it becomes, well, annoying. Because this is a musical, they have to cram the songs in. But it’s frequently very hard to discern the lyrics and, on top of that, the actors can’t sing very well. A problem when you have to endure a musical number about working in a hardware store. The acting is purposely broad and over the top. We get it, but it becomes tiresome. Worse, any scares are nonexistent. The demons, too jokey. The most frightening part is how messed up you clothes will be after being hit by the 4D spray.

The 4D gimmick includes the cast breaking the fourth wall and directly addressing the audience. And, when people die, you in the audience are sprayed copiously with blood. Think-colored juice. Or, water if you are seated further back. It becomes neither a surprise nor a shock. One actor even stands, positions, then aims at you. Where’s the shock? A Bug’s Life 4D at Disney World features more surprises.

We understand the cast and creators want to be edgy. It’s a very R-rated show. (Though, why some kids were in the audience on the night we saw it is mystifying.) But, it just feels too juvenile. Maybe it’s us. As mentioned, this writer is a fan of the movies. But, this show feels amateurish. On tour at colleges around the country, it could do great. Asking $40-$60 on The Strip (with an admittedly free t-shirt), we feel even, with any discount, it doesn’t belong. Currently, the lowest priced Cirque tickets are available for $55. Evil Dead 4D is no Cirque show. Originally, this production was meant to be hosted at the Plaza, off Strip, in a manner akin to off-Broadway. Exactly how it should exist. Hustling Vegas Strip visitors to see this musical seems a rip-off.

Evil Dead 4D runs Fridays at 10 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. at V Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. Tickets start at 39.99 and rise to $59.99.

Now, the rival for your blood money is Goretorium. We do wonder if the producers of Evil Dead 4D saw a synergistic opportunity when they heard about this upcoming thrill attraction being built just next door to Planet Hollywood.

Opening on September 27, Goretorium boasts a top–tier staff of scare-masters. September 27th? A Thursday? We thought that that odd. Until we discovered the tenth anniversary of Fright Dome, Circus Circus’ annual multi-haunted-house Halloween attraction is opening on September 29th.

Ooohhh, a grudge match.

Fright Dome is currently hiring up to 400 people for this year’s event. Auditions start in August and details can be found here. Goretorium is already hiring and they have a web page for applicants here.

Circus Circus is promising a frightful good time.

But, are you now thinking you’ll miss that Evil Dead-style musical element with your horror? Not to worry. Groretorium promises a 60s inspired lounge called “Baby Dolls” complete with zombie dancers. Not entirely unexpected. One of the big names attached to this project is nightlife impresario, Robert Frey, the guy who co-created Pure nightclub. His former partner, Steve Davidovici, was recently convicted of tax evasion. “Stevie D” was also behind the creation of Sugar Factory and connected to another name heavily linked to Goretorium, Joshua Pianko. That guy co-created Sugar Factory's $1 million jewelry encrusted lollipop that has been photographed with the likes of Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton. Sigh.

They call these lollipops, “Couture Pops,” and they must really like that idea, or are out of them. Because Goretorium plans to sell a line of clothing they’ve named, wait for it, “Haunt Couture.” Aren’t you glad you read this far?

If all that experience catering to bottle-service-creepy-nightclub-dudes is giving you a different sort of scary vibe, things are moving forward on the true terror front. Facebook and Twitter updates indicate some of the mazes are ready. And some possible props, too. Check out the one above. And, our prediction that a Sweeney Todd like element is part of the plot? Well, it seems we really were close.

A recent casting call in Los Angeles called for the following list of characters. Take at look at this casting sheet below and imagine the video they'll make from that scenario. There will be blood!

Short Film, Non-Union
BARBERSHOP CLIENTS / Non-Union / Principal / Male / Caucasian / 30-50
Must be comfortable in special fx makeup, looking for character actor/average joe types
BARBERS / Non-Union / Principal / Male / Caucasian, Hispanic / 40-60
Please note if you have hair cutting experience. The barbers should be heavy set, or have mustaches or unique facial hair,
LEAD BUSINESSMAN / Non-Union / Lead / Male / Caucasian / 30-47
Experience actor with an every day businessman look.

As usual keep following VegasChatter as we continue to be the ones skulking around and peeking in windows for the latest details on the Strip scare scene.

(PHOTOS: Evil Dead The Musical Las Vegas on Facebook, FrightDome.com, Goretorium.com and Goretorium on Facebook)

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