Murder House Productions has done it again with another gorgeous and technologically advanced original haunt — Ghosted: Reply or Die! This year, creators Aurora Persichetti and Kyle Warner dive into the world of online dating, and worse than that — ghosting. Having met my husband on Bumble, I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly of it so was excited to see how they brought this original haunt idea to life.
The experience begins as soon as you walk in the gate, with lab techs ushering you into the waiting area for your scientific trial. As we wait, EntyP staff take surveys of our familiarity with dating apps, social media, the term ghosting and related. I’m not sure how we did, as they only responded with ominous ‘mmhmms’ and ‘I see’s.”
When it’s time for the trial to start, we see the real magnitude of what Murder House Productions was able to create in their mid-town warehouse-style location. A video plays in the first room, further explaining the experiment, and you’re afforded a moment to admire the painstaking detail of the set around you (as one should expect from Murder House Productions). As they try to open the passageway we’re meant to take, alarms and sirens sound and a grotesque Stranger Things style rift opens, but it’s not to the Upside Down, it’s to the equally-as-scary Ghosted Realm! We soon realize we are on our own, and the only way out is through.
The maze winds through dim caverns lit by mobile phones and inhabited by the vengeful souls of those who have been ghosted. My favorite room was a meticulously crafted sideways bedroom that you’d have to see to believe — complete with a smartphone left ‘on read.’ The design of the maze truly creates a sense of aloneness and urgency to get out. As I’ve become braver throughout the seasons, you’ll usually catch me strolling through haunts with a wide smile on my face, but MHP’s Ghosted had me pushing my husband through first, ducking and dodging. I loved it!
Murder House Productions is already known for their high-level set, sound and lighting design, and this year, their original themed knocked it out of the park. They’ve set a high bar for themselves and managed to exceed it again and again. I won’t give away the ending as there are still 3 nights left to experience this next-level haunt and it’s definitely something I would recommend you fit in this season. Ghosted: Reply or Die is still open Friday October 28th – Sunday October 30th. Tickets are available at https://www.replyordie.com/.
