Coverage by guest contributor L.J. Galvan –

Warning: Minor Spoilers Ahead.

I went to experience Within Our Walls with The Haunt List this last Saturday and had a very fun, creepy time. Nineteen-year-old Sam Kellman (who at his young age has already screened his short films at multiple film festivals, including the Seattle International Film Festival, and even directed a TV bumper for the 2021 Chucky Syfy hit series) writes, produces, and directs Within Our Walls. A show described as part haunt and part immersive theater, that places the audience in a very original and unique perspective.

We began our journey in the attic, where we walked by old books, clothes, boxes of broken toys, and probably broken dreams. And then we got shuffled into the street to go to the ground floor of the house, just not through the front door: We go in through the walls. By sticking to the shadows, the show breaks the fourth wall and lets us peek through the cracks of the Pierce family’s home. We got a very intimate, unsettling glimpse of the hardships the Pierce family is going through after losing their youngest member, by letting us see into 3 different rooms. Allen and Jane argue about their daughter’s funeral in the kitchen, Grandma Cheryl wastes away in front of the TV where we can listen to her ventilator, and 16-year-old Archer fidgets and stirs in bed, possibly having his own personal breakdown.

The audience can peek into any of these three different rooms at any moment, but there’s a story unfolding and it’s great to see where it leads. We had to shuffle through the corridor behind the walls to see inside each family member’s mind. They’re mostly trying to figure out what happened to their late daughter, but also… the cause of the noise behind their walls. Are those squeaks around us? Are we alone back here? And if we can see them through the cracks… can they see us?

With a great cast, sound effects, special effects, lights, and ambiance, Within Our Walls is a very creative, creepy story that’s told in a fun and original way. I had a great time, and even though later on I poked a couple of holes in the story, and thought of how the experience could be improved a bit more (Grandma’s ventilator could’ve definitely been lower, sometimes it was hard to hear every word), I would definitely recommend this experience to thriller and horror fans.

I’m happy that spooky season has started earlier this year, and with all the events and haunts happening in the month of October, it’s good to have horror-themed events and experiences like this on other days of the year. And after hearing about Sam’s previous haunt work and story-telling, I’m excited to see what he’ll have in store for us next.

Get your tickets to Within Our Walls at: http://withinourwalls.show
Now open Thursday through Sunday, until July 30th.

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