Blackout (horror experience)
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Blackout, also known as Blackout Haunted House, is an immersive horror experience that was created by Josh Randall and Kristjan Thor in 2009.[1][2] The simulated haunted house aims to serve as the antithesis of the traditional haunted house.[3] Randall and Thor began collaborating on Blackout after expressing frustration that it was growing increasingly difficult to be scared.[4] The first Blackout event was held in New York City and the business expanded to Los Angeles.[4][5] Both Randall and Thor have stated that they view Blackout to be more "performance art than haunted house".[6]
Participants must sign a liability waiver prior to entering the experience, as Blackout performers are able to touch and physically interact with the participants, although participants may not touch performers.[7] The attraction's features will differ depending on the location and will change over time in order to avoid participants predicting what will occur.[6] At the start of each Blackout event a performer may ask participants about their worst fears, which they can then use to tailor the event to make the attraction more frightening.[5] Participants are sent into the event individually instead of in a group and they are also not allowed to speak while going through Blackout, although they are allowed to scream.[8]
Documentary
A documentary film entitled The Blackout Experiments was released in 2016. Critical reception for the documentary has been mostly mixed.[9][10][11][12] The documentary takes a look at the event and features interviews with several fans that will repeatedly attend Blackout events.[5] Randall and Thor limited their participation with the film, as they wanted the event to retain as much mystery as possible.[13][14]