The Blackout Experiments

The Blackout Experiments is a 2016 documentary that examines the immersive horror experience Blackout. The documentary is directed by Rich Fox and had its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.[1][2] It was released by Gravitas Ventures in July 2016 on Video on Demand, Cable on demand, DVD and Blu-Ray, and Starz Network.[3] The documentary received mixed reviews.

The Blackout Experiments
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRich Fox
Produced byKris Curry
CinematographyMichael J. Pepin
Edited byRich Fox
Music byJames Clements
Distributed byGravitas Ventures
Release date
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

The documentary looks at Blackout, an immersive horror experience in which participants willingly take part in a haunted house type event. The scares are tailored to their individual fears, which they relay to the event coordinators prior to fully entering the show. Acts performed on the participants will differ depending on the scares set up by the Blackout staff. Performers are allowed to touch participants, unlike most other fright attractions, and participants are given a safe word if they grow too uncomfortable or scared.[4]

In the documentary, Fox interviews several of Blackout's repeat customers in order to understand why they continue to return to the event. He captures their reactions to various frights, and for some, the news that they have attended too many Blackout events and are asked not to return.

Cast
  • Kristjan Thor
  • Russell Eaton
  • Bob Glouberman
  • Allison Fogarty
  • Hannah Kaplan
  • Omar Hanson
  • Jacob Odenberg
  • Stephen McCoy
  • Jessica Sowa
  • Gladys Santiago
  • Natalia Zamparini
  • Mike Fontaine
  • Anthony Rogers

Reception

Critical reception has been mostly negative. Film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 45% of critics gave the film a positive review, based on 11 reviews with an average score of 4/10.[5]

Variety gave The Blackout Experiments a favorable review, writing that it was "well assembled, particularly in the editorial department, and boasts an original score (commingled with the Blackout events’ own sound designs) whose creepy atmospherics and sonic jolts would work very well in a regular fictive horror film."[6] The Verge also praised the movie, as they felt that "it’s the subjects of The Blackout Experiments that make the film so compelling, as they struggle with their attraction to the experience, the fear and paranoia it instills in them, and eventually, reach a strange kind of peace and decide to leave it behind."[4] The Los Angeles Times also gave a positive review, stating it was "often chilling and hard to shake" and "should captivate horror fans."[7]

The Hollywood Reporter was more critical, criticizing it for being "neither scary nor shocking".[8] JoBlo.com was also critical, as they questioned the film's legitimacy and stated that "even if I’m wrong and somehow this is real, it’s still really boring."[9]

References
  1. "THE BLACKOUT EXPERIMENTS – World Premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival". HorrorNews.net. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  2. Bibbiani, William (2016-01-18). "The Most Anticipated Horror Movies at the Sundance Film Festival 2016". Blumhouse.com. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  3. McNary, Dave (14 April 2016). "Sundance Documentary 'Blackout Experiments' Bought by Gravitas for July Release". Variety. Variety.
  4. Bishop, Bryan (2016-01-28). "The Blackout Experiments takes you inside the most traumatic haunted house of all time". The Verge. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  5. "THE BLACKOUT EXPERIMENTS (2016)". RottenTomatoes.com. Retrieved 24 Nov 2016.
  6. Harvey, Dennis (2016-01-30). "Sundance Film Review: 'The Blackout Experiments'". Variety. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  7. Murray, Noel. "Horror documentary 'Blackout Experiments' pushes limits of experience". LA Times.
  8. "'The Blackout Experiments': Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  9. "The Blackout Experiments (Sundance Review)". JoBlo.com. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
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