Remember back in February 2024 when that unlicensedWilly Wonka"experience" in Glasgow brought Scottish children to tears and the internet to tears of laughter? Well, it seems horror fans have been treated to a similar entertainment rug pull withInsidious: The Further You Fear. The show, which was billed as a terrifying, a live immersive horror experience based on theInsidiousfilm franchise, has been canceled after just a few performances.
The show debuted on January 18th in Lafayette, Arkansas and immediately began to draw the ire of audiences that felt duped by the theatrical bait and switch. According to theshow’s website(which is still active), FYF is “a ground-breaking, spine-chilling live show” and “is not for those who are easily rattled. It’s created and designed to keep you on the edge of your seat. You, the audience, will play an integral character in the chilling story as it unravels live right before your eyes.” It also promises “Goosebump-inducing live show production elements will be on full display at Insidious: The Further You Fear including, but not limited to, cutting-edge special effects, strobe lights, fog, costumes, hair, makeup and more. (Much more!)”
However, fans of costumes, hair, and makeup expecting an immersive live theater experience have been left scratching their heads and airing their annoyance as the production quality and nature of the show did not live up to the description. The /horrorsubreddit is full of negative reactions to the production. One user said,“There were no jump scares, no interaction, and no real immersion. The production timing was off in at least three noticeable moments, and the production felt amateurish. It simply did not deliver on what was promised.“Another said,“This was my Fyre Fest.”
When Intellectual Property Goes Rogue
One of the major complaints among creative people in Hollywood is that studios won’t give ideas the time of day unless they are based on already known IP. Which is why we are awash in sequels, franchises, and frankly, diminishing returns. Certainly, the age of anyMarvel property printing money unconditionally has been and gone, but studios are still writing checks for IP-centered productions. It’s much easier to sell a half-baked concept that has connections to something successful than a fully-realized, original idea with no proven track record. And through the cracks slip things likeInsidious: The Further You Fear.
Blumhouse, the studio who produced theInsidiousfilms and is associated withFYF,didnot respond when reached for comment by WXYZ Detroitafter the final performance. And while thisInsidiousspinoff might have tanked, the original franchise it is based on are still favorites of the genre. The first threeInsidiousfilms are currently streaming on Peacock and Hulu whileInsidious: The Last Keyis only available to rent or purchase.Insidious: The Red Door, the latest installment in the franchise, is currently streaming on Netflix.
