What would summer be without the chance to wine and dine outdoors, catch a flick with some friends, and wander around dark, unknown, spaces with paint smeared all over your face? Thanks to a unique collaboration between Fangoria and Arena Cinelounge, Camp Fangoria was the ultimate summer hot spot for horror and immersive theater fans alike.
This past Sunday, I geared up to be feared up at Camp Fangoria: a 10-hour outdoor summer movie experience, filled with films, frights, and fun. As I arrived to the beautiful campsite (the rooftop of the Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood), I was greeted by camp counselor Camilla, who was all smiles and warm welcomes. I immediately felt at my home-away-from-home, as every camper should.
I then made my way through the arch of tangled limbs and bloody artifacts with my camp buddy, Cat, only to emerge upon a horror-fan’s paradise. Hundreds of luxury lawn chairs filled with eager campers sat before a large, projected screening of THE BURNING.
Campers were able to watch the film distraction-free, thanks to the integration of Talent surround sound, multi-channel wireless headsets (which I later discovered ALONE also used in their immersive experience). But campers were not tied down like tents to only watch movies for 10 hours, as Camp Fangoria also brought in exclusive merch, an Umami Burger stand and cash bar, photo-booth, “Friday the 13th: The Game” Nintendo Switch gaming tournaments, and premium giveaways from horror companies like Fright Rags, Vinegar Syndrome, Diabolik DVD, Arrow Video, Lakeshore Records, Gun Media, & more. What more could a camper ask for, a masked murderer with a machete out for blood? Come on, we can’t be selfish, now.
As a lover of all things immersive, however, the ALONE: SIMULACRUM experience might have been my favorite event of the evening. For an extra fee, campers were guided through the dark on a existential journey through the theater itself. Audience members had the chance to explore what felt like the entirety of the theater, from backstage crawl spaces, to a front-and-center onstage debut, all while indulging in the artful expression that is unique only to ALONE EXPERIENCE. The experience only lasted 30 minutes, but in that time I was invited to explore my own identity, self-projection, oppression, and achievement. I met characters who indulged in these ideas with me, and others who wrapped me in armless hugs and duct tape. In true ALONE fashion, the experience always kept me on my toes.
“It was a mind-bending experience,” said Camper Dylan Little. “I loved how they used the theater space to make you think about how movies shape your identity.”
Overall, Camp Fangoria was a summer smash, and I can only hope that I will be invited to camp along next year. Keep an eye out for more announcements!
