The Hills are alive
Green lampposts light the narrow road to the meandering wood where to the Haunted Forest. From there, guests lose their way through winding trails where mass-murdering chainsaw psychos and nefarious swamp creatures lurk.
This scene is what creator Clint McKell pictures for the Sherwood Hills Haunted Forest, the resort’s autumn transformation that claims the theme “Nature has a dark side.” In his third year of designing the forest’s haunted layout, McKell and his new partner Cody Erekson refer to the forest setting as “40 acres of pure hell.”
This element, however, is what makes the Sherwood forest unique. As McKell explains, the awesome surrounding provides its own sense of natural eeriness, especially in the small details like the howl of nearby coyotes. The creators use the emptiness of this darkened wood as a canvas for the art of striking fear.
Such an art requires a lot of preparation however, since McKell and Erekson have been playing with axes and fake blood since August in order to forcefully guide people out of their comfort zones. Adding tunnels, bridges and new elements to the forest’s structure, they expect returning visitors to see a new twist to the forest this year.
With a cast of 30 to 40 disguised and disfigured “spooks,” the theme of nature’s dark side establishes a background and story for each character, allowing room for creativity in design. As an additional new element, this year’s cast of creatures is specifically comprised of people with acting backgrounds, chosen to act the role of mutant monsters.
For a fearful effect, the Haunted Forest relies on the dramatic skills of improvisation and creativity rather than the startling “boos” that surprise more than terrorize. McKell and Erekson encourage the cast to explore the boundaries of creativity while maintaining the role of their character and the way that fits into the forest as a whole.
Whether this means taunting crowds with a booming voice or sneaking up with a quiet stare, actors decide what will be most effective to their specific audience and especially enjoy catching the names of individuals for a personal fright.
“We want each individual to take home a different experience and to have to argue about what was the best part,” McKell said.
This direction leads cast members to push the boundaries of comfort with creepy-close proximity, even breathing down necks and growling menacingly without ever actually touching the people exploring the forest.
“The best is when they fall on the ground and scream or especially when the guys scream like a girl,” says Brett Christensen, chainsaw massacre participant of three years.
The cast refers to this reaction as a “dry-kill,” as compared to a “wet-kill,” where the guests admit to having “peed their pants.”
McKell would argue that fear of this quality doesn’t come from the typical haunted house. As self-proclaimed “Halloween geeks,” both McKell and Erekson consider the best part of the haunted forest to be the skits and stories that entertain beyond the “expected scare.”
In one such skit, Erekson plays the part of a guide walking with a group led only by the light of a lantern. The guide describes the legend of the blood moon and the howl of the distant wolves, when he is called away suddenly, abandoning the travelers to find their way back alone.
Even the props have a story such as “Herman,” a hanging corpse.
“He tried to sneak in last year. We don’t take too kindly to that here,” jokes McKell.
Along with Herman, masks have been nicknamed “Jay Leno” and “French-Kisser” in a comedic spin on their gruesome appearance. These details, though unknown to the audience, add to the fun-spirited atmosphere the haunted forest attempts to present in celebration of the season.
But perhaps what makes the forest’s annual transformation especially rewarding for the creators is the process of imagining and making images literally come to life.
“I wish I could go through it without knowing the magic behind it,” says Erekson.
With a few years experience in haunted houses, McKell explains that ideas come from past experience, horror films, collaboration with partners and expounding upon the limits of the mind. His own fascination with haunted houses has developed over the course of a few years, but may be linked to his first date to a haunted house with his wife, Theresa.
“It makes a great date and if you put out the money and your girlfriend doesn’t kiss you, then Cody will – guaranteed,” McKell said.
The Haunted Forest will be open every Friday and Saturday at dusk at the Sherwood Hills Resort. Tickets cost $8.50 per person, and $1-off coupons are available at the Web site NatureHasADarkSide.com. For more information, call 245-5054.
-cynthiadiane@cc.usu.edu