5 Horror Films That Were Scarier Behind the Scenes

We love giving you the creeps with the horror-themed escape rooms at Krakit Vancouver Escape Game, but sometimes, setting out to freak people out puts you in danger of being the one who gets the biggest scare of all.

That’s definitely something that the cast and crew of these five famous horror films learned the hard way.

1. The Exorcist (1973)

Inarguably one of the most successful horror films of all time, The Exorcist hasn’t just been terrifying audiences for decades—its cast and crew also received a good dose of fear. Several odd occurrences made filming a nightmare: rigging fell down, sets burnt to the ground, and star Linda Blair nearly broke her back from a prop malfunction. Then there’s the large number of people connected to the film who died or fell ill during its production. It was all convincing enough that a priest was brought in to bless the set.

2. The Omen (1976)

Where to begin with “The Omen Curse.” It shouldn’t be surprising that the crew of a film about the spawn of the devil was subjected to a little bit of terror, but they definitely got more than they bargained for.

Not only did lightning strike the plane carrying novelist/screenwriter David Seltzers, lightning also struck a plane carrying star Gregory Peck. On the first day of filming, crewmembers were in a head-on car crash. After that, Peck nearly boarded another plane to Israel, which crashed and killed all onboard. Director Richard Donner didn’t escape the curse either—he was both hit by a car and stayed in a hotel that was bombed by the IRA. Worst of all: this isn’t even a complete list of what happened to the poor crew of The Omen.

3. The Shining (1980)

The behind-the-scenes horror of The Shining comes in two forms: eerie coincidence and director Stanley Kubrick’s notorious antics. At the end of filming, a massive fire broke out at the hotel that stood in as the Overlook—which is exactly what happens at the end of Stephen King’s original novel.

But the more menacing onset horror might be Kubrick’s treatment of actress Shelley Duvall. He intentionally put her under insane stress, including making her and Jack Nicholson film the famous bat scene a record-breaking 127 times. He even asked the cast and crew to torment Duvall—and the shoot lasted a massive 500 days. Sounds like a fun time.

3. The Amityville Horror (2005)

The set of The Amityville Horror, starring Ryan Reynolds, perhaps offers a better example of how a film can get in your head than of supernatural events. Just like the psychopathic character he portrays in the film, George Lutz, Reynolds woke up precisely at 3:15 am. And it wasn’t just him—several members of the crew found their eyes popping open at this particular hour.

5. The Conjuring 1 and 2 (2013 and 2016)

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga must be braver than the average Hollywood star, because they filmed not one but two Conjuring films—with supernatural events occurring on both sets. The crew’s hotel caught on fire, a member of the real-life family that the film is based on broke a hip, and dogs started barking when no one was around. Creepiest of all, curtains moved when there was no wind, while trees stood still when there was. We’ll see if the stars come back for a third Conjuring, or if they’ve had enough.

Now we dare you to play one of Krakit’s three horror-themed escape rooms with the scary-factor turned all the way up to 11. Book here: http://bookeo.com/krakit.

What to Expect at Your First Escape Game

Fun!

This one’s pretty obvious, but it is the number one thing you can expect at your first escape room experience. At Krakit, we kick the fun factor up to its highest level with live actors, who take our horror-themed rooms from eerie to downright heart-racing. Or, you can have a more chill time in our non-horror-themed escape room, which rotates regularly.

Puzzles galore

Along with the experience of being immersed in a fantastical world, puzzles are the other main component of what escape games are all about. Logic puzzles, number puzzles, factoids that make you dig old information out of the dark recesses of your brain—all of these can appear somewhere during the course of play.

Each puzzle will lead to a key that together add up to your escape from the room!

Total recall

Much like all those detective shows we’re all totally obsessed with, escape games require you to not only solve puzzles, but to “read the room” in the truest sense.

In order to access the puzzles that will lead to your freedom, you need to first figure out where they’re hiding. This requires you and your teammates to assess the room, figure out what’s “off” (that is, a clue), put together different elements you see, and remember what’s happened earlier in the game.

Stress, but the good kind

With only 45 minutes on the clock, sniffing out all the clues, putting all the pieces together, and solving all the puzzles can make you feel like you’re in a pressure cooker. But trust us, this sort of countdown-to-doomsday scenario is one of the best things about escape rooms. Gets all your adrenaline pumping, that’s for sure!

To find out what your friends—and you—are made of

You and your teammates will need to work together if you have any hope of solving all the puzzles and cracking the room—leading to your freedom. Find out who’s the leader, who’s the numbers guy or gal, and who’s the one who keeps the calm.

Book your escape game experience with Krakit here: bookeo.com/krakit.

The 5 Greatest Things about Columbo

The Columbo statue in Budapest, Hungary (CC BY 3.0)

He looks like a bumbling and easy-to-fool man, but Lieutenant Columbo provides a great lesson in why looks can be deceiving. That’s especially true when it comes to solving mysteries—and something we see often at our Vancouver escape games. That is, it’s not always the most confident-seeming person who’s got the solve in the bag. Sometimes, it’s the unsuspecting person hiding in plain sight.

Columbo knows the value of being underestimated by the people you’re trying to win one over on. Those criminals just never seem to see it coming, do they?

It’s hard for us at Krakit Escape Game to choose just five of our favourite things about Columbo, but here we go.

5. The Columbo statue in Hungary

There he is, looking as confused as ever, staring at his beloved basset hound, Dog. He may be looking confused because there’s no rhyme or reason for there to be a life-sized bronze statue of Columbo on Budapest’s Falk Miksa Street. But there it is, and that’s what makes it so great.

4. Columbo’s cat-and-mouse games

The episode “Try and Catch Me” (season 7, episode 1) sees Columbo engaged in a game of cat and mouse with a successful author named Ruth Gordon. He actually forces the murderous writer to deliver her own gotcha moment, by making her read out all the clues left behind by her victim during a speech for her adoring fans. Zing. This is just one example of how Columbo swiftly gains the upper hand.

3. Peter Falk’s gravelly voice

OK, sure, we know this doesn’t actually add to his ability to outsmart all the criminal masterminds, crooked politicians, and arrogant art types he takes down. But for some reason it is so much more satisfying to hear Columbo’s epic “gotcha” speeches in his rough-and-tumble New York accent instead of a crisp British clip.

2. The memorable nemeses of Columbo

Columbo ran for 13 seasons, partially in the ‘70s and partially in the ‘90s. This has made for some varied and memorable recurring characters to pit Columbo against. But the age-old question remains: Who IS the ultimate Columbo nemesis—Jack Cassidy, Robert Culp, or Patrick McGoohan?

1. Columbo’s infuriating catchphrase

Columbo’s most famous move, in which he lets the criminal think they’ve gotten away with it all and then reels them back in with a final zinger, is basically what we’re waiting for at the end of every episode. “Oh, just one more thing …”



Do your best Peter Falk impression in one of Krakit’s four themed escape games. Book a room for you and up to 6 other people here.

Different Folks, Different Strokes: 4 Ways to Conquer Escape Games

One of the most beautiful things about escape rooms is that they’re not just for one kind of person. They’re not just for gamers or mystery fans or puzzle lovers. Everyone can find something they’re good at when it comes to the multifaceted activity that is the escape game.

Whether you’re a visual thinker or a list maker or a get-your-hands-dirty kind of a person, there’s some part of an escape game that you’ll really excel at. Trust us: it takes all sorts to help your team get the final solve in just 45 minutes.

Logical Types

Are numbers your thing? Does your brain work in really linear and strategic ways? Escape games often feature some sort of numerical code or logic game where your mathematical brain will come in very handy. Being able to systematically observe all the elements in a room certainly doesn’t hurt either.

Creative Types

Are you less than excited about numbers but really excel when there’s out-of-the-box thinking to be done? When it comes to solving an escape room, people who think creatively are great when it comes to riddles and trivia, as well as offering up new ideas to spark different trains of thought in their teammates.

Big-Picture-Thinker Types

You might miss the differently coloured flower in the painting you’re observing or totally fail to notice the zombie lurking in the corner, but that doesn’t matter—you’re great at figuring out how all these things go together. Leave it to your teammates to collect and present the evidence, and leave it you to come up with the answers.

Hands-on Types

Believe or not, many people fail to realize that they’re actually *in* an escape game, and treat it more like a mental exercise than a physical one. While there’s definitely some brain work going on, if you don’t move around and touch and examine every surface in the room, you’re not going to win. Simple as that.

Put together your ultimate escape game team and see if you can prevail in one of Krakit’s four themed rooms. Book now.

From Ostomachion to Escape Game: A History of the Puzzle

The Ostomachion Puzzle (Illustration: Rosario Van Tulpe (CC))

Escape games may be a pretty new phenomenon (the first one opened in 2007 in Japan), but coming up with puzzles to solve purely for the fun of it is an ancient human pastime. While it’s hard to know for certain what the very first puzzles were, there are some really old ones entered into the history books.

The world’s first mechanical game

This game from 2550–2250 BCE looks oddly familiar. Many a Christmas cracker and kid’s birthday goody-bag comes stuffed with one of these puzzles, which requires you to lead the ball from one end of the labyrinth to the other. This clay one looks just as hard as the plastic versions we have today.

The world’s first riddle

One of humankind’s oldest riddles unsurprisingly comes from Classical literature. In Sophocles’s play Oedipus Rex from 429 BCE, when Oedipus encounters the wily Sphinx, it asks him this riddle: "What goes on four feet in the morning, two feet at noon, and three feet in the evening?"

Oedipus answers correctly: “Man,” and is spared becoming the Sphinx’s dinner by his own quick thinking.

The world’s first puzzle

The famous mathematician Archimedes is behind this most ancient of puzzles: the Ostomachion Puzzle. Invented in 287–212 BCE, this puzzle has 14 geometric pieces that the player is required to arrange correctly in order to fit into a perfect square.

The world’s first crossword

The crossword is the new kid on the block, for sure. It was invented in 1913 by a journalist named Arthur Wayne, which makes it just over a century old. Crosswords are so commonplace now, it’s hard to imagine they were once an innovative pastime, just like escape rooms!

Take on a variety of puzzles and riddles when you play one of Krakit Vancouver Escape Games four themed escape rooms. Book now.

Zombies and Monsters and Serial Killers, Oh My: 7 of Canada’s Best Horror Flicks

Still from Tucker and Dale vs Evil

Although Canadians are known internationally for being “so nice and polite,” we’ve definitely got a dark side. That’s definitely something we explore at Krakit Escape Game, putting you right into the action of your favourite zombie flick or creature feature. We get a lot of our inspiration from the cinema, with a lot of horror classics come from our own backyard.

Here’s seven of our favourites.

1. Ginger Snaps (2000)

A modern horror staple, featuring two sisters whose lives get a little out of control when one of them is bitten by a werewolf. Director John Edwards hails from Edmonton, and its star, Katharine Isabelle, was born right here in Vancouver.

2. The Fly (1986)

National treasure David Cronenberg is behind this seriously creepy Jeff Goldblum vehicle, telling the nightmarish tale of a man-fly hybrid.

3. Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010)

Though set in Virginia and directed by a Californian, top-shelf comedy-horror flick Tucker and Dale nevertheless stars Tyler Labine (of Breaker High) and was produced with the help of some Canadian grants.

4. The Witch (2015)

Another Canadian co-production, the horror standout of 2015—Robert Eggers’s The Witch—was filmed entirely in Ontario, though set in 1630s New England, which apparently suffered an unfortunate outbreak of devil worshipping.

5. Black Christmas (1974)

This decidedly Canadian slasher film takes place in a sorority over Christmas—the perfect time for a serial killer to wreak havoc on unsuspecting co-eds.

6. American Mary (2012)

Vancouver’s own Twisted Twins, aka Jen and Sylvia Soska, brought in Ginger Snaps’s Katharine Isabelle to star in their gory tale of a medical student turned body modifier.

7. Pontypool (2008)

Pontypool has that rare quality of being a Canadian film that’s actually set in Canada—Pontypool, Ontario—which tells the story of a deadly virus infecting the small town.

Fancy staring in your own Canadian horror? Book one of Krakit’s horror-themed escape games and see whether you’re first victim or final girl material. <bookeo link>

Puzzling Logic: 9 Ways to Step-up Your Escape Room Game

A puzzle is something that needs to be solved, but that doesn’t have an obvious, predetermined set of steps you can take in order to solve it. This practically sounds like a puzzle in and of itself—which is why it’s a smart move to brush-up on your puzzle-solving skills before tackling your next escape game.

1. Remember the first two rules of puzzle solving. Written by puzzle experts Gianni Sarcone and Marie Waeber, they go: 1) Nothing is as difficult as it looks. 2) Nothing is as easy as it looks.

2. Do the straightforward tasks first. Is there a math problem to solve? A word to unjumble? A cultural reference to nail? Figure that out, and only then start thinking about how it fits into the grand scheme.

3. Remember the rules. Your escape game master will tell you the dos and don’ts of your escape game. Not paying attention to the introductory spiel can spell disaster for even the cleverest of clue solvers.

4. Jot down notes. With all that’s thrown at you with puzzles—especially when there’s multiple ones to deal with, like in an escape room—you need a good way to organize your thoughts. An old-school pen and paper set usually does the trick (especially since we take your smartphones away!).

5. Watch out for double entendres and puns. Humans are usually willing to take things at face value, so plays on words and visual puns can be hard to spot at first. But keep your eyes and ears peeled for anything with the potential for two or more meanings.

6. Keep an eye out for oddities. If something seems out of place, it almost certainly requires some sleuthing. In other words, what appears to be an intentional error might as well have giant neon arrows pointing at it that scream, “Scrutinize me!!”

7. See what’s hidden in plain sight. Sometimes something that seems entirely irrelevant or mundane is actually the key to it all.

8. Let it simmer. If you can’t figure it out but you know something is there (see point 5 above), give the task a rest and turn your attention to something else. Things often fall into place once your brain is given some breathing room—otherwise known as a “eureka moment.”

9. Use your hints. It’s not a “cheat” to use a hint—it’s part of the game!

Put your escape game skills to the test in one of Krakit’s four themed escape rooms. You can book your next sleuthing experience here: http://bookeo.com/krakit.                                                              

Real-Life Escape Games: 3 Daring Historical Escapes Made by Women

Mary, Queen of Scots in captivity

In the list of Great Escapes, you’ll notice a lack of women’s names. But that’s definitely not because women didn’t commit a whole lot of impressive escape feats. Handily, Krakit Vancouver Escape Game is here to fill that gap with this list of three of the most daring escape efforts made in history—all done by women.

1. Mary, Queen of Scots, escape: 1568

Mary, Queen of Scots did a lot of things most women didn’t do during the 16th century, like rule a country, get involved in a murderous love triangle, make enemies with Elizabeth I, and be taken political prisoner.

In 1568, after one year locked up in Lochleven Castle following a rebellion of Scottish nobles, she disguised herself as a laundress and tried to make her break by boat. Alas, she was recognized and turned back to her cell. However, that didn’t stop her from making a second escape, two months later, with the help of an orphan kid she befriended and a horse she stole from her captors. This time, she was successful.

Despite her penchant for daring escapes, Mary unfortunately would be no stranger to prisons throughout her life, ultimately being executed in 1587.

2. Harriet Tubman, escape: 1849

Harriet Tubman was born into a life of slavery in 19th-century Maryland. When her master died in 1849, instead of going to work at the neighbour’s house, Tubman took advantage of the disarray and made her escape to Philadelphia.

However, she didn’t stop there. She returned to her former home to help her family escape, along with dozens of other people. When the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was passed, she returned to her knack for arranging escapes, helping get people across the border and into British North America (now Canada) along the Underground Railroad.

Because Tubman was just an overall badass, when the Civil War came around, she joined up as an armed scout and spy.

3. Countess Andrée de Jongh, escape: 1941

An active member of the Belgian Resistance during WWII, Countess Andrée de Jongh made her escape from Belgium at the age of 21, crossing the Pyrenees Mountains on foot to reach Spain. Like Tubman, de Jongh really did not stop there. Instead, she organized the Comet Line, an escape network that helped captured Allied soldiers escape occupied France and Belgium and reach safety in British-owned Gibraltar. All in all, de Jongh made 30 double crossings, escorting 116 escapees.

Following the end of the war, de Jongh worked in leper colonies in several African nations, and was ennobled as a countess in 1985.

Plot your escape in one of Krakit’s four Vancouver escape rooms by booking here: http://bookeo.com/krakit.

Your Top Ten Creature Characters!

It’s that spooky time of year, when dimensions descend upon one another and the energies of heaven and hell collide into our physical realm. Some call it All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day Eve, Allhallowtide, or Allhalloween. Whatever you call the old Gaelic Harvest, it’s a perfect time to test your psychological terror threshold with a visit to Vancouver’s best escape room.

While ringing the church bells for the souls in purgatory, noticing the jack-o-laterns on guard to ward off evil spirits, or watching a flick before heading to Krakit, it’s a day to honour and recount the top ten movie creatures that go bump in the night, i.e. our worst fears manifested.

10. Tyrannosaurus Rex - The evil, dragon-like badass still holds his rein of terror on this list for one simple fact: the T. Rex is real (and, he’s been dancing since he was twelve).

9. Werewolf/Werecar - On the full moon, men and women having been bit or influenced by a werewolf, with wolf’s blood coursing through their veins, undergo and powerful transformation and rampage until dawn. Weres are endowed with the spirit of a superpowered, half-human, half-lycan; or, auto parts from various evil vehicles. The werecar? “Bender” from Futurama is a robot that changes into an evil, bloodlusty car with parts from the most sinister movie automobiles.

8. Jigsaw - Let’s face it, we’re here for a reason. Jigsaw is the nefarious serial killer who made all of this awesomeness at the Burnaby Escape Room possible.

7. Ghosts and Ghouls - Who is the most sinister? The ones from Ghostbusters, the Babadook, Thirteen Ghosts, The Ring, The Grudge, or Ghost Dad? My vote is an undead Bill Cosby—who knows what that is capable of!

6. Aliens/Predator - Especially HR Geiger’s Xenomorphic, hive-minded abomination who, in its singular form, is the a prized capture of the Predator—another dark, violent creature inside Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett movie mythos. See also: Independence Day and Mars Attacks.

5. Vampires - Sensual and violent, these date-rapey (see Bill Cosby, above) creatures roam the night, looking for human victims. Who did it best: Dracula, Lestat, or Blade? 

4. Gremlins - When you buy anything from a pop-up shop in Chinatown, you’re going to have issues. From mythical Mogwai to venomous gargoyle, these creatures will make you watch out for the wet spots for more reasons than a slip-and-fall danger.

3. Zombies - They started out slow, they moved into space, now they’ve evolved into fast moving, ever multiplying, brain-sucking scum. Watch out, they’re coming for you! Best movies: Event Horizon, Dawn of the Dead, and 28 Days Later.

2. The Undead - The difference between zombies and ghouls—versus simply ‘undead’—is clearly articulated in Pet Cometary. Please, bury your children responsibly. 

1. Party Monsters - These creatures are number one because they aren’t included on most lists. There’s nothing more terrifying than the real-life events experienced by characters from Requiem for a Dream and Trainspotting.

Halloween in Vancouver: Horror-Themed Escape Rooms—Zombie Apocalypse

Krakit Vancouver Escape Game—Zombie Apocalypse

Our four themed escape rooms at Krakit are fun to play at any time of year, but we have to say, we really shine at Halloween time. You may have noticed we have a little bit of a thing for the macabre, and the eerie ambience that October brings—the lengthening nights, the murmuring winds, the deep dark shadows, and, of course, the ghosts and ghouls and goblins—makes the creepy factor triple.

One of our longest running and most popular rooms is the Zombie Apocalypse Room—and for good reason. For fans of George A. Romero, 28 Days Later, and The Walking Dead, the Zombie Apocalypse escape game puts you in the middle of the end times: infection has taken over, the city is crawling with undead, and it’s up to you and your team to find the serum that will save the human race.

With only 45 minutes on the clock—and a live zombie or two to rattle your nerves—solving the puzzles of this escape game can be almost more pressure than a person can take. Luckily, you and your team are able to ask an expert for a few hints along the way, just when you need them most.

Crack all the clues and unclick the last lock, and you—and the rest of the human race—will live to see another day. If you don't … well, let’s just say, it’s in your best interest to try your very hardest.

Halloween time is for horror movie marathons, menacing costumes, candle-lit midnight parades, and getting yourself as good and scared as possible.

So, do yourself a favour and get your Halloween off to the right start with an immersive entertainment experience. Why not settle in for the premiere of The Walking Dead Season 7, next Sunday, October 23, and then head to Krakit Vancouver Escape Game’s Zombie Apocalypse Room for your own taste of the adrenaline rush that facing down a walker brings.

Or, better yet, book you and your friends in for a game on the night itself—All Hallow’s Eve—when the Krakit staff will be truly upping the ante.

Our horror-themed rooms feature live actors and haunted house experiences. Book here for a Halloween to remember, while spots last: http://bookeo.com/krakit

Under Pressure: Timed Escape Games and the Benefits of Stress

Out here on the West Coast of British Columbia, we like to think of ourselves as people who live a relaxed, go-with-the-flow lifestyle. But maybe sometimes we take things a little too easy.

As it turns out, a bit of stress can actually be a good thing. And in the controlled environment of a Vancouver escape game, it can be a fantastic thing.

There’s nothing to get those brain cogs turning like knowing a clock is quickly ticking down to your ultimate failure or success.

1. Healthy pressure makes us accomplish more

Although the phrase “I strive under pressure” sounds like something made up just to impress at job interviews, it’s actually true.

Quite simply, when we’re under the gun—like have 45 minutes on the clock and a mad doctor waiting to lobotomize us—we’re more likely to really, really, really try to accomplish the task at hand. In the case of escape games, pressure pushes us to make our way through all the puzzles and unlock the last lock that leads to freedom.

2. Low-level stress makes our brains work better

No, really. When you’re stressed (but not too stressed), your brain will pump out more chemicals called neurotrophins. These work to strengthen the connections between neurons in your brain, meaning you will start to sort out all of those escape game puzzles a lot faster.

Basically, what this means is that the time limit we place on you at Krait Vancouver Escape Game only really helps you to win. So, you’re welcome.

3. Dealing with pressure makes you more resilient

The more you put yourself in situations that are a little stressful, the better you will be able to cope with the next one.

So instead of that super calm, uber relaxing yoga retreat deep in the forest, perhaps the best way to deal with real-world pressure is to exercise your stress reflexes within the controlled (and fun!) stress of an escape game. Maybe even a weekly regimen is in order!

See how well you do under the gun at Krakit Vancouver Escape Game in our brand new Wonderland Room. Book here: http://bookeo.com/krakit.

3 Reasons Lewis Carroll Would’ve Loved Escape Games

Lewis Carroll, self-portrait, c. 1856

While he was born into the world as Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, history—and generations upon generations of children—knows him best as Lewis Carroll. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was released into the world in 1865, followed six years later by the sequel, Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There.

And ever since then, Wonderland and its cast of characters have been a part of our world.

This includes us at Krakit Vancouver Escape Game: we’ve found inspiration in the fascinating world Carroll created for our latest escape room: the Wonderland Room.

Not only does Alice’s journey down the rabbit hole and her bid for escape make a great escape room theme, but we have a sneaking suspicion Carroll would’ve been a master of escape himself, if he had lived to take part in the escape phenomenon.

1. He was a polymath

Though he’s best known for his two books about Alice and her Wonderland, Carroll was also a mathematician, a logician, a photographer, and a deacon. Phew! With a wide knowledge base like that, Carroll would have a good chance at answering any trivia question thrown at him.

2. He loved riddles

To make your way out of an escape room in the allotted time—at Krakit, you have 45 minutes—you’re going to encounter a riddle or two or three. Wonderland is positively riddled with riddles, and, as it turns out, Carroll is responsible for one of the most famous head scratchers around: “Why a raven is like a writing desk?”

3. He had serious imagination

The most important ingredient of an escape game whiz? Great imagination. While logic and linear thinking are great assets in an escape room, the ability to get creative and think way outside the box is what will inevitably get you the win.http://www.krakit.ca/

Fall down the rabbit hole and into our Wonderland Vancouver escape room by booking a spot for you and your pals here. (Costumes optional!)