[ WEEKEND ]

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DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM Enshrouded in fog, Wlusz plays out her role in the Shock House.

Ghoulish horror lurks

Gruesome creatures, dungeons and doom
are sure to scare you senseless

Pumpkin perfection

Spinning spell-binding tales

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By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com

After a three-year absence, Shock House returns from the proverbial grave with an advance preview tonight, giving Halloween celebrants an early start to being scared out of their wits.

The popular haunted house attraction (along with a junior version for the keiki) was introduced in 1999 at the Ala Moana Shopping Center. Approximately 10,000 people went through the Shock House and "it worked out very well back then," said producer Alan Arato from Tom Moffatt Productions, "and I planned to follow up with another one the next year, but instead I concentrated on doing the annual IZ Fests."

With 9/11 putting a damper on the reintroduction of the Shock House last year, "this year looked to be the perfect time to do it," Arato said, "since places like Sea Life Park aren't doing a haunted house this time around."

Concentrating just on a grownup version of Shock House at the Aloha Tower Marketplace, Arato promises, of course, More Thrills! and More Chills!! With the help of Rick McCall and his Act One Theater Design company. The haunted house "will be more intense" -- within reason.

While Arato hopes the experience of going through the Shock House will be scary enough to be fun, it's not the attraction's intention to traumatize or injure anyone. (The actors are instructed not to have physical contact with patrons.)

DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM Co-producer Rick McCall, right, works on Julie Wlusz's wig to prepare her as a witch.

"We'll time it out where escorted or unescorted groups of 10 to 15 people will go through the house," he said, "and if there are groups with children or especially nervous people in them, we'll give a heads-up to the actors to ease up a bit on frightening them. But I guarantee that you will get scared!"

Arato said the Shock House will be a very theatrical experience with quality set and lighting designs, as people will walk through such appealing-sounding areas as the "Toxic Waste Site," the "Gruesome Graveyard," the "Mad, Mad Doctor's Room," the "Dungeon of Doom" and (horrors!) the "Living Dead Lava Tube."

"People will be going through a tunnel designed like a lava tube (no crawling needed and, like the entire attraction, wheelchair-accessible), where both the dead and alive will meet each other." But be forewarned! -- that "person" beside or behind you may not be part of your group!! (Insert bloodcurdling scream.)

Arato said there'll be deadly and foul creatures both afoot and in the walls, all gruesomely costumed and made up for maximum fright, throughout the exhibit's 10 rooms.

"I personally can't go through it," he said, like a good carny. "I get more scared just thinking about it!"

And by the time you reach the house's exit, within easy walking distance back to the safe, outside world, just when you think it's over ...

Gulp! -- anyway, if you want to get scared for a good cause, this weekend's preview tickets can also be purchased in advance from the YMCA, the YWCA and the Hawaiian Humane Society for $5 apiece, all to help with the groups' fund-raising.

Shock House Where: Aloha Tower Marketplace, Mauka Lanai, second floor When: 6 p.m. to midnight today and tomorrow,  and again Oct. 24 to 30, and Oct. 31, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Admission: $6.50, with children 5 and under free Call: 593-8333 or 566-2337

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