Believe us when we tell you that the It Chapter Two: The Vaults Experienceimmersive event at London’s Waterloo Station terrified us!
Underneath the Waterloo Station, 11,000-square-foot of sets inspired by the author Stephen King’s classic novel can be explored by those brave enough to go down there.
We did - and here’s what happened.
Having pretty much seen every horror film ever made, I went to the It Chapter Two: The Vaults Experiencewith every bit of confidence that I wouldn’t scream once, but as the rest of the crew can attest to, this was not the case.
I screamed like a baby.
As you may already know, It Chapter Twois hitting cinema screens on September 6th and everyone is desperate to watch it, including me.
The sequel is a follow-up to It Chapter Onereleased in 2017, which tells the story of several children who are terrorized by a nefarious clown known as Pennywise.
The film was one of the top grossing horror films of that year, grossing £575 million worldwide. Clearly, this creepyclown has a big fan base. Fortunately for us, we were able to get a first look at what might go in It Chapter Two, and, well, I hope you’ve booked your tickets because judging off this experience it’s cranking the horror up to eleven.
The free immersive experience is based at The Vaults in Waterloo, London.
It runs through the underground network of tunnels and rooms, which have all been transformed to resemble aspects of the new film.
As we walked in, we were met with a carnival style scene with various stall games, and, most disturbingly of all, a giant clown’s mouth we had to walk through.
However, before entering the fun house Pennywise (and to the other Derry-themed rooms), we had to win the privilege to do so by either hooking a duck or popping a balloon with a water gun.
These clowns don’t just invite any ol’ person in, you know.
Dozens of small and medium-sized yellow rubber ducks on a stall and other stuffed toys hanging on the wall Although I don’t know how worthy I was to enter as it took me at least five minutes before I could get the hook anywhere near a duck, never mind actually hooking the damn thing.
Either way, I still gained access (eventually).
After winning this “privilege,” we were encouraged to enter the clown’s mouth (and told that there was a safe-word if things got too much), where things went pitch black in an instant.
I was beginning to regret my decision…
The open mouth of Pennywise as Fun House entrance, with a steel walkway and a hand signal inside pointing left The event was designed to give ticket holders the chance to follow in the footsteps of the Losers Club through disused tunnels and walkways.
There were nine themed areas, which all relate to the dark and terrifying things in Derry (where the film is set), including a replica of the abandoned house where Pennywise lives and the sewers where he stalks his victims.
Which I guess in this instance was us.
A replica of the house of Pennywise, with four teen’s bicycles parked outside at the Fun House in London Recognize this place? Well, we got to go inside…
If that doesn’t sound horrifying enough, the experience then re-creates iconic scenes with strobe lighting, flashing images, and headphones.
At one point, we were asked to go through one of three doors marked:
- “Very Scary”
- “Scary”
- “Not Very Scary”
Naturally, I picked the “Very Scary” door before entering a room of mirrors, where Pennywise jumped out to scare the hell out of us.
We were then taken on a sewer tour, which seemed mad because Pennywise loves to dwell down there, where an actor guided us around the labyrinth of pitch-black sewers.
As our torches failed and a terrifying sense of dread loomed with ominous music, our old friend Pennywise edged closer and closer to the tunnels before we ran for our lives, screaming at the top of our voices. This was without doubt the scariest moment. I literally jumped out of my skin!
As I was wearing headphones and listening to the most atmospheric music in the dark, I almost had to remind myself that I was a journalist rather than someone in the actual film.
Thankfully, that was the end of it.
Dozens of white balloons with strings attached to the ground in a red-lit room at Pennywise Fun House in London I’m going to be honest: the immersive experience was one of the most terrifying things I have ever endured.
I mean, once you’ve won the entry ticket, there is really no going back.
You’re entering the house of Pennywise!
It Chapter Two: The Vaults Experienceis a free, ticketed event open to the public from August 31 to September 4.
It Chapter Twowill be released in the U.K. cinemas on September 6.
Two huge hanging creepy bowling pin-shaped things inside a dark room with black and blue holographic floor A word of advice, though: Stick closely with your group, a lot of people are said to go missing in Derry…
Nevertheless, the whole immersive experience did whet my appetite for the new film and now I can’t wait to see it.
Eeeek! I am so excited!
If It Chapter Two: The Vaults Experienceimmersive event at London’s Waterloo Station terrified us, it will do the same thing to you!