ESCAPE IT: CHAPTER TWO IS THE ULTIMATE IMMERSIVE DERRY EXPERIENCE
The city of Las Vegas shines bright amongst the vast desert landscape where it resides. Nestled within the bright lights and massive hotels amongst a score of slot machines and party music is the Town of Derry, ME. You may not know it, but Sin City has been housing horror legends who reside in carefully and meticulously crafted escape rooms. Much like Georgie you foolishly follow apparent danger in the hopes of retrieving something sacred only to find that you and a group of strangers may become the next victims of Pennywise the Clown. Whether your journey begins at the Jade of the Orient or underneath the sewers of Derry, your group's only goal is to get out of there as quickly as you can before Pennywise finds you.
If you’ve ever dreamed up a scenario like the one above or found yourself watching WARNER BROTHERS’ IT films and thinking “I could live through this” then make Las Vegas your next destination to ESCAPE IT! Having seen success with the first installment, the team behind ESCAPE IT: CHAPTER 1 has recently opened CHAPTER 2 and Macabre Daily was invited to preview the attraction before it opened up to the public!
Building upon previous escape room successes like ESCAPE SAW and ESCAPE BLAIR WITCH, EGAN ESCAPE PRODUCTIONS has carefully crafted an experience that is sure to delight fans of the films as well as those who just enjoy the challenge that these kinds of opportunities present. These are not just escape rooms with simple puzzles, however, these are fully articulated scenes ripped right out of the scenes of the blockbuster film. The attention to detail is something that the producers pride themselves on, as they worked directly with WARNER BROTHERS DISCOVERY to secure concept art, actual set props, and more to faithfully recreate every aspect of each room. This dedication to the film doesn’t stop with the details as those who dare to complete the escape room are also treated to a functioning carnival that houses a veritable museum of on-screen IT props and sets.
The rooms themselves offer two distinct experiences that are complimentary rather than redundant. Chapter Two was the newest entry that expands upon the first escape experience with brand new locales, totally different puzzles, and some really outstanding performances from cast members who are encouraging your success…or are they? Blending together the best parts of a haunted house with the novelty of an escape room is really the peanut butter and chocolate of the horror attraction world. The urgency of the escape room experience is heightened by the presence of Pennywise and all his tricks. From spooky soundscapes to stomach-churning smells each section of the experience is a feast for all your senses.
A prime example of this was when we, the group that we went through both rooms with (shout out to Tyler from Bloody Disgusting and AllHallowsGeek and AllHallowsWife for being such great partners!), were confronted with a puzzle that required us to find letters hidden in various locations, often with little visibility into where we were putting our appendages. In spite of us knowing full well we were in no physical danger, the experience was so immersive that we all hesitated with various aspects because of how invested in everything we were.
On the note of “immersion”. When speaking with Owner JASON EGAN he says that the word “immersive” is often misused. So many experiences that talk about how immersive they are don’t go as far as to consider how things should smell in certain areas or how to harmonize between what is germane to the material and what needs to be expanded to enhance the tactile experience. What sets ESCAPE IT apart from most attractions is that you can’t passively go through it and it begs for your participation. Sometimes that takes the form of planted actors whose goals are usually ominous, and often helpful. Their dedication to engaging you regardless of how you show up is a testament to the talent they have within. On more than one occasion the actors were able to rile our group up to great effect and help us really lean into the experience, which in turn made it all that much more fun.
ESCAPE IT: CHAPTER ONE and CHAPTER TWO bring together the best of movie-themed haunted houses and escape rooms into one unforgettable experience. If you don’t want to gamble with your money, maybe try putting your wits on the line and see if have what it takes to be in the “losers club”.
Escape IT: Chapter One and Chapter Two is open NOW! Check the website for detailed information, reservations, and directions!
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