Creep LA: Lore

Just Fix It Productions -- the minds behind "Creep LA" and "The Willows" -- have teamed up with Amazon Studios to help promote Amazon's new limited series "Lore" based on the popular podcast by Aaron Mahnke. "Lore" is based on actual myths and legends from yesterday and today that involve all sorts of preternatural occurrences such as possessed dolls, werewolves, changelings, and more.

The "Creep LA: Lore" experience takes visitors into the stories that the series will explore but without giving too much away. As small groups wander the halls of Magic Box LA, they are led through dark and smoky corridors, into gnarled forests, through old gypsy dwellings, and into an insane asylum.

Different than most haunted experiences, the characters, freaks, ghouls, and more of "Lore" will touch you and get uncomfortably close. I actually thought I might have a date by the end of my experience as the crazy guy in the asylum seemed to take a shine to me. (Call me.)

For the claustrophobic (me) there are a few small rooms that force you to get comfy with your group, and one of our own ended up in a coffin. But it's mostly harmless fun with each turn of a hallway revealing something new and curious.

Additionally, every participant gets a slightly different experience as many times individual visitors are taken away by the actors to become a part of the story. I was the target of a lobotomy recipient's nightly duties and as mentioned earlier, I garnered the attention of a (rather attractive) mental patient who told me he wouldn't mind if I got comfortable in his bed. I obliged.

Truth be told, "Lore" is far from frightening. It's more fascinating than anything else. When the bald, statuesque woman greeted us at the beginning of the experience, my immediate thought was "Gosh, she's stunning!" And she was!

Alas, visitors are not allowed to talk throughout the experiences, which does cause some discomfort. You want to react. You want to respond. But you aren't allowed to, so most of the time you just end up giggling and smiling. Which isn't a bad thing.

The actors involved were all excellent. Not only were they focused and committed, but they made you believe in their characters. It was like watching a TV show or movie inhabited by accomplished character actors giving it their all. That was probably the most impressive thing about the event.

To be fair, there were some missed opportunities. Some sequences could have utilized clever special effects to enhance and wow the visitors. Other sections could have stood to have an end to the story they were presenting. Sometimes we weren't even sure what we were watching.

There was a section about a possessed doll that ended with a scantily clad girl doing a sexy dance on the floor in front of the thing. Soon enough she ushered us out of the room, befuddling us as to what we had just watched. This did happen a lot, where we were privy to snippets of ideas and characters and then sent away.

At an hour long, you do feel like you've been through an experience. However, the $65 is a bit much when experiences like the "LA Haunted Hayride" cost less and have more to do. "Creep LA: Lore" has just begun, so it's possible it will change and morph as it continues and they get feedback.

That's not to say the experience of "Lore" isn't enjoyable because it is. But like the best stories, it needs a beginning, middle, and end in order to be fulfilling. Here we get a taste and a tease of the Lore and then it's all over. I guess that's what will make us tune in to the actual show.

"Creep LA: Lore" runs through November 12 at the Magic Box, 1933 S. Broadway Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. For tickets or information, visit www.creepLA.com. "Lore" the series debuts on Amazon Prime October 13th.

This story is part of our special report: "10 Days of Halloween". Want to read more? Here's the full list.