Editorials
Rolling to Die: 5 Horror Board Games Worth Your Time
Board games used to be something relegated almost exclusively to children. From Candyland or Monopoly, these games were (and are still) the epitome of “fun for the whole family.” Even so, back in the ole’ days, you could find the occasional cardboard box that promised those brave enough to investigate their contents a nightmarish gaming experience. I mean speaking of “nightmare,” anyone remember the game – Nightmare? A “VHS board game” that came with a cassette tape you followed along to while playing, all hosted by the sinister “Gatekeeper.” A bonafide nostalgia booster in itself and a major inspiration for the retro-tinged film Beyond the Gates. So, sure, the horror board game is certainly nothing new. It has, however, come a long way from the days of Nightmare. Here are five creeptastic games inspired by some of our favorite horror films, tv, and literature.
The Thing – Infection at Outpost 31
Perhaps the most high profile title on this list, Infection at Outpost 31, from Mondo and Project Raygun is like a way more complex version of Clue, only set within the world of John Carpenter’s The Thing. You and 3 to 7 of your best friends play as MacReady and a number of other characters from the classic flick (but seriously, who wouldn’t want to be MacReady?) in an attempt to escape the frozen arctic while evading the terror of “The Thing.” Ultimately, one among you is the alien creature in disguise and must do whatever it takes to sabotage the others’ mission. Just be careful not to get caught. Outpost can be a tad time consuming (like those old times spent playing marathon games of Monopoly that seemed like they would never end), but the gameplay is pretty addictive once you get the hang of it. Just be sure to play with people you trust. Much like the characters in the film, I’d hate for you to allow your deep seeded resentments to bubble up as the paranoia starts crawling under your skin. Just a thought.
Eldritch Horror
When it comes to “Lovecraftian” tales of the Ancient Ones and the cosmic fear of what lies just beyond your view, Eldritch Horror, fits the bill. You play as part of a co-op (up to 8 players) on a mission across the globe to gather clues in a race against time to stop an elder being from destroying the world at large. The “Ancient One” can vary depending on the cards drawn at the top of the game, and, yes, Cthulhu is an enemy option. Gameplay is constantly in flux based of the moves and decisions of the players. You’ll find yourself sucked in by Eldritch Horror’s ever expanding lore that unfolds with each passing turn. With over 300 cards and 250 tokens, the replay value on this little gem is high up there. Not to mention, there are currently enough expansion packs to fill all of Innsmouth.
Betrayal at House on the Hill
Taking inspiration from classics of the William Castle canon and a bevy of other cinematic and literary spook-tales, Betrayal at House on the Hill is a fun romp through a haunted house of your own making. Much like Darren Lynn Bousman’s recent Abattoir, you’re literally building the “House on the Hill” (AKA the game board) one room at a time with randomized tiles. It creates a fun layer of tension as you’re never sure just what the hell you’re walking into. Of course, one of the 3 – 6 players is likely a traitor and it’s up to the good guys to snuff them out. Betrayal has been the winner of a number of awards and with a playtime estimated at only about an hour, this is the perfect game to break out spontaneously towards the end of a quickly fading dinner party.
Mixtape Massacre
Mixtape Massacre is a love letter to all things 80s horror, and, perhaps, the most accessible game on this list for tabletop newbs. The board is a representation for the town of Tall Oaks, which happens to have a serious serial-slasher problem. You get to slip on the mask of your favorite screen villian (or at least a non-copywritten facsimile) from a little red headed doll, a pasty-bald white guy with a leather fetish, and even a gaunt girl in a tattered dress and long black hair that conceals her face. Players roll a regular die to move and an “action die” adorned with a fist, knife, and pentagram, each symbol dictating whether your set loose to slay victims or under attack yourself. Gameplay moves quick and is filled with fun nods to tons of horror classics.
Ferox: Invaders and Cannibals
Ferox: Invaders and Cannibals is perhaps not the most politically correct board game you will ever find, but it is inspired by the Italian cannibal cycle of the 70s/80s (Cannibal Holocaust, Cannibal Ferox), so what do you expect? Needing only two players, one player takes on the role of “cannibal” and the other the role of “invader.” The invaders are made up a film crew that has crash landed on an island lost to time. The cannibals immediately see this collection of film nerds as a threat. Both players go back and forth, picking each other off until there is one final champion.
Each of these games is a reminder that horror can be found no matter what the medium. Roll the die and roll to die! Which is your favorite?
Editorials
‘The Vampire Lestat’ Concert Event Launches New Season With The Ultimate Expression Of Fandom
There are thousands of passionate fans decked out in gothic chic and champing at the bit like feral creatures. They’re screaming for Lestat, a legendary vampire-turned-rock star, as if the entire crowd has been glamored into submission.
The entire experience is magic, but not because some supernatural thrall has been activated. What’s going on is even more special. It’s the power of the effusive fandom that’s been authentically assembled by AMC’s sublime Immortal Universe, namely Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, now, The Vampire Lestat.
The Vampire Lestat is far from the first Anne Rice adaptation, and it’s not as if there’s been a lack of erotic vampire material for audiences to sink their teeth into. On June 2nd, during a one-night-only spectacle, New York City’s prestigious Beacon Theatre shook from Sam Reid’s bravado performance and an audience full of adoring fans who had already memorized Lestat’s songs.
It’s clear that The Vampire Lestat just hits differently than its predecessors. It’s become more than just a TV series at this point, and this opulent display of ego, swagger, and pure sex is the perfect way to premiere the new season and give back to the fans who helped make Interview with the Vampire/The Vampire Lestat such a breakout success. It’s exactly the sort of hyperbolized hedonism that would make Lestat cackle.
For all intents and purposes, AMC has successfully created the illusion that this concert/premiere is just one of the many destinations on Lestat and his band’s 54-stop tour that is simultaneously playing out on this season of television. It’s such a sophisticated and thorough level of interactive fan engagement that the audience doesn’t just understand, but also manages to accentuate through its involvement.
It’s a level of seamless synergy that’s not unlike the give-and-take relationship of vampire and victim.
Before the concert started, “LeStans” were sitting in the Beacon and flipping through a fake Rolling Stone issue with Lestat emblazoned on the cover, complete with interviews with the undead frontman inside. Other fans were admiring the vinyl pressing of Lestat’s EP as they walked past a section of undead band merch. Fandom and fantasy blur together, and it all becomes this elaborate, immersive experience. Fan celebration, erotic gothic fantasy, and a lavish rock concert transform into one beautiful thing.
To this point, AMC Global Media’s Chief Content Officer and President of AMC Studios, Dan McDermott, introduced the event by reiterating to fans, “You are the heartbeat of the series.” That’s abundantly clear on nights like this as that heartbeat collectively pulses to this performance. In terms of how AMC engages with The Vampire Lestat’s fans, it’s as bold a reinvention as the season itself.
This intuitive gamble speaks to AMC’s creativity in this department and a fandom that is eager to seize such opportunities. It’s the same innovation that led to zombie walks for The Walking Dead and real-life Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant pop-ups from Breaking Bad. It’s a great way to pump up the audience for The Vampire Lestat and then maintain that enthusiasm for the whole season.
For most series, a rock ‘n’ roll concert just doesn’t make any sense as a promotional tool. The Vampire Lestat finds itself in a very unique position where it can deliver an excellent concert at an iconic theater, but also use it to showcase The Vampire Lestat’s music by Daniel Hart (who was shredding on stage alongside Reid and the rest of their band) and, more than anything, Sam Reid’s endless charisma.
The way in which Reid feeds off of the crowd’s energy, modulating his performance and giving different sections of the Beacon life, is a perfect distillation of the series’ thoughtful relationship with its audience and how it’s become such a breakout success for AMC. AMC Studios President Dan McDermott emphasized that the fans are the reason that the show is still here and why an event like this is even possible. It’s rare to see a series in which every single cog in the machine is so perfectly attuned to its fans. Reid’s fans already cheer whenever they see him, so why not translate that to a concert setting?
It’s clear in this season of television that Reid was born to be a rock star, but it’s surreal to see him effortlessly command the stage — and the audience — at every step of the concert. He recites Shakespeare monologues and bitches out Armand between songs, all while the audience screams in support. For the duration of this concert, Reid is Lestat, and he’s given thousands of fans a memory that’s as immortal as any vampire.
Now bring on the encore and get this show on the road!
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