Main image via Twitter + msn.com
In a world of social distancing, mankind has had to adapt to new norms in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19. In order to adapt, many sectors have come up with new inventive and innovative ideas to ensure that social distancing is maintained.
And by every sector, we mean every sector.
Introducing, the drive-in haunted house!
Image via Twitter
Just like you, we love scaring ourselves silly but unfortunately, with the ongoing pandemic, there’s a lot of safety concerns in entering a haunted house.
A haunted house in Japan however has come up with innovative solution to this problem so that both guests and staff are safe and maintain social distancing measures.
Kowagarasetai, a Tokyo based haunted house design company, decided to introduce their own drive-in haunted house where guests can scream as loudly as they want as terrifying ghosts and creatures approach them, all from the comfort and safety of their car!
Image via msn.com
The drive-in haunted house’s producer Kenta Iwana told AFP that this new format could be scarier than the traditional haunted house.
"At the drive-in haunted house, guests are confined in a car so they can't escape the horror until the end," he said. "It makes it even more scary for them."
As the company struggled with cancellations during the coronavirus outbreak, Iwana came up with the drive-in idea to also give potential guests some peace of mind when visiting.
"It's because a haunted house creates an environment with three Cs," he said, referring to the conditions Japanese experts warn risk spreading the virus: closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings.
"Orders for conventional-style haunted houses were cancelled one after another and we lost about 80 per cent of our clients,” he noted.
Image via Mothership
The Kowagarasetai - meaning “A squad wanting to scare”; team first tried to create COVID-19 compatible performances by having their team members wear masks painted with fake blood and have recorded screams playing throughout. Unfortunately, this idea fell through as many events were cancelled.
"We've even had Halloween events scheduled in October and November cancelled," said Ayaka Imaide, 34, head of the squad.
Iwana then thought about a drive-in format instead for the haunted house.
Image via Theme park University
Groups of up to four people per car will be able to drive into a haunted garage and have “dead people” attack the car for an estimated 20 minutes.
According to the website, each car is disinfected after coming out of the haunter house and all scary “hauntings” take place outside the car so guests won’t have to be so worried about catching an infection.
To add more effect, each car’s radio is connected to a soundtrack that plays a scary story that the company claims to be real.
Kota Hanegawa, who plays a blood-soaked killer, noted that there are a few positives from this new drive-thru format, especially with audience feedback.
"I can get very close to guests even though they're behind the windscreens," Kota said. "It's interesting to see their reactions so close up, while keeping social distance."
Tickets for the drive-in experience at a Tokyo garage next month has already sold out, predictably.
Image via The Jakarta Post
This is definitely an innovative idea and we’d definitely be open to going to a drive-in haunted house!
Would you go to this new format of haunted houses? Who would you take? Share this with them!
Info via The Star + Hindustan Times