I hate horror, so much that I even wrote an entire blog post about how terrified and uncomfortable I was playing Buckshot Roulette. So when I read the general plot of Night Trap (a slasher-inspired video game), I knew it would be a mistake to go to the live playing of it. Ultimately, I went because I wanted to get into the Halloween spirit and I’d already invited my two film-geek friends.
Night Trap, for those who have not played, is a live-action 1992 interactive movie centered around teenage girls having a sleepover at a friend’s house, but unbeknownst to the girls, the house is home to a family of vampires. The player takes the role of a mystery special ops like person aimed at taking down the vampires via a series of traps spread throughout the house. Despite the plot, nothing could have prepared me for how hilarious my Night Trap experience was.
One of the key mechanics is flipping between cameras in the house. Each room in the house hosts narrative moments, sequences of half-vampires infiltrating the house, or oftentimes, an empty, quiet lack of events. Since a player needs to flip through rooms’ cameras quickly to make sure they are not missing any trapping opportunities, there are some abrupt changes. In one room, vampires may be plotting evil deeds, but in the other, the teenage girls are doing karaoke of the Night Trap theme song. This transition hits harder, because one is used to seeing heavily curated live action film with precisely timed transitions between scenes. By giving the player control of scene shifts, sudden mood and audio changes are expected but also contrary to live-action preconceptions, resulting in a humorous outcome.
Videogames are most frequently digitally animations, so many events that might have appeared more natural in a cartoon seemed outrageous and corny in live-action. For example, there are slow creeping and hunched over bad guys and Scooby-Doo-like traps. Not to mention, cheesy and dramatic dialogue, like when the vampire cousin explained that he didn’t kill the teenage girl, because he reminded her of someone he knew long ago but that he could never be with (trust it was so funny in the moment, and even funnier when it replayed after we failed the game once).
While there are many funny moments, what made the experience most enjoyable was the crowd. Though it is a single-player game many people felt involved as there’s an contagious joy as we heckled characters and cheered when players succeeded. There’s also an added layer of absurdity and humor knowing beforehand that this video game had Senate hearings for its violence. Perhaps popular conceptions of horror and humor have evolved, because Night Trap felt like a game for laughs with friends chiding at the ridiculousness of slasher films with its cheesy moments and player involvement. Night Trap genuinely felt so in line with Gen Z absurdity humor, that it makes me feel more connected to the older generations who played it when it came out.
Because of the low graphic violence (nobody was actually killed on screen) and the communal environment, I had a great experience and would recommend Night Trap if you have a group of friends willing to play.
I agree completely! The rise of streaming and the pandemic have led to the decline of many movie theaters, which is tragic because people often don’t realize how much fun it is to watch or experience something with a crowd. I love it when the crowd has audible reactions and everyone is laughing, clapping, or crying together. Playing games with friends online is fun, but playing with everyone in person is even better.
I agree with your point about playing (or seeing?) ‘Night Trap’ with a crowd. It hits the sweet spot of “so bad it’s good,” and that is only heightened by the controversies surrounding it at the time of its release considering how cheesy it comes across as now. I knew a lot about the game already going in, so I was prepared for some of the funny moments (is Howard Lincoln aware of the Switch port?), but I had no idea about the theme song, so everyone joining in together was so much fun. It was a really great event and, as you said, perfectly demonstrated the value of a crowd in experiencing media.
I’d love to play Night Trap together with some friends after reading your take on this experience. I have mixed feelings about any horror related media: I’m scared to play horror games or watch horror films, but at the same time, I’m always intrigued by the plot. The audience’s ability to control scene transitions and funny moments in the plot all sound very interesting to me, so I would definitely look into this live-action game if I have the chance (I’m also glad to know nobody is actually killed on screen in Night Trap because I don’t enjoy violent and gory scenes.)
I really enjoyed your post, especially your initial aversion to horror games but how you had such a positive (and fun) experience with Night Trap. I think your reaction perfectly illustrates the importance of the environment when playing games. If someone were playing Night Trap alone at home, the slightly awkward animations and weird rhythm might just feel outdated and boring, but playing it with a group of people is a completely different experience. The gasps and casual laughter almost transformed it into a different kind of game.