The glare of the empty page. Again and again, it’s like staring into the sun. When I turn away, I drown in shame, in defeat. Why do I put myself through all of this? Why do I do this to myself?
It all starts with a typewriter. Darkness all around, the pages scattered. And just like every night before this one, I sit there, the turmoil inside me growing, waves of anxiety washing over me. Why am I putting myself through this? I should get up. I should get up, go to bed, finally get some sleep. It’s been so long since I had a proper rest. Why am I doing this to myself? I should really get some sleep.
Praeceps was the very first show of brand new Austrian immersive horror collective Horizon Horror, operating around Vienna. They emerged some time around April 2022, and soon had their first outing to announce. Of course, with a new company, there’s always a little bit of trepidation, with no references or reviews out there. No familiar faces. No expectations of how far they would take things. Next to that, they remained remarkably tight-lipped about the concept or idea behind Praeceps, and with nothing more than the show’s name and a handful of very cryptic verses in the waiver to go on, it definitely was a bit of a leap into the dark. Just the way we like it.
So, there I was, an alleyway on the outskirts of a small town, some thirty minutes outside of Vienna. Night had fallen, I was soaked in fake blood, a bizarre, white substance was rubbed all over my face, my shirt hanging in tatters around my body. And, importantly, there was a big grin on my face. Over the last half hour or so, I was guided through a mindscape that would be very familiar to anyone who has ever embarked on a creative project – the uncertainty, the doubts, the anxiety, the sleepless nights, the what-ifs and the whys. All these feelings, manifesting as physical terrors, unrelenting, and always coming back. But, maybe surprisingly, the show also featured a softer side, actually providing an answer to some of these doubts and questions in a touching and meaningful way. It all culminated in a surreal, beautiful bit of body horror – the moment had me looking on in awe, an image that will stick with me for a long time.
Now, Horizon may not have reinvented immersive horror just yet, with the extreme tactics nicely following along the what-to-do-in-an-extreme-haunt checklist – but as a first show, this was very promising. Praeceps could perhaps have been just a little bit longer, and here and there some very minor quirks betrayed that this was a group that’s only at the start of its journey. However, it was a really great first taste of what they are capable of. They managed to bring very real and relatable feelings in a dark, oppressive setting, with the actions in the show serving a purpose and supporting the concept. The show flowed very nicely, easily building up the tension and keeping a nice pace and variation between more violent and more theatrical moments. They showed an understanding of symbolic storytelling and, essentially, of how far they wanted to go in terms of aggression – with the hands-on moments feeling intense, but well rehearsed and in control. In talking to Horizon afterwards, it also became clear that no less than three members of their crew cancelled or didn’t show up on the day, so the fact that they pulled this show together without it feeling like something was missing absolutely has to be commended. Another thing I was impressed by is the use of practical effects and a number of handmade disguises and props. These really brought personality and an own identity to Horizon that I suspect will only expand as they continue to grow. Chances are that an updated and polished run of Praeceps is already in the works for an unspecified time in the near future, so we would definitely recommend you to keep an eye on their socials if you’d like to explore what Horizon has to show.
In conclusion, we were absolutely thrilled to be able to experience this first experience by Horizon. We thoroughly enjoyed the show, and cannot wait to see what is next for them.
For more information, check out the Instagram page of Horizon Horror.
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