Spoiler Alert: WE LOVE URBAN DEATH: TOUR OF TERROR. In fact, we have been fans of Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre and their particular brand of Horror ever since we caught our first glimpse of it. Why is it so special? Because they are 100% fearless in their pursuit to disturb and entertain. A hybrid haunted house and black box show, Urban Death: Tour of Terror is an intimate, ghastly journey into the dark that should not be missed.
The marquee above Zombie Joe’s seems innocent enough. A plain white, backlit sign with the initials Z.J.U. hover above an innocuous storefront on Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood. Situated between a dispensary and an H&R Block, Zombie Joe’s is actually a logical step between the two. Between horror and relief, there is art.
We approached the line outside the theatre and readied ourselves for the terrors within. What would we find in the inky darkness this time? The experience at Urban Death: Tour of Terror starts in a makeshift maze of plastic sheets just inside the door that empties into their 75-seat theatre. Once inside the black box, we are treated to roughly 25 minutes of staged atrocities and then asked to make our way back through the maze to get out. That’s the format.
The entrance to Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre, a portal to to dark.
The showtime arrives and we are divided into small groups of 2-3 people. At the door, we are handed a dim, almost useless flashlight, and we cross the threshold into the theatre. The door closes behind us and we frantically wave the dim light in our hands around to get a sense of where to go. An arrow on a far wall points us to the right and we begin the narrow trek to the theatre.
Along the way, we see all manner of grotesque acts and vignettes. Mercifully, we arrive at the theatre and find a seat. There are chairs and floor space available and we recommend the latter, front and center. Three psychiatric patients wander before us in various states of distress or amusement and interact with the crowd to a degree. Once the theatre is full the lights go down and the terror begins.
Urban Death: Tour of Terror 2023 is awesome. This is a prime example of the raw talent on the stage and the artistic prowess behind the scenes. As if to dare the audience, this particular iteration opens with a gnarly, perverted scene that dares the audience to stay. It’s fabulous and the following scenes continue the brutal tone while pairing the shocking moments with stunning artistry.
This is easily the freakiest haunt in Los Angeles and the most challenging. It is a 17+ experience that unapologetically pushes some boundaries. No, nobody can touch you, it’s not one of those haunts. Yet you will feel as if you spent time in the darkest corners of your mind. What’s worse, you will want to go back again and again.
Urban Death: Tour of Terror is the best bang for your buck in L.A.
Protip: GRAB YOUR TICKETS AHEAD OF TIME ONLINE for $22. Otherwise, tickets at the door are $27
