Movie poster of “Escape from Tomorrow”
Courtesy of MoviePosterDB.com
Walt Disney World is a magical place where dreams come true — or is it?
Since its initial release on Oct. 11, Randy Moore’s controversial horror film “Escape from Tomorrow” threatens to destroy every existing perception that the all-powerful “House of Mouse” has created in our minds.
“It looks like hell disguised itself as Disney World,” horror film-enthusiast Haven Nutt said. “It’s the perfect plan if you really think about it. I’m excited to see this movie, especially since it’s really the first of its kind.”
Shot guerilla-style at Disneyland and Disney World, without permission from the Walt Disney Co., this psychological fantasy flick will have your mind reeling. It features a family of four who are about to enjoy their last day of vacation at “the happiest place on earth.” But when the father, Jim, gets a phone call from his boss and is fired from his job, things begin to go terribly wrong.
His demented son, nagging wife and innocent daughter each play a role in Jim’s miserably intensified Disney experience as they make their way through the Magic Kingdom. The “It’s a Small World” ride kicks off his bizarre hallucinations as the smiling, doll-like faces turn into twisted, evil grins. From Jim’s borderline obsession with two young Parisian girls to finding that the turkey legs are really made from emu meat, this father begins to feel as though he is trapped inside of a well-disguised conspiracy controlled by pure evil.
The director also emphasizes negative characteristics of the parks that any Disney World visitor could relate to — long lines, crying children, the bad hygiene that is inevitable at such an enormous public place, an excessive amount of overweight individuals on motorized carts and obnoxiously happy employees.
According to senior Ryan Smyres, the film’s play on these aspects was his favorite part.
“If you’ve been to Disney World, then you’ve seen those parents who do everything they can to keep their kids happy, whether it’s buying them a ton of sweets or standing in lines for hours,” he said. “I thought it was funny how the director emphasized the irony of that through a horror movie.”
The crew of the black and white indie film went to great lengths to capture the footage it needed, doing so with only two handheld cameras and theme park passes for the entire team. They spent five months actually filming and ended up riding each ride shown in the movie multiple times in order to get the necessary angles and shots — all under the nose of the single largest revenue-generating company in the world. The Walt Disney Co. has still declined to comment on “Escape from Tomorrow.”
The film wraps up when the family park-hops over to Epcot to see the firework show they’ve heard so much about. But things go awry quickly, leading the viewer through unexpected twists and turns that are sure to shock any audience.
The film is ready for rent on iTunes even as you read this paragraph. But be warned: You may not want to know what goes on inside Epcot’s iconic, white globe.
-Natalie Wood
nataliejunewood@gmail.com
