The fear of being buried alive and trapped in a coffin – or taphophobia – and haunted writer Edgar Allan Poe’s characters in his short story ‘The Premature Burial’ are the inspiration behind what is believed to be the world’s smallest escape room – a mortuary-themed experience, which is most definitely not suitable for claustrophobics.
Spanish company Horror Box, based in Barcelona have developed the live-action puzzle game named ‘Catalepsy’, a reference to a nervous medical condition characterised by muscular rigidity and a trancelike state.
Those brave enough to tackle the escape room lay down in tiny tombs alongside their game partner and communicate via loudspeakers. They have just 30 minutes to free themselves by solving various puzzles, whilst gamemaster Aurora Alvarion monitors them on CCTV.
Aurora describes escape rooms as “a gym for the mind” and this particular one was to recreate “a situation that sooner or later we’ll all experience: your own funeral”.
Miriam Castella, a 22-year-old actress and her partner, dancer Carlos Granedo were selected by the company to demonstrate the game. Miriam said she felt “a little bit scared” after the coffin’s lid was closed and Carlos described the experience as “unique”, having taken part in more than 15 escape rooms previously.
Players can customise various aspects of the game – including the type of coffin they are sealed in. They can even be ‘cremated’ in a blaze of virtual flames and artificial smoke, as well as choose the music to be played throughout their ‘funeral’.
It may seem morbid to want to ‘play’ with the idea of death for fun, but according to experts, it’s just human nature!
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