Chapter 214
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: The Escape Theme Park
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“Hello. This is Film Critic.”
Film Critic greeted the camera.
-Film Critic, hi!
-An IRL stream after so long!
“Yes. It's been a while since I've done an outdoor broadcast. There's usually no reason to stream outside when I'm reviewing movies.”
-The *Over the Rainbow* one was totally impulsive, haha.
-That was a Lee Seojun movie, and this is a Lee Seojun movie too.
-In a car? Are you on your way to *Escape*?
“Yes. I'm on my way to the *Escape* theme park right now. Has everyone seen *Escape*?”
-Yeah, it was awesome.
-Saw it on opening day.
-I've seen it 5 times!
Film Critic laughed at the comments about seeing the movie multiple times.
“I've seen it 8 times myself. Thankfully, I saw it on the first day, so I didn't get any spoilers. How about you all?”
-Saw it opening day, of course!!
-Second day!
Comments flooded in from people who had been spoiled and those who hadn't.
-I heard Evan Block and Richel Hill were in it and thought it was a joke. I didn't even realize it was a spoiler when I heard it, lol. I only found out after watching the movie.
-22 Same here. It was unbelievable.
-I saw Evan Block and Richel Hill's SNS and was like, oh, are they new actors? They're both hilarious, lol.
-I also heard Evan Block and Richel Hill were in it. I had to believe it, since it's Lee Seojun's connections. But…
“But?”
One comment drew the attention of both Film Critic and the viewers.
-Someone said Davis Garrett and Swalin Anum were in it too!
-…What?
-Hahaha, you believed that?
-I did. It's Lee Seojun we're talking about. When I first saw the movie and Evan and Richel appeared, I thought Davis Garrett and Swalin Anum would show up too, so I waited the entire movie.
“They didn't.”
-T_T I was really looking forward to it T_T
-Lol.
-But I never imagined those two would actually be in it.
“Me neither. The first time I saw it, I just thought they did a great job casting similar-looking actors.”
-I think I know why Plus+ did a simultaneous international release.
-Other countries are going crazy too, lol.
-Went to see a Korean movie and Hollywood actors showed up, lol.
-Still, I doubt they were as surprised as Koreans were.
-Now that it's all out, I hope they share some stories from filming ㅎㅎ
-I hope the actors go on variety shows soon!!
“Evan Block and Richel Hill’s appearance was a huge surprise, but there was a scene that made us completely forget about that, wasn't there?”
-From that point on…
-Shakes head.
-That’s the second time I’ve seen a scene with such a heavy atmosphere without even showing a face.
“I checked the ending credits, and he was listed as ‘Zombie Beyond the Door’.”
-Seojun!
-It was Lee Seojun!
-It could only be Lee Seojun!
“Yes. It was actor Lee Seojun. After his powerful performance in *Yeok*, he showed us what a real zombie looks like in *Escape*.”
-So much to see, it was great.
-Surprising, sad, scary, and moving. It did it all, haha.
“Ah. We've arrived. This is the filming set for *Escape*. The *Escape* theme park.”
Film Critic got out of the car and panned his phone camera around. He avoided areas with other people, turning the camera towards the least crowded spots.
“The parking lot is spacious. It's reservation-based, so it seems they can accommodate everyone who arrives on time. There are spots for buses too.”
-Is today the grand opening?
“Yes. Today is the first day. Shall we go in now? I'll do my review of *Escape* while we look around the set.”
Film Critic started walking.
After confirming his reservation and passing through the entrance, another entrance came into view. It was the entrance to O.W.C. Hospital.
The entrance to O.W.C. Hospital was blocked by crumpled cars scattered about. In the middle, there was a path for people to walk through. It wasn't a straight path, but a winding one that seemed to be made entirely of cars.
The car at the very front was Im Jangwoo's. The sedan it had blocked was covered in bloodstains on the windshield. Film Critic and the viewers marveled as he filmed it.
“Wow. They recreated it perfectly. It looks like they brought the actual cars.”
-The cars look identical, don't they?
-Im Jangwoo was amazing.
“According to the pamphlet, they’re not the real cars, but models. Wow. The way the other cars are dented, and the bloodstains… It’s incredible. It feels like a zombie could pop out at any moment.”
-This looks fun!!
-I love this kind of stuff!
“Then let's keep going.”
Film Critic made his way through the winding path of cars. The other visitors today also seemed excited by the realistic appearance of the set.
“The *Escape* theme park building is similar to the hospital in the movie. It’s C-shaped, with sections named Center, East Wing, and Main Building. The difference is that unlike the tall hospital building, the Center is three stories, and the East Wing and Main Building are two stories. The laboratory set is in the Main Building, they say.”
-Oh. So the rest was CG?
-Probably. It would be hard to build or find a real hospital that tall.
“The pamphlet says to go in the order of Center, East Wing, and Main Building. That would probably be the easiest way to get around. So, let's head into the Center first. First up is the emergency center.”
The first thing to see, the emergency center, showed the惨状 of the zombie outbreak.
Bloodstained ceilings and walls. Messy beds and broken objects, a single shoe left behind, and a pair of glasses with cracked lenses. And there were models of the security guard who fled the lab and the doctor he bit.
-Wow.
-The zombie models look so real.
The yellow police line, set up to prevent tourists from entering the set that perfectly recreated a scene from the movie, added a sense of reality for the visitors.
“Next is the lobby. When you think of the lobby, you can't forget the story of Go Joowon's friends.”
-Yeah, they were great actors.
-I've never seen a real zombie, but I feel like that's exactly how they'd move.
-Wasn't that just because the director focused on them?
-The director probably focused on them because they were good actors.
“They were really good. They were the most zombie-like zombies after the ‘Zombie Beyond the Door.’ Of course, in terms of bizarre movements, the bone-breaking dance team was also incredible, but the zombies that remain most memorable were the ones played by the child actors.”
Film Critic aimed the camera lens toward the lobby. The lobby was just as chaotic as the emergency center. In the middle stood zombies in school uniforms. Film Critic marveled at the zombies, seemingly frozen in place beyond the yellow police line.
“It looks like they could start moving at any second. It says they're models made in collaboration with the Hollywood special effects makeup team, Mirror Team.”
-Ooh. Scary.
-They really look like they're about to move.
-But even if Go Joowon had run over right away, I don't think he could have saved his friends. So it wasn't his fault, right?
“That’s true, but people's hearts aren't always rational. He probably just keeps thinking it's his fault.”
Film Critic looked around and spotted a place.
“This is where Go Joowon watched his friends. I guess it was difficult to set up a police line here, so they didn't make a model. That's a shame. He must have shot the arrow from here to that vending machine over there.”
Everyone burst into laughter at the sight of Film Critic awkwardly striking a pose.
“Ahem. Let's head up to the second floor.”
After looking around the second floor, Film Critic went up to the third. The third-floor hallway of the Center had puddles of water here and there.
“This… seems to be water from the sprinklers. Oh. There's an arrow here too.”
-Ooh. There are burn marks too.
-It's completely black!!
-I want to go too!
Film Critic looked at the arrow, then glanced out the wide-open window. The rooftop of the Main Building across the way was decorated like a garden. There was an opening in one spot of the wooden fence surrounding it.
Film Critic's face lit up as he looked at the rooftop garden.
“Go Joowon's model was over there!”
-Joowon!!
-Ooh!! Let's go see it!
“Let's look around everywhere else first and go there last. Next is the East Wing.”
In the East Wing were the shelter Go Joowon made, a Bluetooth speaker hanging on the wall, and a model of the bed that blocked the space between the 6th and 7th floors in the movie. Here, it was blocking the space between the 2nd and 3rd floors of the East Wing.
Film Critic stared blankly up at the wall of beds, which felt higher than he'd expected.
“...Seeing it in person makes it feel even more hopeless.”
-Those bastards!!
-I get that they were scared, but they should have let the living people in!
Walking down the second-floor hallway of the East Wing to get to the Main Building, Film Critic glanced out the window. There stood the couple, Im Jangwoo, and a zombie with an arrow in its left eye, looking as if it was about to collapse.
“Im Jangwoo's model is over there. Wow. This is the second floor, and it's still far from here, isn't it? To shoot an arrow from the third floor and hit that spot, actor Lee Seojun's archery skills must be no joke.”
-A. Ma. Zing.
-But wasn't it edited?
-Right. Wasn't it just clever editing?
“No. I heard this from an insider, but actor Lee Seojun shot it himself from the third floor to that spot. They said the arrow stuck there and the model are the exact ones used during filming.”
-Ooh! That's amazing!
-Film Critic's insider connections are no joke.
-222 This is why I only watch Film Critic's reviews, haha.
“Hahahaha. I hope you'll continue to watch.”
After looking all around the East Wing, Film Critic headed to the Main Building.
“This is the hospital room where the third-generation chaebol, played by actor Park Dohun, was. There's a model of actor Park Dohun, too.”
The model lying on the bed had a deeply furrowed brow, as if listening intently. The model's expression made both Film Critic and the viewers shudder as they recalled that moment.
-Park Dohun did a great job too. I was 200% invested in his character.
-222 I never knew not being able to move your body could be so terrifying.
-It's a shame Lee Jiseok's part was so short.
-Isn't it about time Lee Jiseok did something without Lee Seojun??
-Hahaha.
“I know, right? It was the first time I'd ever felt so suffocated in a movie theater seat. I think I know what it feels like to have nowhere to run and be completely unable to move. I don't think I've ever relied so solely on my hearing as I did in that moment.”
-222 I thought the beeping was my own heartbeat ;;;
-I wanted to turn off the machine, but I never thought it would be turned off like that.
-Rest in peace, third-gen chaebol.
“Next is…”
The *Escape* theme park was small, but there was a lot to see, as every single spot seemed to be a perfect recreation of the movie.
Not a single prop or location could be passed by. Film Critic meticulously examined every trace left on the ceilings and walls, every dropped cell phone, every steel pipe prop.
-…You could make a guidebook out of this.
-Was there a scene like that? Why don't I remember it even when you mention it?
-That's Film Critic for you, lol.
The theme park also had areas that weren't part of the set.
“This is the special effects makeup room for *Escape*. They say this is where all those zombies were born.”
The special effects makeup room, break rooms, and other spaces used by the staff and actors during filming were also recreated with models. While looking around the rooms, Film Critic's eyes sparkled as he pointed to one side.
“This is the lead actors' waiting room. The room used by actor Lee Seojun, actor Kim Jongho, and actor Lee Dajin!”
-Ooh. That's cool, haha.
-I'd love to visit that place.
“There are pictures of the actors here too! And the scripts… ah, the pages are blank. You can take pictures here! Oh. The long padded coats!! The writing that actor Evan Block and actor Richel Hill wrote themselves! Uh… they say you can try them on!”
Long padded coats, tailored to the sizes of the three actors, [Lee Seojun], [Lee Dajin], and [Kim Jongho], were hanging on the wall. At the staff member's words, Film Critic's face lit up as he put on Kim Jongho's coat and took a picture, making sure the writing was visible.
-We can't see your face, lol.
-Just turn your head. Just your head! We can see the writing clearly!
-I want to take a picture too!!
-I saw this on a secondhand market site. There was an article about it too. I don't know who bought it, but what a score!
-The person who sold it got what they deserved. The price is a world of difference from what it is now.
“To think actor Richel Hill is learning Korean too. For some reason, I feel so proud.”
Film Critic, who had been snapping photos nonstop, smiled with a genuinely proud expression.
“Shall we head up to the rooftop garden now?”
-Yes! Let's go see Go Joowon's model!
-Yes!! Joowon!
Just as he was about to leave the laboratory and head up to the roof, something caught Film Critic's eye. A theme park staff member was standing at the end of the hallway. Behind the staff member, a wall seemed to be blocking the passage.
“It looks like there’s something back there, doesn't it? Should we go check it out?”
-??? Yes!
-Is there a room we haven't seen?
Film Critic walked toward the staff member. The staff member standing in front greeted him with a smile.
“Can we look around here?”
“Yes, you can. Have you seen *Escape*?”
“? Yes.”
-He's seen it 8 times!
-He's going to see it again tomorrow!
The staff member gave a meaningful smile.
“This is a space where you can experience being a zombie, but if you get scared, you can come right out.”
“?”
-What's this?
-What's going on?
-Why are they being like this? It's creepy??
With a bewildered look, Film Critic nodded and entered the door with his camera.
Inside the door, it was similar to the other places. A dead-end hallway and a single door. Under the bright lights, the camera lens and Film Critic's eyes scanned the room.
A faint layer of sand was spread beneath Film Critic's feet. *Crunch, crunch.* It was a texture Film Critic couldn't feel.
[(Innate/Crafted) Desert Butterfly's Memory Mirage - Intermediate is activating.]
Unaware of this fact, the eyes of Film Critic and his viewers widened.
“This is…”
-The laboratory!
-The O.W.C. laboratory!
The viewers who had seen the movie multiple times recognized the place immediately. The different-toned hallway and ceiling compared to the hospital walls. And the crumpled steel… door?
“…Holy crap?”
-Run!
-Film Critic. Run!
-Aaaah! This is what the zombie experience is!?
A wave of comments telling him to run flooded the chat. Those who had seen it multiple times and those who had only seen it once all realized where this was.
Film Critic, his face pale, shouted.
“This is cheating!”
-Shut up and run, lol.
-Keep your mouth shut, lol.
-They wouldn't have a real zombie come out, right?
-Probably not. Please keep streaming, lol.
Most of the comments were teasing him.
But Film Critic was in no state to read the comments. He realized the air had grown heavy, making it difficult to breathe. The atmosphere felt different from before. Sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell. The sensations he had felt 8 times before washed over him.
The hair on Film Critic's head stood on end.
Just then.
A sound was heard.
*Thud!*
“Heek!”
-Ah!
-Aaaaaah!
-Aaaaaaaah!
Startled by the sudden noise, Film Critic collapsed to the floor.
The camera, having fallen to the floor, tilted to the side. Through the monitor, the crumpled steel door looked like it was lying on its side. Except for the orientation, the door was unchanged from before, but the viewers and Film Critic flinched.
The sound had definitely come from beyond the door.
Oblivious to the fact that he had even dropped his camera, Film Critic's eyes grew as wide as they could.
The Zombie Beyond the Door. He had felt this same pressure when the ‘Zombie Beyond the Door’ appeared in *Escape*. Cold sweat trickled down his back.
-Am I the only one who heard that?
-No, I heard it too.
-Oh my god.
-The camera! Pick up the camera!
After a moment of just darting his eyes around to assess the situation, Film Critic awkwardly tried to get up, placing a hand on the floor.
Just then.
*Thud!*
*Thud-thud-thud-thud!!*
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Terrified, Film Critic pressed himself against the wall. The camera, kicked by his foot, spun around to show him. Seeing his panicked expression, the comments went wild.
-Aaaaaah!
-Aren't the speakers a little too good!!
-T_T They must just be playing the movie audio, but T_T why is it so scary even through the screen T_T
-T_T Why is even the filming set so scary?
Film Critic swallowed hard.
Ten seconds that felt like ten hours passed. Fortunately, the experience was shorter than the movie.
After being frozen for a few seconds, Film Critic felt the air lighten and cautiously pushed his stiff body up. He then picked up the fallen camera and held it properly.
-Film Critic. Are you okay?
-The zombie experience is so scary…!
“Uh… Yes. I'm fine. It was shorter than the movie, so it wasn't that scary.”
-…You were just screaming a second ago.
-Lol, and you dropped the camera.
-Bluffing Critic (Bluffing Film Critic), lol.
Film Critic gave an embarrassed laugh at the teasing comments.
Ugh. His spine was still tingling, but the chat was full of viewers watching the live stream. This was definitely going to be an embarrassing moment he'd never live down. Film Critic shed an invisible tear.
“Shall we move on to the next part?”
-You're not going in?
-The door's open!
-Let's go in! I was curious since it wasn't shown in the movie!
He could see the creaking door open, but Film Critic, who had been deliberately looking away, finally threw in the towel.
“…Please save me.”
The chat window was flooded with "lol."
***
The day before the *Escape* theme park opened.
Seojun and An Daho, who had toured the theme park with the other actors a few days prior, visited again. The staff, who were putting the finishing touches on for the next day's opening, whispered amongst themselves as they saw Seojun.
“Seojun. Where do you think you dropped the photo?”
“I think it was in the zombie experience area.”
“Really?”
Watching An Daho go to call a staff member to open the door to the zombie experience, Seojun apologized in his heart, vowing to do better in the future.
‘I'm sorry, Daho Hyung!’
But the zombie experience had just been too disappointing. Jongho Samchon, Jiseok Hyung, Dohun Hyung, and Dajin Nuna, who had all tried it with him, had seemed vaguely let down.
‘There’s no visual, only sound. It’s only about 40% of the movie.’
CEO Lee Hansol thought that was enough, but for the actors who had seen Seojun's performance firsthand, it was simply not satisfying. Seojun felt the same way. So, he decided to borrow the power of his ability.
Seojun and An Daho followed the staff member to the zombie experience area.
The crumpled steel door swung wide open. An Daho and Seojun carefully searched the messy, blood-spattered laboratory. Or rather, only An Daho searched.
Pretending to look around, Seojun headed toward the crumpled steel door. He then placed both hands on it. A sand-colored butterfly pattern was engraved on the steel door. A pattern that only Seojun could see.
[(Innate/Crafted) Desert Butterfly's Memory Mirage - Low-Intermediate is activating.]
[(Innate/Crafted) Desert Butterfly's Memory Mirage - Low-Intermediate]
Within range, materializes the target's memories for 10 seconds upon viewing the object (steel door).
The senses experienced at that time (sight, touch, smell, hearing, taste) will be felt.
Caution: All effects disappear upon leaving the range.
‘The range is the zombie experience area.’
Invisible sand flowed from the butterfly pattern and settled on the floor of the zombie experience area. Now, anyone who stepped on this sand and looked at the steel door would feel something similar to what they felt when they watched the movie.
Finally satisfied, Seojun smiled.
“Found it! Seojun. Here.”
“Thank you so much, Daho Hyung.”
As An Daho handed him the family photo, Seojun gave a bright smile filled with gratitude and apology.
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