Readers beware, you’re in for a scare! It’s pre-Halloween season, and so many events are gearing up with the most terrifying frights. We all know Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Singapore, so if you’re looking to change it up a little this year, stay tuned as we explore the only underground horror event in Singapore.
Underground: The Summoning is a theatrical horror experience that takes place at the historical Battlebox. Weaving in the atmosphere of impending doom from the final days before the Japanese forces invaded in World War 2, Underground: The Summoning drags visitors into a world of supernatural consequences.
Composed of 2 main aspects: the storyline and the ambience, let’s deep dive into Underground: The Summoning and find out just how scary it is!
Storyline
Underground: The Summoning pulls you back in time to 1942, right before the Japanese forces invaded. Cornered and desperate, the British troops turn to a dark force for help: Bellum, the embodiment of war. However, this leads to unforeseen circumstances when everyone is slaughtered by the daemon and his minions. Now it’s up to you to put a stop to him.
As your group of 8 to 9 step into the bunker, all you hear are screams in the distance. Inch down the stairs, and eventually, you’ll be greeted by the soldier – well, his spirit – as he explains the mayhem that has run rampant in the bunker. Here, you are tasked to find 8 cards – the key to defeating Bellum and his minions.
Traverse the bunker and keep a lookout for cards scattered throughout the bunker. With demons hidden in every corner, be careful not to fall prey to them. Twists and turns lay ahead, so stay wary as you traipse through this nightmarish labyrinth. At the end of it all, your cards are collected so be sure to get all of them! As for the full storyline of how your journey unfolds? Well, dear reader, you’ll have to find out yourself. No spoilers here!
The set-up of the experience is fairly straightforward; the background of World War 2 already creates an atmosphere of tension and apprehension. The concept of using the cards as a way to progress through was also interesting, setting apart the experience from the usual walkthrough horror houses with limited interaction with the story.
While this was not an escape room, the way the cards were obtained was too easy in my opinion. While a couple were hidden, some were left in very obvious places or given to us by the scare actors which reduced the immersive experience. To me, it would be more engaging if we had to solve a riddle or puzzle for some of the cards.
But all things considered, the set-up of the story world and why everything was happening was pretty believable, even though the storyline kind of faded into the background after a while. There was an interesting twist at the end as well, despite there not being much of a build-up to it.
Ambience
Let’s first look at the space in which Underground: The Summoning is held. If you find the Battlebox mildly disturbing in the day, I can assure you… it is much worse at night. Even without entering the bunker, the entrance exudes an unsettling eeriness. The doors are camouflaged by the foliage surrounding them, revealed only by the dim green of the exit sign and the faint lighting of the streetlights. Waiting out there in anticipation might be scarier than the entire experience itself.
Cold sweat builds on your palms and your body turns jittery with nervous energy. The screams echoing from inside the bunker certainly do not help as your imagination conjures up things far more terrifying than what is in store. The team behind Underground: The Summoning definitely outdid themselves in building the anticipation for this event.
Cavernous rooms and dark, dank corridors; the Battlebox is rife with history. The lack of windows and the pockets of space in the bunker whisks you away to some alternate reality steeped in uncertainty and war. Adding a horror element to it all magnifies the anxiety as you creep through the area.
As the doors swing open, a set of stairs descend down into the darkness as an eerie cold hangs in the air, a drastic difference from the humidity outside. Wander into the first room, and you are given your task as well as a beam of hope: follow the light and you will escape.
As you move through the bunker, watch where you step. A hellish light paints the rooms red as bodies and parts lay strewn about, evidence of the catastrophe that has befallen the troops. Keep your eyes peeled as you round the corners – after all, the beings here will not hesitate to lunge out.
Each room comes with its own challenges. Dead ends, demonic entities and impossible choices lay in wait as unsuspecting victims like you dare to venture in. This is not an experience for the faint of heart.
Unfortunately, there is no way to showcase and describe everything without spoiling the experience while also doing it justice. However, I assure you that the ambience is perfect for a horror experience. Due to its underground nature, the journey instils a different kind of horror: claustrophobia.
Compared to the usual horror houses, the idea of being 20 feet below the surface and trapped with these demonic creatures sends a different kind of fear prickling under your skin. With no windows and narrow corridors, I found goosebumps dotting my skin as the group was forced into a single file.
Beyond just the space, the actors did a great job as well. Despite the harsh flashes of light and thick masks, they delivered scares worthy of a Hollywood horror film. With the addition of theatrical performances, the interaction with the audience definitely terrified the group. After all, there’s nothing more terrifying than something scrabbling at you on the floor. Major kudos to the scare actors!
The Verdict
I’m not one to be easily scared; however, this experience definitely had me flinching multiple times. Ironically, the part that was most chilling to me was not the scare actors but rather the environment. While I do not have claustrophobia, the dark and next-to-non-existent lighting made the entire space seem much smaller than it was, creating a sense of the walls closing in. Funnily enough, the existing wax figurines were what made me uncomfortable as well, even going as far as scaring some of those in my group.
Unfortunately, one part that disrupted the immersion was the group sizes. Personally, I found that having a group of 8 to 9 experiencing it together is one too many. We shared the group with strangers and when so many people were talking and yelling at once, it made it hard to focus on the storyline and what was happening in front of me.
While I did not find it too scary, I appreciate the amount of work that went into making Underground: The Summoning as unique as possible. If you’re looking for a decent threshold to start diving into the adrenaline rush of haunted houses, this is absolutely the place to start. While not extremely terrifying, this theatrical horror experience will pull screams out of anyone experiencing it.
Underground: The Summoning
Guaranteed to leave you screaming for more, Underground: The Summoning will send you back in time with a demonic twist. Get ready to be directly involved in this horror experience as you wander through a historical venue tainted by supernatural forces.
Be warned though, it’s best to come in a group of 8 to 9 to avoid being grouped with people you don’t know. So grab your friend group and head down! Check out their website for the full details!
🗓️Date: Select nights from 25 September – 3 November
📍Location: 2 Cox Terrace, Battlebox, Singapore 179622
💲Price: From S$53 onwards (excluding booking fees)
⏰Time: Timeslots from 6:30pm onwards
Photos by Pauline Caoile of the DANAMIC Team.
