SeaWorld Wants to Make You Horny
The Orlando theme park’s immersive Halloween experience now includes hot, brooding guys in an homage to romantasy antiheroes—and it’s leading to record-breaking ticket sales.
On September 11, SeaWorld Orlando kicked off its yearly Howl-O-Scream event, a Halloween-themed extravaganza that beckons visitors into a realm of spooky delights. Amidst the usual frights, like a haunted forest named 'Woodrot Hollow' and an I Know What You Did Last Summer-infused haunted house, lies a unique addition - 'Just One More Chapter,' inspired by BookTok's romantic fantasy craze.
Influencers who got an exclusive peek at the park showcased young men in black denim, painted faces, and loitering near walls, enticing attendees with roses. Instagram posts of the scare zone, with influencers around a giant book page emblazoned with "Good Girls Go for the Bad Boys," sparked mixed reactions online. A TikTok video from the zone gained traction, eliciting comments ranging from disapproval to admiring the "sexy feeling" it brought.
The creator, who wished to remain anonymous, admitted it wasn't scary but left them with a pleasant, tingling sensation. Jessie Kinsey, the art director behind the event, revealed the concept emerged after witnessing the viral success of dark romance bestsellers on TikTok. The 'Just One More Chapter' scare zone is set in a decaying Gothic cathedral, built by the wealthy Blackthorn family, amidst roses that thrive in destruction.
The romantasy genre, combining mythology and supernatural elements with explicit erotic scenes, has gained immense popularity, generating an estimated $610 million in 2024 alone. The male 'antiheroes' of the genre, characterized by their tortured, dangerous, and morally complex nature, are the focal point of the scare zone, embodied by the eight scare actors.
Kinsey emphasized that the zone's provocative nature, filled with psychological manipulation, violence, and nonconsensual themes, adds to its appeal in a horror context. Despite concerns about fans harassing scare actors, Kinsey assured that their safety is paramount, with extensive training provided and constant security presence.
Surprisingly, the viral buzz surrounding 'Just One More Chapter' has boosted ticket sales, making it the most successful Howl-O-Scream event in its six-year history.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
