In the sleepy town of Homestead, a bizarre incident made headlines last weekend. It was a typical evening when a witch - yes, you read that correctly - mysteriously fell onto a unsuspecting homestead. Residents of the town were going about their usual activities, unaware of the imminent chaos that would soon ensue. The night was calm, the air filled with the familiar scent of autumn approaching. Yet, little did the townfolk know, a witch named Esmeralda was soaring above in her cackling glory. Esmeralda, an infamous witch known for her mischievous nature, was well-known in the realm of supernatural beings.
The Curse at Alton Manor is the park’s most immersive dark ride to date.
As she speaks the line it s time to play , a sinister silhouette on the wall behind her grows exponentially, as the vehicle speeds towards and then quickly away from the scene. Moving between scenes, the ride contains notably longer sections of pitch-darkness which, combined with the new soundtrack serve to give the attraction a more intimidating atmosphere.
Esmeralda, an infamous witch known for her mischievous nature, was well-known in the realm of supernatural beings. She possessed an uncanny ability to stir up trouble wherever she went. On this fated night, she had decided to take her broomstick for a wild joyride, seeking thrills in the moonlit sky.
The Curse at Alton Manor
The project looked at redeveloping the attraction’s old ‘Duel’ haunted house ride into a new story and experience using modern techniques. MMM's creative team conjured up a brand-new storyline, taking inspiration from a character in the queue line of the original 1992 version of the attraction 'Haunted House'. Framestore, led by Creative Director Gavin Fox, were then tasked with developing the ride story narrative into tangible scenes and special effects.
Framestore worked with Merlin’s MMM to provide the additional creative concept which included: set designs, ride narrative, storyboarding, lighting concepts, music concepts, animatronic placements, special effect concepts, illusion design, facade design, concept art and projection effect concepts.
The original ‘Haunted House’ opened at Alton Towers in 1992, featuring a bespoke ride system. In 2003 it was revamped as “Duel - The Haunted House Strikes Back” with the addition of an interactive laser gun game and a more fashionable zombie theme. After 20 years the ride was once again closed for 6 months to be almost completely redesigned as the now award-winning ‘The Curse at Alton Manor’, removing the laser guns in favour of a chilling narrative driven through a Victorian themed haunted house with a whole new storyline, set design and special effects.
The Storyline
The new storyline centres around a young girl named Emily Alton, who lived with her cruel parents in the opulent Alton Manor. In 1892, her parents hosted a lavish New Year’s Eve party in the grand hall, but as usual Emily was banished to her small playroom in the attic with only her cherished dolls house to amuse her. On the stroke of midnight Emily cursed the house, causing the party guests to instantly perish, as Emily and her parents mysteriously disappeared. Today, the house is up for sale and guests are invited inside for a viewing of the dilapidated property. The spirit of Emily joins them on their tour, revealing what happened on that night in 1892. After trying to play some creepy games with the guests she grows angry and shrinks them down to be dolls in her doll house for a terrifying and surreal finale. Weaving through giant demonic toys inside the doll house they eventually confront a huge screaming Emily reaching down from the ceiling.
This story has been carefully crafted to create something uniquely tied to Alton Towers, creating a compelling character in Emily that can carry the attraction’s brand who features heavily in marketing and merchandise.
Within the ride, every scene was reworked with most completely replaced. New lighting and sound design were updated throughout, and many new special effects were added such as projection mapping, media embedded pepper’s ghosts, directional audio, an infinity corridor effect, and a unique mirror illusion (the first of its kind in Europe) that makes the guests appear to disappear and turn into Emily.
The building facade, external queue area, surrounding land area, gift shop and F&B offering were all redesigned to reflect the new storyline and theme including a new musical score.
The ride opened to a tremendous reaction, from lifelong fans of the park through to new guests.
Gavin said: “I grew up with the haunted house at Alton Towers, so this was an amazing opportunity to really deep dive into its inner workings and then be given complete freedom to re-imagine the narrative and complete experience. Waiting for the guest reactions as it opened was completely nerve racking, but as they emerged glowing with praise (and some even in tears of joy), I could not have been prouder, it was a real passion project”.
Show credits- Client Merlin Magic Making from Merlin Entertainments
- Creative Lead, MMM John Burton
- Creative Director, MMM Carl Hackett
- Creative Director, Framestore Immersive Gavin Fox
- Executive Producer, Framestore Immersive Lauren Anderson
- Concept Artist Jonathan Ward
Around the entrance sign, multiple lights and smoke machines have been placed and I already knew that this would look phenomenal at night.
As Esmeralda swirled through the night, an unexpected gust of wind disrupted her ride, causing her to lose her grip on the broomstick. With a scream and a flurry of sparkles, she plummeted toward the ground, hurtling downward like a shooting star. As if guided by mischief itself, her descent came to an abrupt halt - right on top of a homestead. The homestead, occupied by a humble family, was suddenly thrust into chaos. The witch's crash caused a commotion that shook the walls of the house, rattling the inhabitants' spirits. The startled family stumbled out of their home, wide-eyed and disoriented, only to be met with a bewitching sight. There, in the midst of debris and confusion, stood Esmeralda. She brushed off imaginary dust from her cloak and raised an eyebrow at the bewildered family. Their mouths agape, the family could hardly believe what they were witnessing. A witch had fallen from the sky and onto their property. Esmeralda, ever the flamboyant character, quickly got back on her feet. With a mischievous glimmer in her eyes, she casually announced, "Well, hello there! I must say, your homestead makes for a rather comfortable landing. Mind if I stay for a cup of tea?" The family, still in shock, hesitantly invited Esmeralda inside. Once settled, the witch's charisma filled the room as she regaled them with tales of her adventures across the realm of mystical creatures. Gradually, the once-fearful family found themselves succumbing to her charm and finding joy amidst the chaos. As word spread throughout the town of Homestead, it became clear that this unexpected visit from a fallen witch had brought an enchanting twist to their tranquil lives. Neighbors began to flock to the homestead, eager to catch a glimpse of the sorceress and hear her captivating tales. The town, once known for its serenity, now buzzed with excitement and wonder. In this unexpected turn of events, the main idea emerges - sometimes, the most extraordinary experiences find us when we least expect them. The incident of the witch's fall onto the homestead brought not only chaos but also a touch of magic to the lives of its residents. Little did they know, their quaint town would never be the same again..
Reviews for "The Witch's Legacy: The Falling Homestead and Its Supernatural Origins"
1. John - 1 out of 5 stars: "I found 'Homestead falling on witch' to be extremely boring and poorly written. The storyline lacked depth and the characters were one-dimensional. The writing style was dull and it failed to keep my attention throughout. Overall, I was really disappointed with this book and would not recommend it."
2. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars: "I had high hopes for 'Homestead falling on witch' but it fell short of my expectations. The plot was predictable and cliché, and there were several plot holes that were never resolved. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult for me to connect with the characters. While the concept had potential, the execution just didn't deliver."
3. Michael - 2.5 out of 5 stars: "I can see why some people might enjoy 'Homestead falling on witch', but personally, it wasn't my cup of tea. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard for me to invest in their stories. While I appreciate the author's creativity, the overall execution left much to be desired."
4. Emily - 1 out of 5 stars: "I couldn't finish 'Homestead falling on witch' as it was just too confusing and convoluted. The writing was all over the place, making it hard to follow the narrative. The characters were poorly introduced and it was difficult to keep track of who was who. Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me and I wouldn't recommend it to others."
5. David - 2 out of 5 stars: "'Homestead falling on witch' had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver a satisfying read. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, leaving many loose ends untied. The writing style was mediocre and didn't engage me as a reader. The potential was there, but it fell flat in execution."