Urban Death Tour of Terror

Zombie Joe and his company of terrorizers are back for their 20th anniversary of underground performance. Let the madness commence.

Halloween Scene Los Angeles 2025 review

Zombie Joe and his cast of demented acolytes don’t just push the envelope in the 2025 iteration of “Urban Death”; they shove it.  To say that their aim is to shock Halloween season audiences would be a severe understatement.  They want to send them home looking over their shoulder, asking, "What just happened and why do I need a drink?"

Never ones for subtlety, the Underground Theatre in North Hollywood welcomes back their annual maze-turned-theatre production to a dedicated fan base craving edge, uncomfortableness, outrageousness and a lot of skin.  Yes, this is most definitely not a family show.  But the swelling crowd waiting in line in front of the tiny theatre, many faithful followers of the annual spectacle, said otherwise. It’s for our family of eccentric haunt lovers.  You’re welcome to join us if you dare.

As with every Urban Death Halloween show, the format remains the same.  You’re handed a barely-lit mini flashlight as you’re ushered into the not-lit-at-all lobby of the theatre.  Through a clever use of design and plastic, the lobby (and I’m guessing normal seating area - who knows, it’s dark in there) has been transformed into a claustrophobic yet effective maze that makes full use of every inch of space, eventually depositing you wide-eyed into Zombie’s black-box performance space. 

Before reaching the main location, however, you have to navigate through the circuitously dark tunnel, guided only by your flashlight that barely works (likely the intent).  Along the way, you’ll encounter demented souls, beasts, screams and growls.  Cast members, doubling as jump scare actors, will pursue you, taunt you and terrorize you, appearing out of nowhere to give you a fright before disappearing just as quickly.  If you had any thought your little light would weaken the impact of this opening tour you are sadly mistaken.  When the ghouls of the night are not surprising you, you’re trying to locate them with your poor tool of illumination and the anticipatory result only adds to the peril.

If you don’t get lost in the flexible mini-maze, you’ll soon find yourself in a rectangular room that serves as the main performance space of the night.  Here, you’ll wait until the tight black box space is filled with around 40-50 other guests who will join you, sitting on risers or directly on the performance space floor.  As the audience filters in, a disturbed-looking cast member plays a mournful violin, staring off into horrors unknown.  Maybe she’s been through that maze too.

Then it’s time for the “show” to begin.  No spoilers here, you’ll have to make your own choice whether this night of fear and true edginess is your cup of tea for the Halloween season.  With themes of death, torture, suicide and violence it’s not for everyone, but the crowds keep coming.  Fear not if you do, for in-between the darkest elements of the show there are calmer, even funny vignettes to let you release what you just saw and will soon see once again.  The most enjoyable scene for me was devoid of the above themes and instead featured three performers in a Dance of Shiva-style routine that was cleverly choreographed and yet eerie in its own way.  Then the intensity ratcheted right up to "11" again.

Zombie Joe is one of the nicest and most personable people in the haunted attraction world, yet he’s able to conjure up some of the most disturbing images you’re likely to see on a stage this season.  He and co-creator Jana Wimer - along with their company of fearless, boundary-pushing artists- don’t do it with special effects, big-budgets or even dry ice, but instead with sheer commitment to their roles.  Don’t expect flash (other than copious flashes of bare skin) or high-end production values.  Instead, prepare for a night of vignetted, avant garde freakiness that might leave you speechless, description-less or plain hapless as you stumble off into the real world again. 

And come next October, you may find yourself doing it all over again.

Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre: "Urban Death Tour of Terror"

Rating:  3.50 (of 5)

Adult only: 18+

Weekends: Now through November 1

ZJU Theatre 4850 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood

Tickets: $24 online $28 at door

40-minute maze and show, several times each night