Review Fix Exclusive: Rich Fox Talks ‘The Blackout Experiments’

Review Fix chats with “The Blackout Experiments” director Rich Fox, who discusses the documentary and who will enjoy it the most.

About The Film:

THE BLACKOUT EXPERIMENTS  follows a group of friends whose experience with Blackout becomes deeply personal, developing into an obsession that hijacks their lives and blurs the line between reality and paranoid fantasy. Revealing an underbelly of private rituals and personal nightmares with shocking footage that is 100% real, the film is the story of our collective obsession with the darkness inside us.

Review Fix: For those who do not know, what are Blackout Experiments?

Rich Fox: The title of the film refers to a real interactive horror experience called Blackout, which began in New York around 2009 and developed a large cult following.  The experience has it’s participants sign a waiver and enter alone before enduring psychological terror, darkness, verbal abuse, disturbing situations and taboo subject matter.

Review Fix: So all of the footage is real?

Fox: The footage is absolutely real — the film contains no re-creations of the experience and everything was captured in real-time as the subjects were experiencing it.  It was also important their reactions were not influenced by the filming, so we collaborated closely with Blackout to conceal the cameras.  Techniques included cutting holes in walls or plastic to film through and using hidden GoPro’s (some worn by the actors) throughout the experience.

Review Fix: How did you feel the first time you saw some of this footage?

Fox: When I first saw the footage, I did feel disturbed and even guilty for participating in it.  I had to remind myself the participants were seeking out this experience, it wasn’t something forced upon them.

Review Fix: What do you want people to learn from this film?

Fox: I think many viewers will realize that while certainly extreme, there’s nothing sick or demented about the desire to have this experience, that in fact there’s a part of all of us drawn to confronting our fears.  If you can relate to someone jumping out of a plane, then you can understand the attraction of Blackout.  

Review Fix: What have you learned about yourself through this film?

Fox: I did experience Blackout several times — it was important to understand and relate to things the subjects where going through.  I can say for me, the fear and dread leading to Blackout did inspire some serious soul-searching!  I feel an experience that makes you think and question yourself is definitely worth having.

Review Fix: How do you want this film to be remembered?

Fox: Just as one of many documentaries that attempt to push the boundaries of what non-fiction film can be.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Fox: I am developing ideas for future documentaries as well as writing a feature-length script.