Residents Find Solace in Zombie Attraction

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Train to Apocalypse participants, while waiting for the Jakarta LRT at North Boulevar Station, Kelapa Gading, East Jakarta, on Friday (12/8/2022) afternoon.

Every passenger at the station platform to a Jakarta LRT (light rail transit) train carriage fled from the zombie ambush. Unbeknownst to the others, some had already been “devoured” by the zombies. Weirdly, however, everyone was satisfied and happy.

The three bloodied and wounded zombies kept walking and limping along. The creatures -- mythological animated corpses associated with the belief in voodoo, originating from West African supernatural folklore -- continued to rush forward as 11 people turned frantic in the confines of a building at the Velodrome LRT station, East Jakarta.

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The door was locked and there was no way out. Being trapped with starving zombies, they panicked, frightened. Suddenly from behind one of the doors of the building, there was a faint voice. “I am locked inside. If you let me out, you will be safe,” the voice was heard from behind the door.

The panicking people momentarily fell silent. Someone put their ear to the door to hear more clearly the voice from behind the door. They were told to search for a key on the other side of the building. They found the key tucked under a yellow helmet next to the slightly ajar scroll door.

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Train to Apocalypse entrance ticket

But they could not immediately reach the key as, behind that door, a zombie with a bald head and white eyes was clamoring there, his body covered in blood. The key was less than 30 centimeters away from the creature.

The ensuing adventurous efforts resulted in their success at grasping the key. They unlocked the door, and a girl emerged from within. She hurriedly took out a key from her trouser pocket and opened the main door. All escaped to safety.

Their suspense-filled success in facing the threat in one of the buildings at the LRT Velodrome Station on Friday afternoon (12/8/2022) was the last scene in Train to Apocalypse, a gut-wrenching entertainment offered to residents and train passengers. Organized by train operator PT Lintas Raya Terpadu (LRT) Jakarta in collaboration with Pandora Box, the drama is taking place from 5 Aug. to 11 Sept. Nine thousand tickets had already been sold as of Sunday (14/8).

The theatrical entertainment invites train passengers to experience the sensation of being chased by zombies, starting from the North Boulevard LRT Station to the Velodrome LRT Station, encompassing three stations in all.

Suspense from the start

That Friday, passengers crowded North Boulevard Station in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. Enthusiastic about the attraction, they came not only from Jakarta, but also Tangerang, Bogor, Depok, Bekas and Bandung, West Java.

The hustle and bustle of traffic on two road sections in front of the station road was unable to mask the ominously tense atmosphere, with participants’ screams, the groaning zombies and alarming sirens from inside being heard.

The Train to Apocalypse amusement ride was apparently able to provoke tension, even from outside the station area. The hustle and bustle of traffic on two road sections in front of the station road was unable to mask the ominously tense atmosphere, with participants’ screams, the groaning zombies and alarming sirens from inside being heard.

Some passengers appeared unable to hide their anxiety as they got to the ticket exchange and queued to enter the “zombies’ danger zone”. There were gate attendants dressed like soldiers and armed with toy long-barreled guns. An attendant kept telling the visitors not to panic and reminded them not to get caught by the zombies.

“Yesterday, someone peed in their pants. So, I suggest going to the toilet before entering the zombie zone. Some fainted. Others clawed at the walls. I was not sure how they got that point," an attendant said.

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The atmosphere of the entrance to North Boulevard Station, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, on Friday (12/8/2022) afternoon.

Upon arriving at the venue, whether alone or accompanied by friends or family members, they were required to play the game as a group, and given their challenge inside, informed, on-site, by attendants.

Bonds of friendship were temporarily formed within the groups, consisting of an average of six people. Each group discussed strategies to deal with the zombie threat. When entering the danger zone, they were reminded again by an attendant of what they had joined for.

“[You] come here for a struggle. If you come here to give in and let the zombies catch you, you should go to a psychiatrist. By the way, the zombies are handsome and beautiful; but remember, this is not a place to find a mate," he said, the audience bursting into laughter.

Anah Parhanah (25) and her relative, Fazza Agustina (20), said they were satisfied with the Train to Apocalypse ride. They said the Rp 60,000 (US$4.08) ticket fare per person was commensurate with the 30-minute interactive attraction delivered. “The zombie acting was good. We were so excited. We felt the sensation, and it was a safe game," Fazza, a resident of South Jakarta, said.

Public enthusiasm about the Train to Apocalypse is no less than people’s interest in Pengabdi Setan 2 (sub-servient to devil), currently on premier at theaters, or recently on-show KKN Desa Penari (a student’s community-service program in dancer’s village). Horror-filled attractions in a number of amusement centers reportedly sell well.

Horror-filled shows or games stimulate adrenaline and find proponents among urban residents as a short, affordable and accessible recreation. Releasing tension or frustration is also effective in relieving stress.

According to psychologist Mira Amir, the public’s high level of enthusiasm for horror films or games, apart from an indication of social media and mass media impact via ads, is linked to the current social environment, in which people tend to seek an outlet for stress from daily activities. Horror-filled shows or games stimulate adrenaline and find proponents among urban residents as a short, affordable and accessible recreation. Releasing tension or frustration is also effective in relieving stress, she said.

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Participants queue to enter the danger zone or beware of zombies, at North Boulevard Station, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, Friday (12/8/2022) afternoon.

Yuanita Aprilandini, a sociologist at the State University of Jakarta, shared the same opinion, adding that the relatively more-established social life in Greater Jakarta could at times bring boredom, for which the audience would find solace in horror attractions.

“They need a catharsis to get out of the routine. One of them is looking for entertainment,” she said.

(This article was translated by Musthofid)