Fiendish Friday Interview : Phyllius Darke, owner Phobia Haunted House
:: This is part of our Interview series where we interview top people in the Haunted House/Horror Business Indistry::
Why did you first become interested in the Haunted House/Horror Business?
It all started with a B movie. A low budget horror film morphed into Phobia, a 30 acre site with five separate haunted attractions and 150+ employees. Then we started producing our own animatronics and props. We never made the movie, but we do scare tens of thousands of patrons every season, here in Houston. We sell our props throughout the U.S., Canada, and Latin America, via Phobiaprops.com.
What previous jobs have you had?
I have been a loose diamond buyer, developed real estate, raised cattle and, of course, this is Texas, there’s always the oil patch.
What job do you do right now? Is the Haunted House/Horror Job your full time gig?
Phobia and Phobiaprops,com is a year round effort, employing several full time artisans.
I have other ongoing investments, but the Haunted House business rules all.
How long have you been in the business?
Since 1995.
How did you start?
We built a two house attraction on a major freeway in the center of Houston. We spent over a year planning and building our two houses. It was a success from year one.
What’s the scariest Haunted House you ever attended?
The Darke Institute in Houston.
Do you still find time to attend Haunted Houses?
Yes. But October comes hard and fast every year, rarely time to see more than a few houses each season.
What inspires you to create?
Films and books help, but looking for inspiration requires a constant effort. It helps to have a great crew that’s well paid to assist in design innovation
Do you ever get scared anymore? What does scare you?
In the Haunt business, I am scared constantly. Will my employee get punched? Will that droopy eyed customer with the myopic daze, push his skinny girlfriend to the concrete? Do we have enough paper bags for asthmatic teenage drama queens? Will UPS destroy the $1500. prop we just shipped? Otherwise, there is little time to suspend reality and get caught up in scare. Perfectly timed unexpected startles are always fun. Creative actors who love the job always entertain.
Do you believe in real Haunted Houses? Ghosts? Etc.
Like… grandma’s dead and floating in the attic? No. Logic and science always rule our universe, and will eventually explain any questions we ponder. Yet, we do play on that insecurity so many have.
Descartes’ Ghost in the Machine is intriguing, but the duality of man is not just body and mind, but involves every aspect in the daily conflict of life.
What is Fear?
The constant confirmation that our arrow of time runs in one direction only. Fear is not the unknown, but our inability to predict the future. Anticipation of a potential negative result Fear is a unique aspect of the brain; That hardwired mental component that allows all species to survive.
Who’s your average customer?
14 to 25 year old male human.
What are your 5 year goals?
To take our haunted houses into other states. To sell more props to the big players – Six Flags, etc.
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