Room Escape Artist

Cinema 7 is one of the best games in Orlando. Here are our other recommendations for great escape rooms in the Orlando area.

Lights, Camera, Action

Location:  Orlando, FL

Date Played: August 5th, 2024

Team size: 2-8; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $44.95 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration:  Climbing stairs, climbing a ladder, and crawling required by at least 2 players

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

If I had entered from the street, I would have been convinced that I stepped directly into an old abandoned movie theater lobby. From the peeling wallpaper and rusting light fixtures to the unkempt menu board, the initial gamespace was oppressively accurate, and a little cramped. When our tour guide was called away and told us to stay put, we immediately disregarded those instructions and started to explore the abandoned, derelict space for secrets. I was enthralled and absorbed in this world from the moment I crossed the threshold.

As we gained access to the screening room, I was stunned that the atmosphere didn’t stop. Each scene was an extension of the last and the story, puzzles, and set flowed seamlessly. The unique topography of the gamespace made it more physical than many escape rooms, and allowed for the scenes to unfold realistically and drive forward the story. Every prop and set piece that I encountered was used in Cinema 7; nothing was just set dressing.

The story was presented in a “cinematic” fashion and each beat popped and allowed everyone to take a moment to experience the script together. Every piece of information we uncovered escalated the plot and ushered us toward the finale. The final reel was spooled and we sat riveted as our time at the theater came to an end. All was revealed and the credits rolled; a predestined choice was made for us, and we were left to accept our actions and return to our lives, forever changed.

The set alone is reason enough to experience this escape room. The variety and logical flow of the puzzles along with the clear and coherent story puts it over the top. However, I left the game desiring more agency to affect the outcome of the story. There are a lot of excellent escape rooms in Orlando and Cinema 7 is a valiant attempt to break into that group.

Who is this for?

• Story seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Cinephiles
• Best for players with at least some experience
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

• The realistic topography of the gamespace
• Logical puzzle flow
• Cinematic story structure

Story

Classic tourist traps can be spotted from a mile away: Madame Tussaud’s wax museums, Ripley’s Believe or Not!, and haunted tours with creepy locales and spectral spirits. Even though I didn’t believe in ghosts, curiosity had gotten the better of me, and I’d signed up for Wickedly Terrifying Excursions’ tour of the Grove Theater. An anonymous group had worked tirelessly to save this abandoned movie theater from the 1920s with only one screen still standing: Cinema 7. Little did I realize that several recent tour groups had gone missing, suggesting that something either supernatural or nefarious was afoot.

Setting

Popcorn, soda, and candy. All the necessary ingredients for a trip to the cinema. From the moment I set foot in the lobby, I could envision the theater in its heyday: the chatter of people, the ka-ching of the cash register, the smell of popcorn. Now all that remained in the lobby was a dilapidated concession stand and the locked door to Theatre 7.

Gameplay

Will to Escape’s Cinema 7 was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay was mostly linear and revolved around a variety of communication, logic, and visual puzzles.

Analysis

➕ The production value of Cinema 7 was impressive. The attention to detail in the lobby/ concession stand was extensive and the cinema itself was surprisingly realistic.

➕ There were several puzzles that required teamwork. It was satisfying to have multiple players engaged at the same time.

➕ Cinema 7 projected a coherent story and puzzle path that all players were able to follow.

➖ The initial scene, the lobby, was a small room. It would be a tight fit with any more than 4 players (maximum of 8 players allowed).

💪 Cinema 7 was a physical game. There was a considerable amount of climbing and crawling; however, these elements allowed for a cool and unique use of the space available. 

➖ The first step on the staircase was taller than the rest, which could cause a tripping hazard.

➕ The lighting throughout Cinema 7 was thoughtful and intentional. In a generally dim gamespace, all puzzle inputs were well lit. This eliminated any frustration we could have had with lighting.

➕/➖ The finale was epic and tense, which culminated in a decision that was made for us. The lack of agency was a Sour Patch Kid in a bag of Swedish Fish, surprising but not completely unpleasant.

Tips For Visiting

• Parking: There is a parking structure near the shopping plaza. Will to Escape will validate your parking. Give yourself at least 10 minutes to walk from the parking garage to Will to Escape.
• Food: There are many choices for restaurants and bars located in the same plaza as Will to Escape.

Book your hour with Will to Escape’s Cinema 7, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.