Locked in an underground dungeon. The lights are low. Smoke fills the room. The scent of century old dirt fills the air. The French girl leading the pack screams “It’s coming. Help me stop it!” A giant animatronic spider quickly crawls towards us. It approaches and we see its glowing red eyes. The rest of its body is hidden behind a cloud of smoke. The French girl sacrifices herself and throws herself in front of it. She gives it a push and it starts to back up. As the rest of our group quickly runs into the next room, we realize, we’re safe. The French girl joins us and introduces herself. This is Monster Kabinett by Dead Chickens.

From here things get stranger. Don’t get me wrong, I love weird. Weird is good.

After running away from the man-eating spider we land in a dark room. There’s a few monsters here. Asleep, waiting for the slightest of sounds. One wakes up and it begins to speak. It tells us that we’re in hell. From here another monster robot regains its strength. It starts to play the drums? I think it’s the drums. While it’s playing an instrument another skeletal and half-dead creature begins to dance next to it. It’s bobbing up and down.

Monster Kabinett reminds me of Chuck E. Cheese, if the animatronics accidentally ate acid and their skin began to melt. The robots here are freaky. They’re nightmarish. It’s like something from a horror novel. I’m glad they really don’t have a mind of their own. We would be dead by now.

Monster Kabinett Review

To be honest, I actually didn’t know what I was walking into. I seriously thought this was going to be a museum about creepy robotics that happen to move while you looked at them. I was thrown for a loop when the French host began to defend us from gigantic robot spiders. Monster Kabinett is a bit more like a show. You come here and you watch these creepy machines do fascinating things. During a few occasions you’re made to interact with the robots. I should clarify, you’re meant to act out a few things to calm the robots down. In other words, you’re part of the show too. It’s not like they bring you on stage and make you dance the Chicken Dance or anything. But, dancing? Yeah, there’s some of that.

The host strongly discourages pictures. Considering you have to interact, it makes it difficult to hold a camera and run from room to room if you’re trying to focus through your phone and/or camera. I mean, I was able to take a few great shots but I also wanted to be a part of this. I wanted to be present. The only way to do that is to not look at everything through my camera lens.

I was out of my introvert comfort zone at Monster Kabinett. It was too much for me, but I’m glad I did it.

The machines are so creepy I honestly think you can make a movie from this.

The Nightmare Continues

We’re rushed into another part of the dungeon. It’s dark. There’s squishy carpet under my feet. I can feel it. It’s bouncy. The doors slam shut, and the host asks us to back away. The strobe light begins, and the techno starts. Wires and tubbing that resemble a neck come at us. Giant lips with long fang-like teeth reach out. The mouth starts biting the air like it needs to feed on our flesh.

The host tells us the only way to survive this room is to dance with the robot. We start dancing to this great techno. The lights, the ambiance, everything in this room feels like we’re in a drug-induced dream where half-robots, half-monsters from Sesame Street rule the world and tell us what to do.

The doors open, and we’re taken into a hall of mirrors. The monster awakens. It’s another dancing robot with a sidekick. Although this one reminds me of Audrey, the man-eating plant from Little Shop of Horrors. It has a wide mouth and big teeth. It’s big and oval like Audrey. The mirror and lights give this room a completely different feel than other rooms. It’s almost like floating

in outer space. Everything is twinkling. The dark and deep industrial music starts to play, and the creatures begin to chomp at the air in the room. They’re hungry. Their maniacal faces look like they have no mercy.

Once this show is done, we’re taken to another room for one last treat.

Although I have to say, the best part, for me, is their gift shop. I’m not sure why I didn’t know they would have a gift shop. I only took enough cash to get into the door and get back on the train. If I would’ve known, I would’ve brought more cash. They had some terribly cute stuff.

Several coin purses in the shape of monster mouths. They’re 40 Euros. It’s a little expensive but totally worth it if you’re looking for something extremely unique.

They sold Tarot Cards and t-shirts as well. The shirts are black with designs on them, but the designs are cute. I honestly wish I was prepared for this. I wanted everything.

Maybe next time I go back to Berlin, I’ll check out the Monster Kabinett only to buy some things from their gift shop.

Check Out This Quick Idea Pin for Pinterest I made

Let Me Break It Down For You:

Monster Kabinett is located at Haus Schwarzenberg

The address is Rosenthaler Str. 39, 10178 Berlin, Germany

It’s 8 Euros to get in

It’s a Monster show of sorts.

You’re made to participate in a way.

It’s more funny than scary

It lasts roughly 30 minutes

Not open Sundays, Mondays or Tuesdays

Shows start at 6pm.

Check out their website for more details: http://www.monsterkabinett.de