Imagine watching a horror movie where a snake grabs the leg of the character in the film then realizing that it’s YOUR leg that has been grabbed so you cannot move it. You then feel the whoosh as bats move about, the reeds in the Sea tickle your legs and you see air bubbles in the cinema in synchrony with the events in the film. Relax, that’s just a teaser.
The 7D Cinema at Thika Road Mall, Nairobi, has majorly been explained as an improvement of 3D Cinemas with environmental effects incorporated into the films. The synchrony is such that you feel the various physical effects as they happen in the movie like water sprays, smoke, blowing wind, leg tickling, bubbles, fragrance and strobe lighting.
The seats are designed to make you feel like you are headed to wonderland and you are advised to fasten your seat belts and hold the bars on each arm. The seats will sway to the sides, move back and forth as well as up and down and the faster the movements the more exhilarating the experience will be, depending on the clip.
The excitement to experience 7D Cinema saw my friends and I head to Thika Road Mall on the week after the premier and we would definitely go again. We knew about some of the effects and a bit of what to expect but let no one lie to you, experiencing it is way different from hearing about it.
First, the water sprays caught us a bit off guard at the start. Think of the spontaneity of Nairobi showers, only for a much shorter period and much less water involved. Oh, and just a tip lest you watch a clip with the water spray effect- the water will wet your clothes and hair a bit so beware of what you wear.
The seat movements are probably what we experienced the longest and they gave us quite the rush. Think of how much a fast paced fish moves up, down and sideways as it is being attacked by big fish and sync those movements with the motion base- it was thrilling to a fault!
We also experienced the blowing wind and bubbles effects but what definitely stood out for me was the leg tickling effect. It is not every day that you are seated screaming in a movie theatre when you feel stuff tickle your feet and legs unexpectedly. It feels like you are walking through a grassland or thicket where you only feel the stroking of the grass but cannot anticipate or see it.
Now, we all understand that technology is expensive and besides the fortune that was spent to set up the small theatre, a lot more is spent to run it. (Think of the high voltage required and the resulting electricity costs, etcetera). Since it would be very expensive to show a whole movie with all the effects, there are specialized 15 minute clips that incorporate the effects. It costs 350 Kenya shillings per person for 15 minutes (7D glasses inclusive). 15 minutes worth of electrifying adventure you will keep talking about!
Think of those 15 minutes you would wait idling as your pizza gets prepared or as you get bored waiting for someone who is running late at that Coffee House. Just go up to the 2nd floor, right opposite Funscapes and walk in to that 7D Cinema.
This is just one of those things you need to experience on your own, son. Go and tell your story. :-).