Right in time for the official start of spooky season, Buffalo Bill’s House, the home where the climax to the five-time Academy Award winning film, The Silence of the Lambs, was filmed, has opened its newest and most gruesome attraction.
Buffalo Bill’s House recently unveiled the much anticipated “well”—a replica of the infamous well in the film where cinematic serial killer Buffalo Bill keeps his victims captive. Uncannily similar to the one featured in the climax of the film, the well has been recreated in the former coal cellar in the house.
In addition to begin able to stay overnight, guests can come in person to check out the interactive well set for themselves. Limited guided house tours of Buffalo Bill’s House will be available in October, allowing intimate groups of guests to see not just the well, but the home in its entirety as well as the sprawling property. Tours will be conducted by house owner, Chris Rowan, and will last approximately an hour and a half to two hours in length and cost $65 per person.
Tours will take place on Fri., Oct. 28th from 10 a.m. to noon; Sat. Oct 29 from 10 a.m. to noon, 1-3 p.m. and 4-6 p.m., and on Sun., Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Upon entering the basement of the house, guests will be greeted by the sound of dripping water along with audio clips from the film of the victim Catherine Martin screaming for her life.And speaking of the famous movie hostage, there is a jumpsuit and curly haired wig which guests are encouraged to wear as ‘cosplay’ to get into Catherine’s character. Brave guests can actually physically enter into the well for gruesome photo ops.
The well itself, constructed of real granite, features many of the gruesome markings from the movie, including bloody finger nail scratches along the wall.
Of course, there is a stuffed animal Precious, the little white poodle owned by the killer, a bucket, complete with Buffalo Bill’s “Skin Suit Soft” body lotion, which can be raised and lowered into the well, in addition to tube-and-knob lighting to add to the eerie effect. To complete the chilling scene, there is also a hose for guests who want to channel Buffalo Bill’s character.
The interactive well set was designed in partnership with the world-famous Tom Savini’s Special Make-Up Effects Program at the Douglas Education Center in Monessen, PA. Savini, known as the ‘Maestro of Make-Up,’ is a famed horror genre special effects make-up artist and actor.
“The well is the work of our talented and passionate professionals at the school who spared no attention to detail to recreate a well as much like the one in the film as possible,” said Savini. “The only discernible difference is you can’t actually keep someone prisoner in this one.”
Emmy-nominated special FX artist Jerry Gergely, technical director at the Tom Savini School, was the head designer of the well project. Jerry worked as a make-up artist on the original The Silence of the Lambs during its 1990 filming.
To learn more about Buffalo Bill’s house, located in Perryopolis, PA in the Laurel Highlands, visit www.buffalobillshouse.com.
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