Eek! I have to admit there were a couple of times during Horror when I had my hands over my eyes – but then I am a complete wuss about being frightened and rarely see horror movies. I was intrigued, however, by the idea of putting the horror genre on stage – and while I can’t imagine many people being truly scared by Horror with the many, incredibly familiar tropes that it uses, it’s extremely well staged.

Devised, directed and designed (with Douwe Hibma) by Swedish-born Jakop Ahlbom, Horror premiered in 2014 and has since toured. It is presented here by Sydney Opera House, and tours to several other venues including a season at Brisbane Festival.

Horror. Photographs © Prudence Upton

It begins on a stormy night (of course). A young woman and two male friends arrive at the deserted, crumbling home where she grew up, set in the middle of the woods. The three are wearing bright red capes – a sign of things to come. It’s clear from the beginning all is not well, with the lights going out, shadows on the wall, and a television turning itself on. Not to mention the handy axe. From there it becomes increasingly ghostly, gory and Gothic with zombies and other influences added to the mix.

Narrative-wise, it tells the story of two sisters, one dead, who were sadistically treated by their abusive, Puritan parents. The show moves back and forth in time, as Ahlbom reveals the past, and the horrors now unleashed. Suffice to say, it’s best not to know too much of what is coming.

Ahlbom loved horror films when he was growing up and has a lexicon of special effects and themes to draw on. He is also a self-taught magician and uses classic illusions and tricks of his own, on a clever set that shows us different parts of the house as well as the woods.

With the use of a spine-tingling score (designed by Wim Conradi and Bauke Moerman) that moves from harsh, slasher-like chords to music box chimes, lots of creepy lighting (designed by Yuri Schreuders) with blackouts, and plenty of blood, I did feel the tension building (why on earth open that cupboard door?!) though not to the point of really being on the edge of your seat. Meanwhile, my plus-one wasn’t remotely scared and didn’t feel any tension at all, so it’s the kind of show that generates very different responses from people.

Running a virtually wordless 80-minutes, using a cast of eight excellent physical theatre performers, Horror is a mixture of dance, drama and blood-splattered spectacle. Some of the highlights are the most strongly choreographed moments, including a fight scene near the end.

Die-hard horror fans will have fun spotting the references that Ahlbom has included to various famous horror films including The Exorcist, Evil Dead 2, The Shining and The Ring but it doesn’t matter if you don’t know them. All in all, it’s entertaining fun, with things that will make you shriek/squirm with laughter, and moments that will make you wonder how it was done. It’s clearly a loving homage to the horror genre – just don’t expect to be seriously scared.

Horror plays at the Sydney Opera House until September 2, IPAC, Wollongong, September 5–8, Canberra Theatre Centre, September 11– 15, and the Playhouse, QPAC for Brisbane Festival, September 26 – 29