The Museum of Curiosities

Now, as you know I've been living in Nottingham since September/Late-August and I have so far really disliked it here. Here's a quick breakdown: things are very stressful and I have barely had any time to myself. I hate my job and my life has practically fallen apart. It's only February and so I wonder what else is in store for me during this horrible year. I thought therefore, I would use my mental health sick days cheering myself up by going to the Museum of Curiosities - a museum dedicated to everything horror and stuff that basically feels like a carnival style ghost train or haunted house. Now, if you love YouTubers like Dylan-Is-Chillin (also known as: Chills) then you're going to love something like this.

One of the things that really caught my eye was the Billy Puppet from the Saw Franchise. Now, I love Saw as much as the next person, but upon seeing the puppet of Billy, I thought it was a cheap replica. It turns out that it was the actual doll from the films. I'm not sure what I was planning to have as an expression when reading about this, but honestly - this was part and parcel to how great this exhibition was. It did not fail to impress. I was quite surprised that they would, in fact, have the actual puppet from the film. Check out the pictures I took...

Another thing I saw was entitled the 'exorcism' room in which there was, as I ascended the stairs, a large statue of the doll from Child's Play in a certain animatronic style which you would imagine those in the Perpetuity Wing of the woman who states there's an animatronic Kier in the second season of Severance. (Yes, I am a huge Severance nerd). I was mostly surprised by the fact that there was so much stuff here. I mean someone had gone to some lengths to put everything in one room concerning the classic horror films from the resurgence in the 1960s and 70s. I thought that this room was perhaps the best decorated and kind of looked a bit quirky. If you guys remember me mentioning that back in Birmingham I used to have a huge ancient Egyptian coffin as a decoration in my bedroom, you can understand why I'd enjoy something like this.

I mean it even has the Annabelle Doll, even if it is the one from the movies and not the real one.

One of the other things I saw was a painting entitled The Hands Resist Him. This was a painting I first encountered when I was doing my undergraduate degree when I was researching haunted items and had a fascination with them. The Hands Resist Him was one of those paintings that always unsettled me. It didn't frighten me, but it made me feel uncomfortable. When I saw it hanging above the stairs, I had to stand there (and the small/steep stairs are difficult to stand on) and stare at it. It was fascinating. I haven't seen that painting in almost ten years...

Beneath the museum is a cave in which there is a small exhibition of religious-based horrors including a set of nuns huddled over things and a bridal dress on a statue. But, the one thing that was the most exciting for me (and possibly one of the only reasons I even went to the museum in the first place) was the figure of Valak the Nun from The Conjuring Universe complete with a replica painting that you can see the original of in The Conjuring 2. I absolutely love Valak the Nun as she is one of my favourite movie characters ever. The fact the sign said 'no entry' was upsetting since I would like to give the demonic nun a big hug. I support whatever she stands for.

Here's a bit more from the cave that I went into. There's a lot of sandstone and it is very difficult to walk to steps (I almost ruined my Timberlands) but it was well worth it. Check out the picture below...

I took a bunch of other photographs but maybe if I put too many here, you won't go and visit it for yourself. It was a really nice time out and I think it did make me feel a little bit better. I always like something horror based. In fact, right now, I'm listening to a horror podcast.