dig it

Texas' first construction-themed park opens in Katy with kid-friendly machinery

Dig World is now open near Katy Mills.

Photo courtesy of Dig World

UPDATE: Dig World has postponed its opening weekend in light of large crowds and lack of equipment, the company announced in an e-mail:

“The machines we have now cannot handle our capacity. We were optimistic that the machines we had would prove to be enough, but the wait times were too long and we cannot be satisfied with that. We want to operate a park that is flawless in every way and that is what we will work towards.”

The company also says it will e-mail customers regarding refunds for reserved tickets.

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Kids of every age all over Houston can now live out their dreams of operating big construction vehicles, thanks to a new local park.

Dig World, Texas’ first heavy construction equipment- themed amusement park, adjacent to Katy Mills Mall (5000 Katy Mills Cir.) opened on March 17, boasting 3.5 acres of big-dig fun for all.

Dig World promises full-size Caterpillar mini-excavators, skid steers, and UTV vehicles. Little ones can operate machinery themselves (of age and height appropriate) or with adult supervision. The park has a partnership with construction giant Mustang Cat. Aggies, take note: Dig World has also partnered with Texas A&M’s Department of Construction Science to educate and spread awareness about the construction industry.

Along with construction equipment, the park will also boast a playground, a gem-mining station, a turf field with yard games, and other attractions.

The new theme park operates on two-hour time reservations; visitors can purchase tickets online for their desired time slot. Staying with the dig theme, the park also features a gem mining station, a playground, and a turf field with games such as Cornhole and TowerBall.

Meanwhile, the park will also be open for special events including field trips, community events, birthday parties, and corporate outings.

“We wanted to build something that kids and families could enjoy, creating the best and most unique consumer experience in TX,” said Jacob Robinson, Dig World’s founder, in a statement.

Robinson adds that plans call for 10 Dig World parks throughout the U.S. over the next few years. The nation will totally dig that, we’re guessing.

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Dig World; 5000 Katy Mills Cir.; For tickets, reservations, and information, visit the official site.

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Movie Review

Evil Dead Burn maintains this year's streak of top-notch horror movies

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Luciane Buchanan in Evil Dead Burn.

Horror franchises tend to endure because of several reasons. First and foremost, the title conjures up nostalgia for older viewers, as the many of the most popular ones started in the 1970s or ‘80s. Sequels can recycle key elements of past films as long as they tweak the formula enough to offer something original. And they’re also relatively cheap to make, as new films can bring in young or lesser-known actors to be terrorized.

All of those reasons make Evil Dead Burn a smashing success, giving viewers reminders of the past while still becoming its own thing. The film is almost non-stop from the jump as a series of people, known colloquially as “deadites,” get infected by a malevolent force. A long, 15-minute opening set piece introduces the main characters, including Alice (Souhelia Yacob), her brother-in-law Joseph (Hunter Doohan), his girlfriend Thya (Luciane Buchanan), and his parents, Susan (Tandi Wright) and Edgar (Erroll Shand).

They’re all mourning the death of Alice’s husband Will (George Pullar), who they think died while driving drunk. However, the infection in Will’s corpse soon latches on to Edgar, whose descent into murderous rage is initially masked by his intense grief. With the family all gathered together in an older, decaying home, no one is safe from the rampage of the supernatural force.

Written and directed by French filmmaker Sébastien Vanicek and co-written by Florent Bernard, the film is aimed directly at horror fanatics who are used to copious amounts of blood and gore. From the opening scene to the film’s final intense moments, Vanicek and his team come up with numerous hide-your-eyes sequences that test the stomachs of weak-willed viewers. But for those who can’t get enough of such things, they also indicate a creativity and willingness to push boundaries that is both thrilling and entertaining.

While some previous entries in the Evil Dead series leaned comedic, this entry follows the previous two films in 2013 and 2023 as as a pure horror. However, that doesn’t mean that the film is devoid of lightness. One of the most enjoyable aspects is Vanicek comically adhering to the concept of Chekhov’s gun. So many different potential weapons are introduced and later used that you can’t help but laugh when they come into play.

Ultimately, it’s the performances by the lesser-known cast that make the movie what it is. Doohan (Wednesday) plays a mild-mannered character who seems to be the main protagonist early on, but he cedes the spotlight to Yacob as the film goes along. The French actress knows how to hold the screen through both her actions and line deliveries. Shand, with his craggy face and bald head, turns into a superior villain, able to chill with just his intense stare.

Evil Dead Burn is not for everybody, but it’s another great addition to what’s turning out to be a banner year for horror movies. With highly effective, cringeworthy action sequences, moments that lighten the mood when needed, and a cast that carries the story, it’s an announcement of bigger things to come for all involved.

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Evil Dead Burn opens in theaters on July 10.

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