The Argylle Experience Review: Visit A World of Spies and Fiction
This weekend, the UK public will have exclusive access to a free immersive experience in London, based on the upcoming film “Argylle”. This experience challenges visitors to interact with their surroundings and solve clues as a spy would in the film, but also invites them to celebrate the film’s release with creative photo-ops and a number of informative decorations that give exclusive information about the film’s narrative, facts not present within the trailers or synopsis.
The fans in attendance were treated to a number of photo ops, in which visitors are invited to pick up materials around them to pose with; unlike most experiences, the Argylle Experience is not strict on what you can and can’t touch! Additionally, visitors are invited to watch a never-before-seen music video that is currently only available to watch within the experience, making it a must-see for any avid trailer-viewers keen to view all promotional material before the film releases – this will also give you bragging rights amongst your friends! The experience includes a number of film and experience-original props and decorations including books, some of which you can read!
Immediately as you approach the venue, located on 59 Greek Street in Soho, the experience starts, as the exterior of the retail space has now been converted to a fictional giant bookshelf, fitting the film’s theme of a fictional book world bleeding into reality. Upon entering, you are greeted by workers in a bookstore who will provide you with a card giving you a unique codename and codeword, one which requires visitors to interact with the environment to solve.
Once you’ve cracked the enigma, you’ll be escorted through a secret door to the bulk of the experience, where you find several props and decorations from the film (including a screen-used dress worn by Dua Lipa) as well as a number of photo ops, including a green-screen GIF maker putting you on the poster of the film (courtesy of Full Frame Events). Inside, you will also meet the experience’s version of Argylle, played by actor Marek Lichtenberg (a member of the film’s stunt team), who is fashioned after Henry Cavill’s titular character, and performs as Cavill does in the trailers, but will also take photos with you upon request.
The final room of the experience is a immersive, yet psychedelic mirror room reflecting an LED smoke and colour show in sync with various music tracks from the film. While a confusing addition to the experience, the workers there encouraged us to enter and take as many photos as possible, as the room’s significance will become clear upon watching the film, but finding out now would be a major spoiler. Myself and the other experience-goers highly anticipate the reveal of the room’s meaning.
The attention to detail in the experience is on par with the film. From the giant cat bag to Argylle’s hair, the decor and costuming is screen-accurate as it not only uses real props from the film, but even went to the level of using the same hair stylist that fashioned Cavill’s iconic look from Argylle.
The Argylle Experience opens tomorrow and is open for this weekend only. Tickets are available here.
Argylle releases in cinemas on February 1st.
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