TL;DR
Get comfort and recovery gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Killer Fitness, a horror-themed fitness studio in Burbank, opened in May 2025 after growing out of a campy workout video and a sold-out screening. Its founders combine group classes and personal training with film screenings, community events and a small retail shop; they say their current growth focus is the Los Angeles market.
Killer Fitness, a horror-themed boutique studio in Burbank, California, is pairing group workouts and personal training with film screenings and community events, keeping its Halloween-inspired programming active throughout the year. The studio opened in May 2025 on North Hollywood Way, after a screening of its workout video drew enough audience interest for its creators to offer classes in person, according to a report by Athletech News.
The studio was founded by Ama Lea, Vanessa Decker and Kay Elyse, who developed “Slashercise,” a campy, VHS-style horror-aerobics video featuring a masked villain called Meathead. The creators screened it at Santa Monica’s Aero Theatre in 2024. Athletech News reported that the screening sold out and that audience members asked where they could take the workout as a class.
Killer Fitness now offers classes including Scary Strong, Barre to the Bone, Slashercise, Pilates, dance aerobics and a boxing workout. The setting carries the theme into the exercise space: the studio has a skeleton-bone barre, gothic-themed yoga mats and novelty workout props. The studio’s website describes classes as combining fog machines, synth music and VHS-inspired visuals with exercise.
Athletech News reported that a single class costs $25, with four-, 10- and 20-class packs priced at $75, $150 and $240. Drop-ins are welcome, though the studio recommends booking ahead because some sessions fill up. Costumes are encouraged if participants can move safely in them. Outside classes, the venue hosts screenings on a 16-foot projection screen, Q&As, comedy shows and open-mic nights, and operates a shop selling items such as records, games, makeup and apparel.
A Workout Space Built Around Belonging
Killer Fitness is selling more than an unusual class format: it is bringing exercise, horror fandom and in-person events together under one roof. That combination offers an alternative to the conventional gym experience for people who prefer a themed, social environment, while giving horror fans a place to meet around a shared interest.
Co-founder and instructor Kay Elyse told Athletech News that the studio’s appeal includes a sense of belonging and freedom from judgment about enjoying horror. That is the founders’ account of the community they are building, not a measured finding about members’ experiences. The business also extends beyond fitness through screenings and retail, creating several ways for visitors to engage with the space.
The founders’ stated focus on the Los Angeles market makes the studio’s development locally relevant, particularly in Burbank, where entertainment-industry workers live and work. The report does not provide membership, revenue or attendance figures, so the scale of the business and the size of its following cannot be independently gauged from the available information.
Popular right now
Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker, NC299AMZ
Shark PowerDetect Corded Stick Vacuum, Self-Cleaning (Eggplant, HZ4002)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones with Spatial Audio, Black
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From VHS Workout to Burbank Studio
The studio grew out of “Slashercise,” the horror-comedy workout video made by Decker and Lea. Its premise—a masked killer stalking fitness instructors and gym-goers—helped establish the tongue-in-cheek style that now shapes the classes and décor. The 2024 Aero Theatre screening connected that project with an audience interested in taking part in a live workout.
After opening in May 2025 at 822 North Hollywood Way, the founders expanded the idea into a mix of classes, events and retail. The studio’s programming includes seasonal screenings and activities, but its founders say it is not limited to October. Athletech News reported that events around the Halloween period included a VHS screening of “Camp Miasma” and an immersive “Sleepy Hollow” event, with further screenings and activities expected in November and beyond.
Elyse also told the publication that the studio attracts a mix of participants: people uncomfortable in typical gyms, those looking for a fun entry point to fitness, committed horror fans and people who do not like horror but want an inclusive workout space. The report does not give demographic data or independent research on the studio’s audience.
“A lot of us are just looking for a place to belong, a place we can feel comfortable to be ourselves.”
— Kay Elyse, Killer Fitness co-founder and instructor, speaking to Athletech News
Membership and Growth Figures Unreported
The available report does not provide membership totals, class attendance, revenue or other figures that would show how the studio is performing commercially. It also does not describe any announced plans, timeline or funding for expansion beyond Los Angeles. Elyse’s comment about a possible worldwide presence was framed as an aspiration; the founders said their immediate focus is the local market.
Details about the studio’s upcoming event schedule, including dates, guests and ticket arrangements, are not fully specified in the report. The founders’ statements about inclusion and community are attributed descriptions of the studio, and no independent survey or other measure of member experience is included.
More Los Angeles Events Planned
The founders say screenings and other events will continue beyond Halloween, with their near-term effort directed at building the business in the Los Angeles area. The report does not give a complete calendar or identify a specific next expansion milestone, so readers will need to check the studio’s own channels for dates, class availability and event details.
For prospective attendees, the immediate next step is to review the class schedule and book in advance if a session is close to capacity. The founders have not announced a wider rollout, and no timeline for one has been reported.
Key Questions
What is Killer Fitness?
Killer Fitness is a horror-themed fitness studio in Burbank offering group classes and personal training, alongside screenings, events and a small retail shop.
When did the Burbank studio open?
The studio opened in May 2025 on North Hollywood Way, according to Athletech News.
What kinds of classes does it offer?
Reported classes include Scary Strong, Barre to the Bone, Slashercise, Pilates, dance aerobics and boxing. The schedule may change, so prospective attendees should check the studio’s current listings.
Does Killer Fitness hold events outside October?
Yes. The studio hosts screenings and other events, and co-founder Kay Elyse said programming continues after Halloween. The report does not provide a complete calendar of upcoming dates.
Is the studio planning to expand beyond Los Angeles?
Elyse described a worldwide presence as an aspiration but said the founders are currently focused on the Los Angeles market. No expansion plan or timeline was reported.
Source: athletechnews.com
