| MT. HEALTHY HAUNTED HALL:
A frightening cemetery is the host for the queue line outside The Haunted
Hall. The old graveyard is home to rats, a spooky looking fountain
of blood, and an undead body (animation) making one final attempt to escape
its earthen tomb! A skeletal watchman, guards the premises peering
down from an upstairs window with illuminated eyes, and mysteriously waving
a lantern back and forth. Inside The Hall, an ominous looking
staircase, shadowed by a flying ghost, leads to a dark corridor containing
secret, sliding panels that surprisingly reveal a variety of startling
attacks prior to a darkened encounter with a spark shooting maniac!
An agitated ghoul hotel attendant waits impatiently at Motel Hell quickly
ushering guests to a nearby elevator, and ordering them to “push the button.”
The doors slide open, and a second, equally irate worker invites you inside,
demanding to know your destination. The elevator buzzes and thrashes
about, eventually delivering you to some unknown location, characterized
by screams and the annual visit to Dracula’s Chamber, without which
the adventure wouldn’t be complete! Exiting through an upright coffin,
undoubtedly one of The Count’s favorites, leads to the outdoor section
of the haunt, where sirens blare, and you pay homage to Norman’s mother
at the Bates Motel! Even The Devil himself must be dealt with, as
old Beelzebub demands visitors bow down before him and crawl their way
out of his eternal grasp! Escaping into a foggy corridor brings about
a brief mirror maze, followed by a clown room containing a spinning floor
that turns you every which way but loose before permitting you to stumble
onto the scene of a horrific accident that’s just occurred at a vicious
bloody workshop. Still to come are a disorienting vortex, and the
all new Dead or Alive Funeral Home” that houses a few unexpected surprises
of its own. They take care of any “BODY,” as does a merciless guillotine
that proudly displays the head of its last victim en route to the patented
maze finish that completes the 19th season of the Mt. Healthy Haunted
Hall.
Analysis:
LENGTH - 8, Difficult to determine a precise time, due
to the uncertainty of the maze, but approximately 15 mins. with the addition
of several new scenes.
ACTORS - 7, Elevator crew is best and Dracula is an annual
favorite. Attraction would benefit from additional adult actors,
and better utilization of children in non scare roles, or behind secret
panels. Elimination of Executioner and chainsaw maniac chase into
the maze are steps in the wrong direction. Devil’s return is most
welcome, although the character’s not aggressive enough.
SCARINESS - 7½, Appropriate background music complements
the frights. Actors are well hidden and deliver multiple timely scares
in just about every scene. Need to raise the intensity to better
the score.
PROPS - 8, Good, scary décor, a few pneumatics,
and some unique surprises you won't see anyplace else. Spinning floor
is most unique and drop down wall panels provide three consecutive scares,
not just one. Drac’s casket door, and hidden maze passages are simply
fantastic! New funeral setting is meticulously detailed. Trademark
dropping chandelier was most conspicuous by its absence.
DESIGN - 8½, 15 plus scenes including the outdoor
course, which has been expanded into the yard next door. To their
credit, they make the most out of every inch of space inside The Hall
itself, with scenes distanced as close together as possible. Spinning
vortex and floor are used to initiate a state of disorientation prior to
entering the cleverly designed dark maze. Glad to see some fresh,
new scenes this year making the experience longer than ever before.
New funeral parlor is best, but a little too uneventful from an acting
standpoint. Return of the classic Devil scene is a positive as last
year’s encounter wasn’t nearly as impressive, but the performance needs
to be intensified, as mentioned above.
VALUE - 9½, An expanded course and no price increase
for 2008 – still just $8 with a canned good donation! The price can’t
be beat considering the entertainment value!
RATING: 8, This well kept secret is perhaps
the best non-profit haunt in existence – always enjoyable, and annually,
one of our local favorites! Customers and their families always leave
happy and talking about what a good time they’ve had. If you’ve never
been before, what are you waiting for? And if you’ve visited previously,
you know you want to go back! Just don’t ask me how to get out of
the maze… they’ll change it, and it’ll be different before you can get
there! Go with a group, and experience the fun of seeing who gets
lost and can’t find their way out!
NOTE: The Mount Healthy Haunted Hall
is sponsored by The Madonna Council Knights of Columbus, and Boy Scout
Troops 27 and 393. Annual special “Lights up - Lighter scares for
the Little Ones” event will be held on Oct. 26th from 6:00 - 6:45 pm before
the haunted house opens for real scares. Cost of the "Lights Up"
event is $5.00 for children and NO CHARGE FOR ADULTS. Kids will receive
treats as they go through the Hall, and adults will be given a “Buy One/Get
One” admission coupon valid for the regular evening run. Please note
that canned good or coupon discounts will not be honored for the family
friendly performance. |
