Malice Manor continues its maturity into a concise theme this year with a twisted cast of characters and (mostly) fitting builds. Strangely, writing this review has been the most challenging for me this season. I like this haunt. I think it’s creative, has some very cool builds, has memorable actors and a great theme. It’s just as entertaining as it is scary which makes it generally appealing to a wide audience.
However, I feel like something is missing and I am having an incredibly hard time trying to put my finger on it. Let’s sort this out…. A number of the sets are from the first year. In my opinion, some of them shouldn’t be removed. I think the dock is an amazing set that can be evolved to keep it fresh with a long lifespan. Some other rooms are simply predictable at this point, like the kitchen or the kid’s bedroom. To be fair, the actor in each respective room really makes or breaks it and fortunately this year, the actors in both were pretty damn good (it was the first time I’d ever been offered a meal made with babies!).
Some other rooms never execute beyond their surface appearance. For example, let’s take the bloody bathroom. At this point, I know the grimy, blood-splattered walls will be there with a corpse in the bathtub around the corner. Malice Manor has an immense number of opportunities to use the art of distraction. I always look at that body in the tub. After all, it’s kind of the focal point of view right before you exit. This would be a key moment to have something to the side or behind me happen. This is just a simple example, yet one that perhaps touches on what I feel may be needed at this point. One of the new rooms this year is a piano room. Aside from what felt (and sounded) like the world’s largest air canon going off as I entered, the wasn’t much else to it. Again, there’s opportunity here because everyone has to walk around the piano to exit. Maybe the lights could go out and the piano just slams some dissonant notes. If it’s hollow, hell, have something come out of it.
I really think things like this are the “extra layer” that I’d love to see on top of what Malice Manor already has to offer. It’s not a bad haunt. It’s one of the better traditional haunts we go through and it’s surging with creativity. Nothing here feels “out of the box” by any means and perhaps it’s my knowledge of their creative abilities bringing out this desire for more details, effects, etc. The energy throughout the span of the haunt needs to be more dynamic, never letting visitors get too comfortable or complacent.
Credit is due where already-impressive rooms have been implemented such as a the highly detailed witch’s hut, the local “Healthy James” store (IYKYK) or even the absurd laundry room with (finally) a ridiculous amount of suds. It’s easy to overlook all the small details found throughout as well when you’re focused on navigation. A lot of Malice Manor consists of narrow pathways and tight rooms. It’s not a haunt that forces you to stop often so I encourage everyone to take in the environments as they go through.
I mean not to come across as harsh or unimpressed. I wanted to use my time to encourage Malice Manor to add another “dimension” to the haunt because, again, I think there is a lot of opportunity just waiting to break out within the Manor’s walls. Malice Manor is on a trajectory to continue growing and do some amazing things. I’m certainly looking forward to what is to come!
However, I feel like something is missing and I am having an incredibly hard time trying to put my finger on it. Let’s sort this out…. A number of the sets are from the first year. In my opinion, some of them shouldn’t be removed. I think the dock is an amazing set that can be evolved to keep it fresh with a long lifespan. Some other rooms are simply predictable at this point, like the kitchen or the kid’s bedroom. To be fair, the actor in each respective room really makes or breaks it and fortunately this year, the actors in both were pretty damn good (it was the first time I’d ever been offered a meal made with babies!).
Some other rooms never execute beyond their surface appearance. For example, let’s take the bloody bathroom. At this point, I know the grimy, blood-splattered walls will be there with a corpse in the bathtub around the corner. Malice Manor has an immense number of opportunities to use the art of distraction. I always look at that body in the tub. After all, it’s kind of the focal point of view right before you exit. This would be a key moment to have something to the side or behind me happen. This is just a simple example, yet one that perhaps touches on what I feel may be needed at this point. One of the new rooms this year is a piano room. Aside from what felt (and sounded) like the world’s largest air canon going off as I entered, the wasn’t much else to it. Again, there’s opportunity here because everyone has to walk around the piano to exit. Maybe the lights could go out and the piano just slams some dissonant notes. If it’s hollow, hell, have something come out of it.
I really think things like this are the “extra layer” that I’d love to see on top of what Malice Manor already has to offer. It’s not a bad haunt. It’s one of the better traditional haunts we go through and it’s surging with creativity. Nothing here feels “out of the box” by any means and perhaps it’s my knowledge of their creative abilities bringing out this desire for more details, effects, etc. The energy throughout the span of the haunt needs to be more dynamic, never letting visitors get too comfortable or complacent.
Credit is due where already-impressive rooms have been implemented such as a the highly detailed witch’s hut, the local “Healthy James” store (IYKYK) or even the absurd laundry room with (finally) a ridiculous amount of suds. It’s easy to overlook all the small details found throughout as well when you’re focused on navigation. A lot of Malice Manor consists of narrow pathways and tight rooms. It’s not a haunt that forces you to stop often so I encourage everyone to take in the environments as they go through.
I mean not to come across as harsh or unimpressed. I wanted to use my time to encourage Malice Manor to add another “dimension” to the haunt because, again, I think there is a lot of opportunity just waiting to break out within the Manor’s walls. Malice Manor is on a trajectory to continue growing and do some amazing things. I’m certainly looking forward to what is to come!
After our trip to Louisville last weekend I've been thinking a lot about what makes Malice Manor so special. We visit so many different haunts each year, but there just isn't another that feels quite like Malice Manor. From the ticket area, to the queue, to the builds, actors, and effects- it all just feels different.
That feeling extends through the entire haunt. What was originally a haunt with no theme has slowly progressed into a really cohesive collection of scenes, and the crew involved in selling each scene is really great at what they do. The sets, acting, costuming, and effects all work together to really crank up the immersiveness of the whole experience.
Even having a fairly large building, Malice Manor is a really tight and twisty haunt. The pathways through and between scenes are made to keep you feeling closed-in, and with little room for escape. Then the actors really get up close and personal to make sure you don't forget that you're in their world, and it's a hell of a world. Super detailed, really high quality, and there's a ton packed in there. Super impressive from start to finish.
As good as the set builds are, I think it's the actors who really set the place apart. You can tell there's ample time spent on actor training, and they have a perfect combination of humor and horror. Malice Manor is a touch haunt, but it's purely used for selling the scene. There isn't any of the extreme-ness you get at some touch haunts, and as much as I ordinarily enjoy the extreme haunts, I don't think the approach here should change- It just works too well as it is. I think the only thing I'd change with their actors is having more of them- though that's easier said than done with how much of a challenge it can be to staff a haunt. They have enough actors to cover where they're needed, there are just scenes where they could use two or three inside at a time.
Malice Manor is one of my favorite haunts, and I look forward to going every year. It's fun, scary, hilarious, and interactive; and you'll absolutely walk out with some stories to tell your friends.
That feeling extends through the entire haunt. What was originally a haunt with no theme has slowly progressed into a really cohesive collection of scenes, and the crew involved in selling each scene is really great at what they do. The sets, acting, costuming, and effects all work together to really crank up the immersiveness of the whole experience.
Even having a fairly large building, Malice Manor is a really tight and twisty haunt. The pathways through and between scenes are made to keep you feeling closed-in, and with little room for escape. Then the actors really get up close and personal to make sure you don't forget that you're in their world, and it's a hell of a world. Super detailed, really high quality, and there's a ton packed in there. Super impressive from start to finish.
As good as the set builds are, I think it's the actors who really set the place apart. You can tell there's ample time spent on actor training, and they have a perfect combination of humor and horror. Malice Manor is a touch haunt, but it's purely used for selling the scene. There isn't any of the extreme-ness you get at some touch haunts, and as much as I ordinarily enjoy the extreme haunts, I don't think the approach here should change- It just works too well as it is. I think the only thing I'd change with their actors is having more of them- though that's easier said than done with how much of a challenge it can be to staff a haunt. They have enough actors to cover where they're needed, there are just scenes where they could use two or three inside at a time.
Malice Manor is one of my favorite haunts, and I look forward to going every year. It's fun, scary, hilarious, and interactive; and you'll absolutely walk out with some stories to tell your friends.
Malice Manor is always one of my favorites because it is built by people who truly enjoy designing a unique place for their visitors. They do or add something new every year to improve their haunt. The Malice Manor story continues to unfold with sets and characters who have all gone mad from the manor’s dark history.
The actors this year were on point and there were many of them. It was nice to see what the haunt could really do when they are fully staffed. I enjoyed seeing actors in places that we normally just walk through, like the spider web room and the butt room. The bubbles were set to the perfect amount and were a lot of fun. I always love that dark maze and the jolt that comes with it. The acting was great. There was a good balance between dialog and jump scares.
The Malice Manor team are dedicated to their craft and it shows through the continuous improvement and thought put into each haunt season. Looking forward to the next visit!
The actors this year were on point and there were many of them. It was nice to see what the haunt could really do when they are fully staffed. I enjoyed seeing actors in places that we normally just walk through, like the spider web room and the butt room. The bubbles were set to the perfect amount and were a lot of fun. I always love that dark maze and the jolt that comes with it. The acting was great. There was a good balance between dialog and jump scares.
The Malice Manor team are dedicated to their craft and it shows through the continuous improvement and thought put into each haunt season. Looking forward to the next visit!
Malice Manor just keeps getting better! I love that they add and change parts every year and I always look forward to seeing what's new. This place is designed and built by a couple who really loves what they do and they, along with their family and friends (and everyone there really is like family), really give you a fun show. They have a deejay set up in the lobby and people were dancing while they waited. The waiting area has movies playing and lots of atmosphere. And once the door creaks open and you go in...The sets are so good that you forget you're actually in a big warehouse. You have to see this place for the creativity alone. There are things here I've never seen in other haunts. And some of the smallest details really enhance the experience. It's unique and scary, the actors are intimidating and fun, and that sense humor really helps break the tension throughout. I love that you never know what to expect in here. Will the next room make you scream or laugh? It is a touch haunt, but don't worry, it isn't overly aggressive. It's just enough to enhance the creep factor. This place is perfect for anyone who likes to be surprised and laugh with their scares.
Malice Manor, a haunt known for its unique and immersive experience, is praised for its cohesive scenes, intricate sets, and dedicated actors. Visitors are drawn into a world of madness, where the detailed builds and skilled performances contribute to a thrilling and unforgettable journey. While the haunt continues to evolve and improve each year, there is room for further enhancements to elevate the overall experience. Some sets, although impressive, have become predictable, necessitating refreshing changes and additional layers of detail to maintain an element of surprise and keep visitors engaged. The energy and dynamism throughout the haunt could be heightened to prevent guests from becoming too comfortable or complacent. With the potential to explore more innovative effects and detailed interactions, Malice Manor has the opportunity to elevate its already impressive offerings and continue to captivate a broad audience with its creative and entertaining approach to scares.
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