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Nazis. Always causing trouble. |
Todd - The American Horrorplex. This place really is starting to stand out. A number of years ago, the former 7th Street haunt closed and morphed into The American Horrorplex in it's initial form. At the time it felt a bit like a rebuild of 7th Street with some new direction. Like anything new, it took a few years to find its identity. Last year, the theme and backdrop really started to take shape. Now, that lore is being built on in multiple ways, including an awesome trailer released ahead of the season.
First, as you wait in the queue, there are these display kiosks that have authentic (or at least highly authentic looking), pictures and other memorabilia referencing the post-war 1940's - each with text explaining what you're looking at, which references the haunt's story. Immediately before entering the actual haunt, you are first given a short historical presentation which sets up the big picture. The gist - after WWII some scientists working on the Nazi super soldier program who went into hiding. 40 years ago or so, their suspected place of hiding was found after an explosion, along with many artifacts and evidence of their heinous experiments. The haunt serves as this very place - The BrackenHart Institute. The question is - are they dead? Rumor is they - or their spirits - still conduct experiments to this day...it's time to go in and find out.
Side note: items sit in glass cases all around you as this is explained and to be totally honest, it's actually really interesting. Even though you're listing to a fictional story (which arguably is inspired by some true events), the displays are intriguing and I would love to have more time to look over them. We learned there are even more which may be featured in an expanded opening room which sounds awesome.
The most memorable aspect of The American Horrorplex are the actors - hands down. They are off-the-wall CRAZY. Right away we met Nurse Bubbles, a very overdramatic guide who escorted us to the malfunctioning elevator which crash landed us right into the surgical room of a hysterically funny doctor and his assistant (who implied they are married as she stated she wanted a divorce) conducting gas experiments on children. Their German-accented bickering over whether a switch is called a "switch" or a "button" as this poor child is gassed behind glass was over the top and highly entertaining. This really sets the stage for the whole experience. More than scares, the actors offer laughs through their wild antics. A few girls were dressed as escapees, convincingly not right in the head with their erratic movements and tics. One "patient" even had his own hand puppet; that was a first. The actors' energy level was absolutely through the roof.
There is a wealth of things to look at throughout the entire haunt, most of which lend well to the theme of a decrepit, abandoned medical facility full of deranged victims of awful experimentation. It's not all "scary" stuff. Sure there are props that pop out or add gore to the room, but there's a lot of decorative or practical things that fill in all the space nicely. The scenes go beyond the walls of the institute, moving into back alleys, service tunnels and maintenance rooms. In the final scene of the haunt, there is a detonation of an explosive device (you may even get to push the button!) which prompts you to hightail it through the exit.
I found The American Horrorplex to be entirely entertaining. It's certainly not the scariest of haunts, but it isn't trying to be either. It's clear this crew wants to tell a story and have fun doing it - and it sure seems like they are. The American Horrorplex is an inviting atmosphere that demonstrates it has something for anyone that wants to be involved. Vendors and volunteer groups have tents outside the building's exit, along with some games and food. A large projection screen plays trivia questions every few minutes to keep the line entertained. It's a great atmosphere and I highly recommend it.
First, as you wait in the queue, there are these display kiosks that have authentic (or at least highly authentic looking), pictures and other memorabilia referencing the post-war 1940's - each with text explaining what you're looking at, which references the haunt's story. Immediately before entering the actual haunt, you are first given a short historical presentation which sets up the big picture. The gist - after WWII some scientists working on the Nazi super soldier program who went into hiding. 40 years ago or so, their suspected place of hiding was found after an explosion, along with many artifacts and evidence of their heinous experiments. The haunt serves as this very place - The BrackenHart Institute. The question is - are they dead? Rumor is they - or their spirits - still conduct experiments to this day...it's time to go in and find out.
Side note: items sit in glass cases all around you as this is explained and to be totally honest, it's actually really interesting. Even though you're listing to a fictional story (which arguably is inspired by some true events), the displays are intriguing and I would love to have more time to look over them. We learned there are even more which may be featured in an expanded opening room which sounds awesome.
The most memorable aspect of The American Horrorplex are the actors - hands down. They are off-the-wall CRAZY. Right away we met Nurse Bubbles, a very overdramatic guide who escorted us to the malfunctioning elevator which crash landed us right into the surgical room of a hysterically funny doctor and his assistant (who implied they are married as she stated she wanted a divorce) conducting gas experiments on children. Their German-accented bickering over whether a switch is called a "switch" or a "button" as this poor child is gassed behind glass was over the top and highly entertaining. This really sets the stage for the whole experience. More than scares, the actors offer laughs through their wild antics. A few girls were dressed as escapees, convincingly not right in the head with their erratic movements and tics. One "patient" even had his own hand puppet; that was a first. The actors' energy level was absolutely through the roof.
There is a wealth of things to look at throughout the entire haunt, most of which lend well to the theme of a decrepit, abandoned medical facility full of deranged victims of awful experimentation. It's not all "scary" stuff. Sure there are props that pop out or add gore to the room, but there's a lot of decorative or practical things that fill in all the space nicely. The scenes go beyond the walls of the institute, moving into back alleys, service tunnels and maintenance rooms. In the final scene of the haunt, there is a detonation of an explosive device (you may even get to push the button!) which prompts you to hightail it through the exit.
I found The American Horrorplex to be entirely entertaining. It's certainly not the scariest of haunts, but it isn't trying to be either. It's clear this crew wants to tell a story and have fun doing it - and it sure seems like they are. The American Horrorplex is an inviting atmosphere that demonstrates it has something for anyone that wants to be involved. Vendors and volunteer groups have tents outside the building's exit, along with some games and food. A large projection screen plays trivia questions every few minutes to keep the line entertained. It's a great atmosphere and I highly recommend it.
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Like the Zombieland of haunts. |
Paul - American Horrorplex may be the most entertaining haunt we visit. There are scarier, more intense, and more extravagant haunts out there, but Horrorplex is just an absolute riot!
Located in an industrial area West of downtown Louisville, American Horrorplex is in an area completely fitting of its mad-scientist theme. With a power distribution yard across the sketchy looking street, you can totally picture this place as a building where horrible experiments take place. After you park in the free lot, go through security, and get your tickets, you'll arrive into the courtyard area to wait your turn. There's great entertainment in line including roaming actors, freak-show type informational kiosks, and plenty of music. But once you walk into the BrackenHart institute... All hell breaks loose.
Scene after scene of complete lunacy! SO MANY props, decorations, and lights; and what felt like a hundred or more actors. Those actors were around every corner and not only did they approach you and give you a hard time, they'd constantly go at each other too. I've never been through a haunt where the actors will bicker back and forth with each other like they're on some kind of dark sit-com, but they do it all the time in Horrorplex! You'll wind through tight aisleways, stepping around all kinds of oddities, all the while being harassed by the freak-show happening all around you.
There just isn't another haunt that's quite like American Horrorplex. I haven't been to any other haunt where I laugh so much, yet the scares still come right along with the laughs. I was trying to figure out what to liken it to as I was writing this review, and the movie Zombieland came to mind. Sure it's a horror movie and there are quite a few suspenseful scenes and jump scares throughout, but it's also hilarious and you'll find yourself cracking up throughout. To me, that's exactly what Horrorplex is like and why I say it may be the most entertaining haunt around.
Located in an industrial area West of downtown Louisville, American Horrorplex is in an area completely fitting of its mad-scientist theme. With a power distribution yard across the sketchy looking street, you can totally picture this place as a building where horrible experiments take place. After you park in the free lot, go through security, and get your tickets, you'll arrive into the courtyard area to wait your turn. There's great entertainment in line including roaming actors, freak-show type informational kiosks, and plenty of music. But once you walk into the BrackenHart institute... All hell breaks loose.
Scene after scene of complete lunacy! SO MANY props, decorations, and lights; and what felt like a hundred or more actors. Those actors were around every corner and not only did they approach you and give you a hard time, they'd constantly go at each other too. I've never been through a haunt where the actors will bicker back and forth with each other like they're on some kind of dark sit-com, but they do it all the time in Horrorplex! You'll wind through tight aisleways, stepping around all kinds of oddities, all the while being harassed by the freak-show happening all around you.
There just isn't another haunt that's quite like American Horrorplex. I haven't been to any other haunt where I laugh so much, yet the scares still come right along with the laughs. I was trying to figure out what to liken it to as I was writing this review, and the movie Zombieland came to mind. Sure it's a horror movie and there are quite a few suspenseful scenes and jump scares throughout, but it's also hilarious and you'll find yourself cracking up throughout. To me, that's exactly what Horrorplex is like and why I say it may be the most entertaining haunt around.
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Fear and Fun! |
Emily - The American Horrorplex has one of the best story lines, allowing the creators of this haunt to constantly switch things up and bring nightmares to life. From start to finish, this haunt offers a unique experience from other haunts. Entering the complex, they have actors roaming the grounds, interacting with guests as they explore and wait to enter the haunt. I can tell they enjoy their jobs, although I am sure that plunger will leave a mark all season!
The sets at American Horrorplex are designed to irritate all the senses. The disgusting images, creepy sounds, and those damn fishing lines tickling your face, make the experience even more terrifying. The elevator with Bubbles is always a fun experience, followed by the funny doctor, who was my favorite actor of the night. I laughed so hard. That’s what this haunt is, a good mix of fear and fun.
At the end, there is a mini beer garden, shops with cute dead things, and sweet little goats! American Horrorplex is one of my favorites, because it is so different and gives the staff the flexibility to provide an experience outside of the haunt box.
The sets at American Horrorplex are designed to irritate all the senses. The disgusting images, creepy sounds, and those damn fishing lines tickling your face, make the experience even more terrifying. The elevator with Bubbles is always a fun experience, followed by the funny doctor, who was my favorite actor of the night. I laughed so hard. That’s what this haunt is, a good mix of fear and fun.
At the end, there is a mini beer garden, shops with cute dead things, and sweet little goats! American Horrorplex is one of my favorites, because it is so different and gives the staff the flexibility to provide an experience outside of the haunt box.
Questions? Have a story to share? Leave it in the comments!