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An inescapable labyrinth designed to overload your senses |
Todd - Fear Columbus is a VERY unique haunt, unlike any for hundreds of miles that I have encountered. Not only is their admission process an extremely well oiled machine, but the presentation is equally as impressive.
As I noted last year after our first-ever visit, my primary concern going in was the effectiveness and engagement level given the massive volume of visitors Fear Columbus processed through its halls nightly. I wouldn't go so far to say that I imagined the whole thing would be founded on animatronics and minimal staff, but I imagined it was more leaning towards that setup than not. Churn and burn haunts are easily associated with tourist traps or amusement parks and are often outright bad. Fortunately I was wrong - and completely blown away (and still am!).
First off, just as I highlighted last year, visually, Fear Columbus is impeccable. Each scene feels authentic, whether it be a hallway of a dilapidated mansion, a convenience store, a back alley or an atrium (just to name a few of MANY areas). While accounting for small details, this haunt has some of the most gorgeous lighting I've ever seen in such an attraction. Anyone in a production environment knows that lightning can make or break a set and you'll find some of the best of the best here. All of the lighting and related effects lend to the creepy ambiance or the sense of chaos intended to be presented at the given time.
The first half of this haunt is more traditional - you're in an old house in which rituals are taking place that are clearly causing a lot of problems. Sigils glow on the walls and nightmarish vines are starting to overtake the structure. Deep dread is enhanced as you delve further and further in, eventually encountering demonic creatures and the practicing of dark ceremonies which has sourced it all. The lighting is dark, at times disorienting and the soundtrack, which is purposely loud, all cease to give you a moment of rest to collect your thoughts.
The second half is an outbreak / fallout scenario. Something bad in town has happened and you've found yourself right in the middle of the social breakdown. I found this part to have a number of impressive details that really added to the feeling of "I have to get out of here!" Early in, you find yourself on a simulated intersection - complete with overturned cars and victims of a questionable mental asylum on the loose. As you navigate around the obstructions on your way to the asylum, helicopters can be heard overhead. There are even spotlights above scanning the area and pilot dangling from a ladder who didn't quite make it back up.
Another well-executed section of this half was a countdown on a TV screen, placed on a trigger so as the group comes in, it starts counting down from 5 seconds or so. It's a small but really effective feature because it signifies that you're too late - the window to evacuate has passed - which is all the more indicated by the red alert lights swirling on the ceiling overhead as you proceed.
There is so much content inside Fear Columbus that it's impossible to go through it all, nor would I want to because there is certainly a lot hinging on the element of surprise in a haunt designed like this. Though it is heavily reliant on jump scares, I would still go through this haunt without a single actor inside because the ambiance alone is something to see.
That being said, the actor interaction is very minimal. There are a LOT of actors, but not one of them will speak to you, set up the story, or interact other than jumping out. In most haunts, this is a huge detraction from the experience, however at Fear Columbus it's ok for two reasons. First, every other aspect is so well executed that the scenario is clear. It may not be overly complex or deep, but you know what's going on. Second, there's no time. The model of this haunt is intended to keep patrons moving. At no point, aside from the intermission queue, should anyone find themselves standing in a room to observe something. Constant movement is key. If you were an 8:30 ticket holder, they want you to keep going because those 8:45's are waiting in line. And it's FINE. Never once did I feel rushed and this haunt is easily 35 minutes.
While you don't have the opportunity to get to know the actors, I will also quickly note that the masks and costuming appeared to be improved from my recollection of last year - especially for the less featured roles (roamers, pop outs).
The only critique I really have, if you were to perceive it as a negative, is that the formula is a bit redundant - walk in, observe the room, a loud sound goes off, extra spotlighting or a strobe kicks off to feature the scare actor, keep walking. Not every single room is set up this way but the vast majority are in one variation or another. Because of this, there are very few times where you can process what is happening because before you know it, something else is happening.
At a few points, I found that the actor was actually popping out of their nook, which was positioned behind us, towards the entry of the room. While this is good so the first person in line isn't always the one getting targeted, a few times I found myself having to turn around to see what I missed, only to literally miss it because the actor had already popped out and receded. However, if that's the largest drawback that I cam offer about Fear Columbus, then that says something.
I would love to see this haunt take a pause at some point and go quiet, go dark, crank the creepy up to 11, give a false sense of calmness and then blindside us with sheer terror. I think there's room for a little more of such a dynamic.
There are a lot of areas where a haunt like this could derail and sacrifice quality for full automation, pump crowds in and out and collect the cash. Fear Columbus, while exercising an incredible marketing campaign, ensures that they aren't going to take the experience for granted in the name of profit. There is an wealth of talent putting this show together and that's why it works so well (shout out to Marco!). I continuously recommend Fear Columbus to anyone who will be in the area because it really is something unlike any other haunt around and it's a hell of an experience.
As I noted last year after our first-ever visit, my primary concern going in was the effectiveness and engagement level given the massive volume of visitors Fear Columbus processed through its halls nightly. I wouldn't go so far to say that I imagined the whole thing would be founded on animatronics and minimal staff, but I imagined it was more leaning towards that setup than not. Churn and burn haunts are easily associated with tourist traps or amusement parks and are often outright bad. Fortunately I was wrong - and completely blown away (and still am!).
First off, just as I highlighted last year, visually, Fear Columbus is impeccable. Each scene feels authentic, whether it be a hallway of a dilapidated mansion, a convenience store, a back alley or an atrium (just to name a few of MANY areas). While accounting for small details, this haunt has some of the most gorgeous lighting I've ever seen in such an attraction. Anyone in a production environment knows that lightning can make or break a set and you'll find some of the best of the best here. All of the lighting and related effects lend to the creepy ambiance or the sense of chaos intended to be presented at the given time.
The first half of this haunt is more traditional - you're in an old house in which rituals are taking place that are clearly causing a lot of problems. Sigils glow on the walls and nightmarish vines are starting to overtake the structure. Deep dread is enhanced as you delve further and further in, eventually encountering demonic creatures and the practicing of dark ceremonies which has sourced it all. The lighting is dark, at times disorienting and the soundtrack, which is purposely loud, all cease to give you a moment of rest to collect your thoughts.
The second half is an outbreak / fallout scenario. Something bad in town has happened and you've found yourself right in the middle of the social breakdown. I found this part to have a number of impressive details that really added to the feeling of "I have to get out of here!" Early in, you find yourself on a simulated intersection - complete with overturned cars and victims of a questionable mental asylum on the loose. As you navigate around the obstructions on your way to the asylum, helicopters can be heard overhead. There are even spotlights above scanning the area and pilot dangling from a ladder who didn't quite make it back up.
Another well-executed section of this half was a countdown on a TV screen, placed on a trigger so as the group comes in, it starts counting down from 5 seconds or so. It's a small but really effective feature because it signifies that you're too late - the window to evacuate has passed - which is all the more indicated by the red alert lights swirling on the ceiling overhead as you proceed.
There is so much content inside Fear Columbus that it's impossible to go through it all, nor would I want to because there is certainly a lot hinging on the element of surprise in a haunt designed like this. Though it is heavily reliant on jump scares, I would still go through this haunt without a single actor inside because the ambiance alone is something to see.
That being said, the actor interaction is very minimal. There are a LOT of actors, but not one of them will speak to you, set up the story, or interact other than jumping out. In most haunts, this is a huge detraction from the experience, however at Fear Columbus it's ok for two reasons. First, every other aspect is so well executed that the scenario is clear. It may not be overly complex or deep, but you know what's going on. Second, there's no time. The model of this haunt is intended to keep patrons moving. At no point, aside from the intermission queue, should anyone find themselves standing in a room to observe something. Constant movement is key. If you were an 8:30 ticket holder, they want you to keep going because those 8:45's are waiting in line. And it's FINE. Never once did I feel rushed and this haunt is easily 35 minutes.
While you don't have the opportunity to get to know the actors, I will also quickly note that the masks and costuming appeared to be improved from my recollection of last year - especially for the less featured roles (roamers, pop outs).
The only critique I really have, if you were to perceive it as a negative, is that the formula is a bit redundant - walk in, observe the room, a loud sound goes off, extra spotlighting or a strobe kicks off to feature the scare actor, keep walking. Not every single room is set up this way but the vast majority are in one variation or another. Because of this, there are very few times where you can process what is happening because before you know it, something else is happening.
At a few points, I found that the actor was actually popping out of their nook, which was positioned behind us, towards the entry of the room. While this is good so the first person in line isn't always the one getting targeted, a few times I found myself having to turn around to see what I missed, only to literally miss it because the actor had already popped out and receded. However, if that's the largest drawback that I cam offer about Fear Columbus, then that says something.
I would love to see this haunt take a pause at some point and go quiet, go dark, crank the creepy up to 11, give a false sense of calmness and then blindside us with sheer terror. I think there's room for a little more of such a dynamic.
There are a lot of areas where a haunt like this could derail and sacrifice quality for full automation, pump crowds in and out and collect the cash. Fear Columbus, while exercising an incredible marketing campaign, ensures that they aren't going to take the experience for granted in the name of profit. There is an wealth of talent putting this show together and that's why it works so well (shout out to Marco!). I continuously recommend Fear Columbus to anyone who will be in the area because it really is something unlike any other haunt around and it's a hell of an experience.
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You'll be immersed in the Fear |
Paul - Well our first haunt visit of the 2022 fall season took us to Fear in Columbus, OH. Fear is a somewhat unique haunt in this region with its high-throughput jump-scare approach to the attraction. Where other haunts typically send a lower volume of guests through and rely on their actors to build the story, Fear overwhelms you from the very start with lights, sounds, and visuals; and then they hit you with surprise.
The set design in Fear is one of the best around. Every surface or object you see fits its purpose precisely; the lighting is perfectly placed to highlight exactly what they want you to see, and the almost unbelievably loud music and sound-effects keep you on edge through the entire journey -also disguising the screams of the other guests. The attraction is enormous, but there are tight corners and visibility-limiting features everywhere so you hardly ever know what's coming next. It's hard to stress enough how stunning this haunt is- Every single thing you see and hear inside is there to immerse you in their world and it works perfectly.
I don't believe I remember a single actor reciting a line or catchphrase through the entire haunt (not that I could have heard them over the audio tracks anyway), but again, the acting isn't the focus here. A majority of the actors are in positions where they wait for people to enter their scene, they trigger their jump-scare lights and sound while popping out of their hiding places, then are able to reset extremely quickly. So even on busy nights when the inevitable conga lines form, with the limited visibility distance and the quick resets, the actors can get good scares in over and over again. There are plenty of other actors in miscellaneous roles throughout though, so don't think you won't have someone sneak up on you and get in your face.
Fear is the proverbial well-oiled machine. The operations are very good, the parking is free and widely-available, the decor is great, and in the 3 visits I've had, I have yet to see a flaw in the system. You might not think it's possible to put a haunt this good into a strip-mall, but from the second you walk through the front door you'll be challenged to find anything that spoils the evil fantasy world they've created. It's one of the most impressive haunts I've been through and is absolutely one that's worth a trip to experience.
The set design in Fear is one of the best around. Every surface or object you see fits its purpose precisely; the lighting is perfectly placed to highlight exactly what they want you to see, and the almost unbelievably loud music and sound-effects keep you on edge through the entire journey -also disguising the screams of the other guests. The attraction is enormous, but there are tight corners and visibility-limiting features everywhere so you hardly ever know what's coming next. It's hard to stress enough how stunning this haunt is- Every single thing you see and hear inside is there to immerse you in their world and it works perfectly.
I don't believe I remember a single actor reciting a line or catchphrase through the entire haunt (not that I could have heard them over the audio tracks anyway), but again, the acting isn't the focus here. A majority of the actors are in positions where they wait for people to enter their scene, they trigger their jump-scare lights and sound while popping out of their hiding places, then are able to reset extremely quickly. So even on busy nights when the inevitable conga lines form, with the limited visibility distance and the quick resets, the actors can get good scares in over and over again. There are plenty of other actors in miscellaneous roles throughout though, so don't think you won't have someone sneak up on you and get in your face.
Fear is the proverbial well-oiled machine. The operations are very good, the parking is free and widely-available, the decor is great, and in the 3 visits I've had, I have yet to see a flaw in the system. You might not think it's possible to put a haunt this good into a strip-mall, but from the second you walk through the front door you'll be challenged to find anything that spoils the evil fantasy world they've created. It's one of the most impressive haunts I've been through and is absolutely one that's worth a trip to experience.
Questions? Have a story to share? Leave it in the comments!