|
Scare Factor
Paul - Haunted Hotel is scary. It's aggressive, nasty, and intimidating. Teresa - This is an extreme haunted house and the decor, costumes, and actors themselves seem...*unhinged*. You never know what to expect or what they're going to do, but it's going to be all up in your space. They literally yank you off your feet. It feels like you might have wandered into somewhere you shouldn't have and you might really be in danger. Plenty of people don't make it past the entrance. Todd - Haunted Hotel started and ended strong this year. However the bulk of it in the middle fell awkwardly flat. We went from being yanked inside and given an intimating welcome to hallow scares and bizarre encounters. At one point we were stopped in the new bedroom scene as two actors decided in what manner they going to see our butts together. The veterans at the end made sure our exit was memorable, especially for me - forcing me to go through the entire exterior a second time. Unfortunately, as a whole it just wasn’t clicking together. Actors Paul - For whatever reason, a large percentage of the actors this year hesitant to engage. The ones who did were pretty good, but it was a bit of an odd experience this year. Teresa - The queue actors are great at keeping the crowd entertained. They all have great costumes, personas, and can be very intimidating, yelling, grabbing, and menacing you in a scary way, where you think you might die, but then you always get away and onto the next maniac. A few seemed a little shy, but some are relentless. Todd - Most actors (most of which were impressive actresses!) did a good job. I could tell many weren’t quite in their comfort zone of full hands-on contact but they still did their best to make the encounters anything but comfortable. The experienced actors were totally in tune with physical interaction Haunted Hotel is known for. Immersion Paul - There's not much doubt that you're in an old run-down building that some likely sketchy stuff has happened in over the years. Haunted Hotel is about as immersive as it gets- at least until you get into the outside maze. Teresa - This hotel is not like any haunted B&B you'd consider staying in. It's like you were exploring an abandoned building, at night, and realized these maniacs have taken it over, are pretending to work there, and may kill you for fun. Then you realize you MUST be having a nightmare because it can't be real. Todd - I still need to give a high score here because the inside feels as claustrophobic as ever. The tight spaces and sheer filthiness of the builds provides a total escape. Outside, as with past year, it’s more of a challenge because of the proximity to neighboring buildings. They’ve maximized the length of the outdoor portion so aside from going up (or a total rebuild), the outdoor area becomes an area for cat and mouse games as opposed to decrepit scenery and vile characters. Ok the guys at the end are pretty vile. Entertainment Paul - While the point of haunts is to scare you, you're also supposed to have a good time. I'm not sure if any of us walked out this year feeling like we had a good experience overall. Teresa - I love a full-contact haunt, and this one is insane. If you love seeing your friends freak out because they're picked on (or dragged away) by demented denizens, you'll love the Haunted Hotel. Not for the faint-of-heart! There can be quite a line in front, but the queue actors do a great job of making their way around and messing with people, giving you a sample of what you might see inside. And when you finally come out, it's fun to hang out by the ticket and merch booth to watch others running out. Todd - About 40% through I specifically remember asking myself “what is going on this year?” The haunt had become a bit lifeless and lacking energy which is very uncharacteristic of this crew. This is one of the last places I’d expect to have the mental clearance to reflect on this in the moment. |
What Makes This Haunt Special
Paul - It's Haunted Hotel. It's crass, dark, aggressive, dirty, nasty, and you'll never forget it.
Teresa - It's full-contact and really comes across as completely unhinged. There's just a gritty nightmare feel to it. Don't wear nice clothes, you will probably get stuff on you. And while they do a great job with touching in a scary way, without being inappropriate or hurting you, it's a chaotic, dark place. Follow the rules, be safe, and have fun! Todd - Haunted Hotel is still a more aggressive experience than most (or any other) places you’ll go. |
What Can Be Worked On
Paul - While there were a few upgrades this year, some existing areas have been neglected. Lots of props not working, and actors not into it.
Teresa - I'd like a little more interaction in unique ways inside. More unexpected improv or tasks. Some years there is more than others. Some of the actors are fantastic. Some seemed like they're still finding themselves and testing boundaries, which is fine. It's a tricky gig! Todd - With the bar set high and a reputation for being an infamous haunt, I think it’s important to ensure the actors are all aligned on the experience they’re going for. The energy was very inconsistent throughout. |
In Summary
Paul - I think we caught Haunted Hotel on an off night. It's typically non-stop chaos from start to finish, but this year was only partial chaos- and some of it was just bad.
Teresa - Some years Haunted Hotel feels more extreme than others. This year felt pretty amped up to me! I was yanked off my feet, sniffed, threatened, dragged, and a bit bruised. It's still a ton of fun. A night full of adrenaline and completely intimidating actors that keep you on edge the whole time. It always feels like you might be walking into legit danger. Be prepared! You have been warned!
Todd - Not the best show compared to past years, though I still wouldn’t ever miss it. I think there are a lot of fans as dedicated to coming back as I am. I can’t imagine ever not being a proponent of this haunt which is why perhaps I may sound critical; I want it to be successful.
Teresa - Some years Haunted Hotel feels more extreme than others. This year felt pretty amped up to me! I was yanked off my feet, sniffed, threatened, dragged, and a bit bruised. It's still a ton of fun. A night full of adrenaline and completely intimidating actors that keep you on edge the whole time. It always feels like you might be walking into legit danger. Be prepared! You have been warned!
Todd - Not the best show compared to past years, though I still wouldn’t ever miss it. I think there are a lot of fans as dedicated to coming back as I am. I can’t imagine ever not being a proponent of this haunt which is why perhaps I may sound critical; I want it to be successful.