Todd - House of Trepidation tells the story of Dr. Belle, a man who enjoyed experimenting on his patients - many of which died in the process. The haunt, like last year, takes you through his home, his medical facility and then to an other-worldly beyond where his victims spend their eternity. Aesthetically, House of Trepidation hits the mark in its first two acts quite well. The third, no so much...but we'll get there later.
The first segment, the Belle house is undoubtedly the most visually unique. Sure, it's a house facade but a lot of attention to detail was implemented. Form the get-go, you'll find yourself in a foyer with Dr. Belle peering down at you from atop the staircase leading to the second floor. A homeworker will brief you on the backstory before setting you along your way. The environments are highly detailed, presenting a decaying interior. The floors crack and are unsteady, wallpaper is old and worn and in many areas, plaster has fallen from the walls revealing cavities in which the bodies of Belle's victims have been stashed (Ah, so that's where they went!). There are a few fun gags as well, such as the trophy room not only displaying a live human head, but a Yautja (Predator) head as well.
Particularly in this segment of HOT, there was a great use of misdirection. Our attention would be brought to an animatronic going off when the true scare was out of our range of focus. The use of these animatronics was much improved over last year.
The second segment is the medical facility which also has really good visuals. It's as good of a hospital haunt interior as any. Towards the end there was well executed mist wall - except someone forgot to unpause the DVD player connected to the projector so we found ourselves passing through the fog of the classic DVD VIDEO logo bouncing off the edges of the viewing area. This ended with a spacious dark room in which a blacklight illuminated a large Gore Galore puppet that will happily get up close and personal. Most of these large figures are positioned behind some sort of wall; not this one!
The final segment, Condemned, is the weakest point of the haunt. It has some memorable scenes - Slenderman returns and is as creepy as ever. A taste of next door's Nightmare on Edgewood was made apparent while navigating down a straight path when an animatronic of a woman climbing the wall came flying at us. In true NOE style, if you don't stop walking, this thing WILL hit you - very effective! Yet, a large portion of the haunt is a blackout...or what seemingly was supposed to be. In long sections between scenes, the maze was nothing more than black plywood which would be acceptable for a blackout experience. However, there was enough ambient light that we could clearly see where we were going resulting in a fairly dull effect. This portion of the haunt was also a little too riddled with "hidey holes" for actors to "Argh!" at us from, sometimes two in a single scene.
The final room was an abrupt end to the haunt. It appeared to be a morgue room, however, the body shelf doors on the walls appeared to be vacuum-formed panels and didn't blend well with the better-presented interiors found throughout the haunt. The ever infamous chainsaw was at the end too, though it was very week sounding - no doubt a built in speaker playing a sound effect because it is indoors (no haunt is worth carbon monoxide poisoning). I would argue it should be omitted if doesn't play well.
The actors that had speaking parts (as limited as most of them were) did a decent enough job. The ones that stood out the most however were the queue line actors maintaining the pace in between the segments (and the one doing the intro at the beginning). They were forced to keep the story going, setting up the next area's story and ad-lib to pass the time. This outweighed the responsibility of the actors within the actual haunt greatly. I felt like we should be experiencing more of that approach inside.
There was an extensive use of decorated and themed Covid mask covers to keep the illusion alive as best as possible. Rather than seeing black fabric over the actors paces, a decaying lower jaw piece, etc would be covering it. It stands out a bit, but there's an A for effort to keep the pandemic's effect on the haunt disguised as much as possible.
As previously mentioned, one element of HOT that still felt overused was actors behind a false door, whether it be a wall panel, drop panel or some object in the room on a hinge. There's a lot of it and there's only so many times someone can jump out and go "Argh!". At times this would be the only scare attempt in the room and it felt misplaced or ill-timed. It also felt to me that the actors didnt know what else to do, or had no other purpose so the "Argh!" was the extent of it.
HOT requires that you wear a mask this year and in return, the actors will too. Additionally, they require you to use hand sanitizer provided by them before entering. One surprising aspect with all of these precautions is that they did continue with a mild level of touching this year. You certainly wont be picked up or carried off, but a brush on the back or arm is definitely possible.
I enjoy House of Trepidation, more towards the beginning and less towards the end. I feel that the final act isn't up to par with the rest of the haunt and I would love to see an overhaul there. The indoor waiting area of HOT is a gorgeously macabre setting. By the end of the haunt it feels almost like the polar opposite aesthetically. If HOT can deliver the same level of impact at the end as it does in the beginning, I would walk out smiling, not scratching my head.
The first segment, the Belle house is undoubtedly the most visually unique. Sure, it's a house facade but a lot of attention to detail was implemented. Form the get-go, you'll find yourself in a foyer with Dr. Belle peering down at you from atop the staircase leading to the second floor. A homeworker will brief you on the backstory before setting you along your way. The environments are highly detailed, presenting a decaying interior. The floors crack and are unsteady, wallpaper is old and worn and in many areas, plaster has fallen from the walls revealing cavities in which the bodies of Belle's victims have been stashed (Ah, so that's where they went!). There are a few fun gags as well, such as the trophy room not only displaying a live human head, but a Yautja (Predator) head as well.
Particularly in this segment of HOT, there was a great use of misdirection. Our attention would be brought to an animatronic going off when the true scare was out of our range of focus. The use of these animatronics was much improved over last year.
The second segment is the medical facility which also has really good visuals. It's as good of a hospital haunt interior as any. Towards the end there was well executed mist wall - except someone forgot to unpause the DVD player connected to the projector so we found ourselves passing through the fog of the classic DVD VIDEO logo bouncing off the edges of the viewing area. This ended with a spacious dark room in which a blacklight illuminated a large Gore Galore puppet that will happily get up close and personal. Most of these large figures are positioned behind some sort of wall; not this one!
The final segment, Condemned, is the weakest point of the haunt. It has some memorable scenes - Slenderman returns and is as creepy as ever. A taste of next door's Nightmare on Edgewood was made apparent while navigating down a straight path when an animatronic of a woman climbing the wall came flying at us. In true NOE style, if you don't stop walking, this thing WILL hit you - very effective! Yet, a large portion of the haunt is a blackout...or what seemingly was supposed to be. In long sections between scenes, the maze was nothing more than black plywood which would be acceptable for a blackout experience. However, there was enough ambient light that we could clearly see where we were going resulting in a fairly dull effect. This portion of the haunt was also a little too riddled with "hidey holes" for actors to "Argh!" at us from, sometimes two in a single scene.
The final room was an abrupt end to the haunt. It appeared to be a morgue room, however, the body shelf doors on the walls appeared to be vacuum-formed panels and didn't blend well with the better-presented interiors found throughout the haunt. The ever infamous chainsaw was at the end too, though it was very week sounding - no doubt a built in speaker playing a sound effect because it is indoors (no haunt is worth carbon monoxide poisoning). I would argue it should be omitted if doesn't play well.
The actors that had speaking parts (as limited as most of them were) did a decent enough job. The ones that stood out the most however were the queue line actors maintaining the pace in between the segments (and the one doing the intro at the beginning). They were forced to keep the story going, setting up the next area's story and ad-lib to pass the time. This outweighed the responsibility of the actors within the actual haunt greatly. I felt like we should be experiencing more of that approach inside.
There was an extensive use of decorated and themed Covid mask covers to keep the illusion alive as best as possible. Rather than seeing black fabric over the actors paces, a decaying lower jaw piece, etc would be covering it. It stands out a bit, but there's an A for effort to keep the pandemic's effect on the haunt disguised as much as possible.
As previously mentioned, one element of HOT that still felt overused was actors behind a false door, whether it be a wall panel, drop panel or some object in the room on a hinge. There's a lot of it and there's only so many times someone can jump out and go "Argh!". At times this would be the only scare attempt in the room and it felt misplaced or ill-timed. It also felt to me that the actors didnt know what else to do, or had no other purpose so the "Argh!" was the extent of it.
HOT requires that you wear a mask this year and in return, the actors will too. Additionally, they require you to use hand sanitizer provided by them before entering. One surprising aspect with all of these precautions is that they did continue with a mild level of touching this year. You certainly wont be picked up or carried off, but a brush on the back or arm is definitely possible.
I enjoy House of Trepidation, more towards the beginning and less towards the end. I feel that the final act isn't up to par with the rest of the haunt and I would love to see an overhaul there. The indoor waiting area of HOT is a gorgeously macabre setting. By the end of the haunt it feels almost like the polar opposite aesthetically. If HOT can deliver the same level of impact at the end as it does in the beginning, I would walk out smiling, not scratching my head.
Paul - Last year's visit to House of Trepidation (HoT) was a bit of an internal conflict. There was some good and some bad, but overall it just felt as if it had huge potential that it wasn't quite hitting. This year they've really ramped things up.
HoT is located on the south side of Indianapolis in a rather large building that is shared with Nightmare on Edgewood. They are separate attractions but you can purchase a combo ticket that will give you a discount to go through both. HoT is billed as being a little less intense than Edgewood, but it's no kiddie haunt.
After getting your ticket and waiting through the fairly short covered line outside, you enter into the area they call the "Central Scare Park" where you will wait in another short line before going into the actual haunt. In this area you're allowed to take pictures or video, and you'll want to. It's one of the best waiting areas of any haunt we've visited. It's super creepy, with very good props, perfect lighting, and it just really gets you in the mood for the haunt.
When you enter Dr Belle's home, you are greeted by his super-crazy assistant, who gives you the downlow on what's going on in the house and a clue of what you might encounter. Honestly, I think that's something that more haunts should do. There are so many haunts where there is obviously a theme, but unless you went to their website and looked it up beforehand, some of the areas might not make sense while you go through. Dr Belle's house is much creepier than what we encountered last year. On our last visit it just kind of felt like you were walking through scene after scene of plywood walls, but this year that aspect was much better disguised and it felt substantially more authentic. Most of the actors were really into their roles, and the whole house felt much more evil in general. There were definitely some changes from last year, but I think this is a case where having creative and enthusiastic actors can make a huge improvement in the overall feel of a haunt.
The second portion of HoT is Dr Belle's clinic. It's an area full of some of the craziest patients you'll encounter, and some are trying to get you to stay, some demand that you leave, and others just want to treat you as they've been treated. It's a very well done area with quite a few good scares, though similar scenes are done at haunts all over the place, and there isn't a lot that sets this one apart other than I'd say HoT's actors do a better job than most for this type of theme.
The final portion of your voyage takes you through "Condemned", which is kind of a collection of fears. You encounter all kinds of the things that haunt your dreams as you work your way through. This area has some of the best props and animatronics of the three scenes, but I do think the actor integration could be improved a bit.
All in all I'd say HoT is improved from last year and definitely a big bang for your buck. There are three good-sized areas full of scares that will get your heart racing with anticipation. There are definite improvements from last year and it sounds like many more in the years to come. HoT will scare you over and over, and you'll want to keep coming back for more.
HoT is located on the south side of Indianapolis in a rather large building that is shared with Nightmare on Edgewood. They are separate attractions but you can purchase a combo ticket that will give you a discount to go through both. HoT is billed as being a little less intense than Edgewood, but it's no kiddie haunt.
After getting your ticket and waiting through the fairly short covered line outside, you enter into the area they call the "Central Scare Park" where you will wait in another short line before going into the actual haunt. In this area you're allowed to take pictures or video, and you'll want to. It's one of the best waiting areas of any haunt we've visited. It's super creepy, with very good props, perfect lighting, and it just really gets you in the mood for the haunt.
When you enter Dr Belle's home, you are greeted by his super-crazy assistant, who gives you the downlow on what's going on in the house and a clue of what you might encounter. Honestly, I think that's something that more haunts should do. There are so many haunts where there is obviously a theme, but unless you went to their website and looked it up beforehand, some of the areas might not make sense while you go through. Dr Belle's house is much creepier than what we encountered last year. On our last visit it just kind of felt like you were walking through scene after scene of plywood walls, but this year that aspect was much better disguised and it felt substantially more authentic. Most of the actors were really into their roles, and the whole house felt much more evil in general. There were definitely some changes from last year, but I think this is a case where having creative and enthusiastic actors can make a huge improvement in the overall feel of a haunt.
The second portion of HoT is Dr Belle's clinic. It's an area full of some of the craziest patients you'll encounter, and some are trying to get you to stay, some demand that you leave, and others just want to treat you as they've been treated. It's a very well done area with quite a few good scares, though similar scenes are done at haunts all over the place, and there isn't a lot that sets this one apart other than I'd say HoT's actors do a better job than most for this type of theme.
The final portion of your voyage takes you through "Condemned", which is kind of a collection of fears. You encounter all kinds of the things that haunt your dreams as you work your way through. This area has some of the best props and animatronics of the three scenes, but I do think the actor integration could be improved a bit.
All in all I'd say HoT is improved from last year and definitely a big bang for your buck. There are three good-sized areas full of scares that will get your heart racing with anticipation. There are definite improvements from last year and it sounds like many more in the years to come. HoT will scare you over and over, and you'll want to keep coming back for more.
Teresa - House of Trepidation is a 3-part haunted attraction in the Indianapolis area. This was only my second year going to it, but I was very impressed with the changes from last year. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but that completely changes once you get through the queue (which is covered, so no worries about rain). You have the option of general admission or a fast pass. The fast pass is $10 more per person, but it allows you to schedule your entry time and guarantees you will have a shorter wait. You can (and should) also go ahead and get tickets for Nightmare on Edgewood, which is the other haunt that shares the building. Combo tickets are available for both haunts, once you make your General Admission or Fast Pass selection online. Be sure to check out our reviews for that haunt as well. They really make for a fun evening. We got there right at opening, so our wait wasn't too bad. However, in these times of social distancing, the fast pass goes a long way to keeping your group's exposure to others to a minimum. I think it's nice to have that option, so you can have fun, but still be safe. We were asked to use hand sanitizer upon entering the waiting area. This is a fantastic space. It looks like you're standing in a creepy old courtyard surrounded by graves, coffins, and an old-time horse-drawn hearse. It's a really good backdrop for photos.
House of Trepidation is divided into three sections. You first walk into the house of Dr. Belle. There is a great backstory for him and his rather unethical experiments on the website, however, the woman who welcomes you does a fantastic job of explaining all this in person. You wander through the rooms of the not-so-good doctor's house, floors creaking, all kinds of unnatural oddities surrounding you. The decor is dark and creepy, like a house abandoned by all sane members of this world, inhabited by nightmarish creatures of Dr. Belle's demented mind, and there are some really fun effects. They really keep you on your toes, throwing the unexpected at you, and making it difficult to distinguish between prop and actor. You completely forget you're actually in a warehouse. The actors did a great job and I really enjoyed the creativity in the Belle house. Oh, and this might be a good place to mention, this is a touch haunt this year. At first, I thought I got grabbed by accident, but as we continued, it became quite apparent that these folks were definitely touching you with menacing purpose. It isn't extreme (think touching your hair or shoulder), and everyone is masked and sanitizer is available, so I was pleasantly surprised. I like the extra level of scare, knowing the monsters can touch you.
If you make it through, you find yourself standing in a re-grouping area, which is always nice for pacing purposes, so groups don't catch up to one another. Next you enter the Crossroads of Carnage. You are greeted by a nurse who is all business. She asked us some questions and didn't particularly like our answers. Then you enter an old clinic full of Dr. Belle's patients, and they are some very unhappy people. It's dark and labyrinthine and there are lots of jump scares. The actors have some fantastic hiding places, and the music really heightens the tension and adrenaline. Speaking of "height", I was happy to see Slender Man again. I had forgotten about him from last year. So cool! Then you find yourselves in another re-grouping area to catch your breath (and resolve) before entering Condemned.
Condemned is the abandoned warehouse next to Dr. Belle's clinic where he began to house the patients who would be too disturbing for the rest of the city to see. There is no pretense of sanity here. Patients are monstrous, sick, angry, mad, and in some cases, dead. Sparks literally fly as your adrenaline carries you from room to room. You do not want to end up in one of these cages, or worse, the morgue! Dr. Belle seems to have ways of making the dead ones easy to store and dispose of, though. You've got to admire his efficiency!
I had a lot of fun in Dr. Belle's domain this year. I'm really glad we came back. There are so many good scenes and scares. The creativity really stands out and there are some fantastic actors. I think the new additions and animatronics really make it even more immersive. I'm really impressed with how much was changed, especially considering this crazy pandemic going on. I can't wait to see it next year!
House of Trepidation is divided into three sections. You first walk into the house of Dr. Belle. There is a great backstory for him and his rather unethical experiments on the website, however, the woman who welcomes you does a fantastic job of explaining all this in person. You wander through the rooms of the not-so-good doctor's house, floors creaking, all kinds of unnatural oddities surrounding you. The decor is dark and creepy, like a house abandoned by all sane members of this world, inhabited by nightmarish creatures of Dr. Belle's demented mind, and there are some really fun effects. They really keep you on your toes, throwing the unexpected at you, and making it difficult to distinguish between prop and actor. You completely forget you're actually in a warehouse. The actors did a great job and I really enjoyed the creativity in the Belle house. Oh, and this might be a good place to mention, this is a touch haunt this year. At first, I thought I got grabbed by accident, but as we continued, it became quite apparent that these folks were definitely touching you with menacing purpose. It isn't extreme (think touching your hair or shoulder), and everyone is masked and sanitizer is available, so I was pleasantly surprised. I like the extra level of scare, knowing the monsters can touch you.
If you make it through, you find yourself standing in a re-grouping area, which is always nice for pacing purposes, so groups don't catch up to one another. Next you enter the Crossroads of Carnage. You are greeted by a nurse who is all business. She asked us some questions and didn't particularly like our answers. Then you enter an old clinic full of Dr. Belle's patients, and they are some very unhappy people. It's dark and labyrinthine and there are lots of jump scares. The actors have some fantastic hiding places, and the music really heightens the tension and adrenaline. Speaking of "height", I was happy to see Slender Man again. I had forgotten about him from last year. So cool! Then you find yourselves in another re-grouping area to catch your breath (and resolve) before entering Condemned.
Condemned is the abandoned warehouse next to Dr. Belle's clinic where he began to house the patients who would be too disturbing for the rest of the city to see. There is no pretense of sanity here. Patients are monstrous, sick, angry, mad, and in some cases, dead. Sparks literally fly as your adrenaline carries you from room to room. You do not want to end up in one of these cages, or worse, the morgue! Dr. Belle seems to have ways of making the dead ones easy to store and dispose of, though. You've got to admire his efficiency!
I had a lot of fun in Dr. Belle's domain this year. I'm really glad we came back. There are so many good scenes and scares. The creativity really stands out and there are some fantastic actors. I think the new additions and animatronics really make it even more immersive. I'm really impressed with how much was changed, especially considering this crazy pandemic going on. I can't wait to see it next year!
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