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I got spanked! Luckily not by the gimp. They have a gimp. |
Todd - So yeah. Malice Manor...it's different alright! When the first-year owners went all-in to create Malice Manor (MM), they wanted to defy convention. I think it's safe to say they succeeded. MM has a number of elements reminiscent of other haunts - dark hallways, creepy characters..but there are so many things that are so far out of left field that it was entirely memorable and an absolute blast!
MM is an indoor haunt constructed within a large open floor building. Complete with a spacious lobby which can be used for special events year-round, this haunt is very unassuming from the outside. Even as we stood in the lobby, it gave off a very neutral vibe with one single door along an entire white wall admitting visitors in small groups. A few roaming actors lurked about; one looked like Leatherface, if he escaped from a medical facility after attending a clown seminar. We also were visited by a large barbarian looking guy with a good luck charm that just so happened to be a severed penis. Might be best to leave the kids at home.
The first room we entered was a home scene with the lady of the house (who smacked me on the ass with her fan, hard) and, well, a gimp. The gimp didn't say anything (hard to talk with a ball gag in your mouth) or do anything. He just kind of stood there while we were introduced to the haunt. Definitely a first. That pretty much sets the tone for the haunt. Now before you think this is a front for some S&M dungeon, it really is a haunted house - I promise. In fact, it has a wide array of scenes and while they have no shared theme, each one is executed with some fantastic scenery. One area is made up to look like a pirate ship and docks, while another is a butcher shop which specializes in selling choice-cut breasts and asses. Despite each area having no connection to the one prior, many elements in each scene are unique and quite impressive, especially for a first-year build.
The actors were probably the most engaging of any haunt this season. Each one of them had a dialogue or story to tell to accompany the theme and all of theme were phenomenal with ad-libbing and carrying on a conversation. There were not many scare actors; rather each primary actor was the "star of the show" for their scene. A few standouts worth mentioning are Bubba in the bathroom. I've never been gut-checked quite like that ever in life. He was absolutely hysterical! The final scene features a chainsaw wielding demon in his festive room decorated with Christmas lights in the shape of a pentagram (nice touch). Oh and of course we cant forget the dominatrix that made Paul bend over on the love couch for a quick flogging. Awkward!
If at this point you're thinking, "What the hell did I just read about?" then I think my quick recap here has been a success. Malice Manor is crazy, off-the-wall and completely entertaining. It's a party mix of horror, comedy and adult themes that's unlike any haunt around. I thought the environments were very well done and they are an incredible base to enhance for 2020. The hard work is clearly on display here and MM is blessed to have some great actors also. It's an experience that left us with smiles ear to ear and I can't wait to go back.
MM is an indoor haunt constructed within a large open floor building. Complete with a spacious lobby which can be used for special events year-round, this haunt is very unassuming from the outside. Even as we stood in the lobby, it gave off a very neutral vibe with one single door along an entire white wall admitting visitors in small groups. A few roaming actors lurked about; one looked like Leatherface, if he escaped from a medical facility after attending a clown seminar. We also were visited by a large barbarian looking guy with a good luck charm that just so happened to be a severed penis. Might be best to leave the kids at home.
The first room we entered was a home scene with the lady of the house (who smacked me on the ass with her fan, hard) and, well, a gimp. The gimp didn't say anything (hard to talk with a ball gag in your mouth) or do anything. He just kind of stood there while we were introduced to the haunt. Definitely a first. That pretty much sets the tone for the haunt. Now before you think this is a front for some S&M dungeon, it really is a haunted house - I promise. In fact, it has a wide array of scenes and while they have no shared theme, each one is executed with some fantastic scenery. One area is made up to look like a pirate ship and docks, while another is a butcher shop which specializes in selling choice-cut breasts and asses. Despite each area having no connection to the one prior, many elements in each scene are unique and quite impressive, especially for a first-year build.
The actors were probably the most engaging of any haunt this season. Each one of them had a dialogue or story to tell to accompany the theme and all of theme were phenomenal with ad-libbing and carrying on a conversation. There were not many scare actors; rather each primary actor was the "star of the show" for their scene. A few standouts worth mentioning are Bubba in the bathroom. I've never been gut-checked quite like that ever in life. He was absolutely hysterical! The final scene features a chainsaw wielding demon in his festive room decorated with Christmas lights in the shape of a pentagram (nice touch). Oh and of course we cant forget the dominatrix that made Paul bend over on the love couch for a quick flogging. Awkward!
If at this point you're thinking, "What the hell did I just read about?" then I think my quick recap here has been a success. Malice Manor is crazy, off-the-wall and completely entertaining. It's a party mix of horror, comedy and adult themes that's unlike any haunt around. I thought the environments were very well done and they are an incredible base to enhance for 2020. The hard work is clearly on display here and MM is blessed to have some great actors also. It's an experience that left us with smiles ear to ear and I can't wait to go back.
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Where the hell did this come from?? |
Paul - I'm always a little nervous going into a new haunt. It isn't really the anticipation of the scare or not knowing what horrors lurk within, it's usually because if the haunt isn't good it means I'm going to have to disappoint the owner with a harsh review of what could be improved. Malice Manor is a brand new attraction in 2019 so I had my doubts walking in their front door. Luckily there were no doubts left by the time I walked out!
Malice Manor (MM) has been in the minds of the creators for many years, and this year they were finally able to unveil it for the world to see. It's a haunt without a theme, just built to draw people into the intricate scenes they've built and to terrify them throughout.
Built inside of a large building in Clarksville, Indiana (just across the river from Louisville), MM doesn't look like much from outside. There's an old car and some signs out front, and you'd probably drive right by it if you weren't looking for it. But what's inside that's important... The ENTIRE haunt (waiting area also) is indoors, so you don't have to endure rain, snow, wind, cold, or any other crazy weather while waiting in line or while in the actual attraction. The waiting area also has movies playing, has a nice souvenir area, and has some really creepy roaming actors sneaking around to keep you on your toes.
As for the haunt itself... What an experience!! How in the world they managed to pack this much into a brand new haunt I'll never know. From start to finish there are excellent actors, highly detailed sets, fantastic props, and scares galore. We see so many haunts every year, you can start to tell which ones got bulk discounts from certain trade show booths and which ones went a little more creative and likes to build lots their props on their own. A lot of the trade show props are top-level pieces, but I love seeing things I haven't seen before, and MM is chock full of super creative, one-off pieces.
The actors are amazing. Every scene has extremely interactive actors who will 100% make you a part of their environment, and since it's a touch haunt they'll use that aspect to really draw you in. None of the contact is excessive or inappropriate in any way, it's just used as a tool to enhance the scare.
My scoring was done with the following thoughts...
The scare factor at MM is one of the best around. There were surprises all over the place, and they weren't just jump scares where actors/props pop out of a hiding place to surprise you. Everything was well thought out, well executed, and really creepy.
The actors are also at the top of the heap. Every actor we encountered was interactive, believable, themed perfectly to his/her area, had great dialogue, and really helped sell the scene. The ones who were supposed to be funny were hilarious, the ones who were supposed to be angry were irate, and the ones who were supposed to be creepy were absolutely creepy. I honestly can't remember one actor who was there just to have someone in a room or fill a spot.
Engagement/Immersion is scored based on how good a job they do at making you feel like you're really a part of what's happening, and keep you in that mindset through the entire haunt. MM's excellence in acting, sets, and props all combine to give a very high score here as well. The lack of a theme does bring the score down a little bit here because you walk from scene to scene without the smoothest transitions, but it also adds flexibility to them being able to change things out in the future.
As for entertainment... I had a blast through the entire haunt! You can have the scariest haunt on the planet, but if it isn't entertaining then why would you want to go? No worries on that at MM; The roaming actors and movies in the queue area, the scares, the laughs, the interaction, the games, the sights, the sounds, etc, all made it so I wanted to go through again as soon as we walked out!
Malice Manor should be on your haunt must-see list. It's hugely entertaining, scary, amazingly well made, and is one of my favorite haunts of the year.
Malice Manor (MM) has been in the minds of the creators for many years, and this year they were finally able to unveil it for the world to see. It's a haunt without a theme, just built to draw people into the intricate scenes they've built and to terrify them throughout.
Built inside of a large building in Clarksville, Indiana (just across the river from Louisville), MM doesn't look like much from outside. There's an old car and some signs out front, and you'd probably drive right by it if you weren't looking for it. But what's inside that's important... The ENTIRE haunt (waiting area also) is indoors, so you don't have to endure rain, snow, wind, cold, or any other crazy weather while waiting in line or while in the actual attraction. The waiting area also has movies playing, has a nice souvenir area, and has some really creepy roaming actors sneaking around to keep you on your toes.
As for the haunt itself... What an experience!! How in the world they managed to pack this much into a brand new haunt I'll never know. From start to finish there are excellent actors, highly detailed sets, fantastic props, and scares galore. We see so many haunts every year, you can start to tell which ones got bulk discounts from certain trade show booths and which ones went a little more creative and likes to build lots their props on their own. A lot of the trade show props are top-level pieces, but I love seeing things I haven't seen before, and MM is chock full of super creative, one-off pieces.
The actors are amazing. Every scene has extremely interactive actors who will 100% make you a part of their environment, and since it's a touch haunt they'll use that aspect to really draw you in. None of the contact is excessive or inappropriate in any way, it's just used as a tool to enhance the scare.
My scoring was done with the following thoughts...
The scare factor at MM is one of the best around. There were surprises all over the place, and they weren't just jump scares where actors/props pop out of a hiding place to surprise you. Everything was well thought out, well executed, and really creepy.
The actors are also at the top of the heap. Every actor we encountered was interactive, believable, themed perfectly to his/her area, had great dialogue, and really helped sell the scene. The ones who were supposed to be funny were hilarious, the ones who were supposed to be angry were irate, and the ones who were supposed to be creepy were absolutely creepy. I honestly can't remember one actor who was there just to have someone in a room or fill a spot.
Engagement/Immersion is scored based on how good a job they do at making you feel like you're really a part of what's happening, and keep you in that mindset through the entire haunt. MM's excellence in acting, sets, and props all combine to give a very high score here as well. The lack of a theme does bring the score down a little bit here because you walk from scene to scene without the smoothest transitions, but it also adds flexibility to them being able to change things out in the future.
As for entertainment... I had a blast through the entire haunt! You can have the scariest haunt on the planet, but if it isn't entertaining then why would you want to go? No worries on that at MM; The roaming actors and movies in the queue area, the scares, the laughs, the interaction, the games, the sights, the sounds, etc, all made it so I wanted to go through again as soon as we walked out!
Malice Manor should be on your haunt must-see list. It's hugely entertaining, scary, amazingly well made, and is one of my favorite haunts of the year.
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If you like laughing with your friends, this place is where you want to go. It is just so much fun! |
Teresa - Malice Manor is a fantastic new haunt opening this year in Clarksville, Indiana. For those of you who don't know where that is, it is conveniently located in Indiana in the greater Louisville metropolitan area. If you're worried that this might not be good enough to spend your money on, being a first-year haunt, worry no more! I'm here to tell you that the people running this place have a LOT of great experience and background in places like The Haunted Hotel in Louisville, and the former Industrial Terrorplex in Jeffersonville.
You would never know this was a new haunt. It is located in a great big building, and the ticket booth, merchandise counter, queue, and haunt are all indoors, so no worries about the weather! The website has everything you need, so you can buy tickets ahead of time, and you can also check for discounts. Right now, they have a $5-off coupon for Sunday evenings. There are also a skip-the-line passes available, for those who aren't good at waiting. Having said that, if you don't want to spend the extra, this one is worth waiting for! There are movies playing in the lobby area, and they are always different, so between that and the scary creeps sneaking around, eliciting screams from unsuspecting guests, you've got plenty to entertain you while you wait.
There really isn't an over-arching theme in this haunt, but it really doesn't take away from the experience. It's an "anything-goes" type of place, and I do mean "anything". Inside, you walk from scene to scene, never knowing what to expect. It may seem like a benign living room, until you see who is lurking there. Each scene is very well done, with flickering candelabras, or burning stoves, or scenes from movies, or dirty bathrooms, or even a pirate ship. Some you may recognize from movies. I thoroughly enjoyed just looking at each new room. There are lots of jump scares and fun special effects. Sometimes the decor is ludicrous enough that you'll want to laugh. Actually, the whole place is infused with lots of humorous themes and situations throughout.
The humor was probably my favorite part. And even though it only says it in small print on the website, the actors CAN touch you here. It isn't overly aggressive. It is more menacing and flirtatious and slightly raunchy to make you uncomfortable. The characters here are intimidating and fun. I loved the costumes and makeup. There are some adult themes, but it is all meant to be funny. We were cracking up. Since we were all adults, I'm not sure how much the actors tailor their spiel for a younger audience. If you are okay with your child seeing a gimp suit, seeing a member of the party chosen for flogging, and toilet-type humor, then it's all good. I'd give it a PG-13. For those teen-aged and up, this is an absolute riot! There are lots of intimidating actors who dwell in the realm of the demented and depraved, fascinating scenes, startles, and (did I mention?) fun!
I don't want to give away too much as it would spoil the surprises. If you like laughing with your friends, this place is where you want to go. We had such a great time! If you're a haunt fan, you want to see this ASAP. Hurry! Halloween is approaching and they are only open through the first weekend of November! I'm so glad I got to see them their first year. I can't wait for next year!
You would never know this was a new haunt. It is located in a great big building, and the ticket booth, merchandise counter, queue, and haunt are all indoors, so no worries about the weather! The website has everything you need, so you can buy tickets ahead of time, and you can also check for discounts. Right now, they have a $5-off coupon for Sunday evenings. There are also a skip-the-line passes available, for those who aren't good at waiting. Having said that, if you don't want to spend the extra, this one is worth waiting for! There are movies playing in the lobby area, and they are always different, so between that and the scary creeps sneaking around, eliciting screams from unsuspecting guests, you've got plenty to entertain you while you wait.
There really isn't an over-arching theme in this haunt, but it really doesn't take away from the experience. It's an "anything-goes" type of place, and I do mean "anything". Inside, you walk from scene to scene, never knowing what to expect. It may seem like a benign living room, until you see who is lurking there. Each scene is very well done, with flickering candelabras, or burning stoves, or scenes from movies, or dirty bathrooms, or even a pirate ship. Some you may recognize from movies. I thoroughly enjoyed just looking at each new room. There are lots of jump scares and fun special effects. Sometimes the decor is ludicrous enough that you'll want to laugh. Actually, the whole place is infused with lots of humorous themes and situations throughout.
The humor was probably my favorite part. And even though it only says it in small print on the website, the actors CAN touch you here. It isn't overly aggressive. It is more menacing and flirtatious and slightly raunchy to make you uncomfortable. The characters here are intimidating and fun. I loved the costumes and makeup. There are some adult themes, but it is all meant to be funny. We were cracking up. Since we were all adults, I'm not sure how much the actors tailor their spiel for a younger audience. If you are okay with your child seeing a gimp suit, seeing a member of the party chosen for flogging, and toilet-type humor, then it's all good. I'd give it a PG-13. For those teen-aged and up, this is an absolute riot! There are lots of intimidating actors who dwell in the realm of the demented and depraved, fascinating scenes, startles, and (did I mention?) fun!
I don't want to give away too much as it would spoil the surprises. If you like laughing with your friends, this place is where you want to go. We had such a great time! If you're a haunt fan, you want to see this ASAP. Hurry! Halloween is approaching and they are only open through the first weekend of November! I'm so glad I got to see them their first year. I can't wait for next year!
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Best first year haunt EVER!!! |
Donna - When a first year haunt opens - as a reviewer you usually don’t expect for it to be one of the best haunts you have seen all year. In the case of malice manner it totally changed my expectations of what a first year haunt should be. The owners Sean and Amanda Durkin have partnered with Kevin Stitch from haunted hotel and the result is an amazing over the top Freakshow of a scary ass haunt that totally blew us away. The detail in each room is fantastic and really brings out the overall theme of the room. The actors engage you as you walk through as they are not just scripted on what to say but totally immerse you in the scene as if you are truly their victim. The creativity is on a level that I’ve only seen a couple of other haunts with this type of creativity (the old Baxter Avenue morgue when Joey Arena was there and haunted hotel). I’ve never seen a first year haunt rise to this level with just a few months to pull this whole thing off. Sean and Amanda put in many many long hours to build this haunt and it definitely shows. This is a must see for the 2019 haunting season! Highly recommend!