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There's no sophomore slump here! |
Todd - Malice Manor served up an impressive opening year in 2019, offering a nice balance between hand-crafted sets, just the right amount of props and some fresh ideas. Despite not finishing everything they hoped to accomplish prior to opening, this haunt put on an impressive show last season - so much so we actually went back down for the Valentine’s haunt. This year, despite Covid restrictions (which means no one’s getting spanked or flogged - sorry), the additions and revisions within did not let us down and made Malice Manor worth the stop this year.
One nice accommodation MM offers is a fairly large indoor line queue. Horror movies are projected on the wall while you wait to approach the new foreboding entry facade. Wear a jacket either way - though you’ll eventually wait indoors, there’s a good chance the line will get lengthy enough to start outside. When your turn comes, two gargoyle heads will puff some fog and the entry door will open itself - time to head in!
As last year, the adventure begins with a narrative in a very manor-esque sitting room. After being welcomed, you’ll wander through just about any sort of setting you can think of. MM offers a wide variety styles and visuals throughout (probably the most diverse of any haunt we go through) and all of them are pretty damn good. Some rooms are those typically found in a traditional haunted house - a kitchen, a doll room, for example - and then others you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else, like the sea harbor with its giant shark or the desert set complete with what I’ve labeled as the “big ass scorpion.” The final room, completely changed from last year, has a fun effect in it which I found to be very memorable. I enjoyed the pentagram of Christmas lights last year with the chainsaw-wielding Krampus-like guy, but this new set and the others really showcase the talents (and twisted humor) of the owners and staff. It would be hard to recap all the different areas of this haunt because there are so many. There is no single, underlying theme at MM so you’ll find yourself in a crypt full of coffins one moment and then in a crazy blacklight room with the world’s harshest vibrating floor the next. It tingles.
Another very noticeable change this year was how much tighter the walk through was, spatially. Some walls have been brought closer together, others reconfigured and don’t even get me started on the blackout maze - I literally was stuck in a corner for a good 30 seconds. The newly constructed areas for this season were built with the same mindset; there is no personal space between you and the environment. You’re almost forced to walk single-file so if you happen to be claustrophobic, have fun with that.
If you visited MM last year, then you’ll know one of their key strengths is their actors’ interaction. This is not a haunt you’ll normally walk through continuously. In many rooms, the actor(s) will stop and engage you, ask you to do something….::cough::..spank you…...or tell a rather raunchy joke. This year, that level of interaction was scaled back dramatically in comparison. However, it’s thankfully not due to a change in direction, but due to Covid safety guidelines. MM is normally a touch haunt, but of course touching kind of violates that pesky social distancing rule so it’s not there. In order to minimize the time “face to face” with the actors, their interactions are more brief and build less on their character’s story, etc. This being said, I found the actors to still do a fantastic job. A number of them acted down right batshit crazy! I distinctly remember the untrusting girl in the kitchen slashing her knife at us and the girl in the baby doll room being very good…and loud.
One constant throughout MM is that there’s always something a little bit “extra” in each room - either a stand-out actor, an extra layer of visual appeal or an effect that kicks it all up a notch. After talking with the owners, we got a taste of what’s to come next and I’m already eager to see it come to life. MM is the only haunt that comes to my mind which we started reviewing in its first year. That makes it more special for us because we can see how this haunt will grow year after year and from what I’ve seen so far, it certainly will be a staple in the haunt community. There’s a lot of talent and creative thinking behind the scenes at MM and I cannot wait to see how its uniqueness flourishes in the years to come. Oh - and they’ll be able to touch again, which in Malice Manor, might just mean a whole lot of your modesty goes right out the window!
One nice accommodation MM offers is a fairly large indoor line queue. Horror movies are projected on the wall while you wait to approach the new foreboding entry facade. Wear a jacket either way - though you’ll eventually wait indoors, there’s a good chance the line will get lengthy enough to start outside. When your turn comes, two gargoyle heads will puff some fog and the entry door will open itself - time to head in!
As last year, the adventure begins with a narrative in a very manor-esque sitting room. After being welcomed, you’ll wander through just about any sort of setting you can think of. MM offers a wide variety styles and visuals throughout (probably the most diverse of any haunt we go through) and all of them are pretty damn good. Some rooms are those typically found in a traditional haunted house - a kitchen, a doll room, for example - and then others you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else, like the sea harbor with its giant shark or the desert set complete with what I’ve labeled as the “big ass scorpion.” The final room, completely changed from last year, has a fun effect in it which I found to be very memorable. I enjoyed the pentagram of Christmas lights last year with the chainsaw-wielding Krampus-like guy, but this new set and the others really showcase the talents (and twisted humor) of the owners and staff. It would be hard to recap all the different areas of this haunt because there are so many. There is no single, underlying theme at MM so you’ll find yourself in a crypt full of coffins one moment and then in a crazy blacklight room with the world’s harshest vibrating floor the next. It tingles.
Another very noticeable change this year was how much tighter the walk through was, spatially. Some walls have been brought closer together, others reconfigured and don’t even get me started on the blackout maze - I literally was stuck in a corner for a good 30 seconds. The newly constructed areas for this season were built with the same mindset; there is no personal space between you and the environment. You’re almost forced to walk single-file so if you happen to be claustrophobic, have fun with that.
If you visited MM last year, then you’ll know one of their key strengths is their actors’ interaction. This is not a haunt you’ll normally walk through continuously. In many rooms, the actor(s) will stop and engage you, ask you to do something….::cough::..spank you…...or tell a rather raunchy joke. This year, that level of interaction was scaled back dramatically in comparison. However, it’s thankfully not due to a change in direction, but due to Covid safety guidelines. MM is normally a touch haunt, but of course touching kind of violates that pesky social distancing rule so it’s not there. In order to minimize the time “face to face” with the actors, their interactions are more brief and build less on their character’s story, etc. This being said, I found the actors to still do a fantastic job. A number of them acted down right batshit crazy! I distinctly remember the untrusting girl in the kitchen slashing her knife at us and the girl in the baby doll room being very good…and loud.
One constant throughout MM is that there’s always something a little bit “extra” in each room - either a stand-out actor, an extra layer of visual appeal or an effect that kicks it all up a notch. After talking with the owners, we got a taste of what’s to come next and I’m already eager to see it come to life. MM is the only haunt that comes to my mind which we started reviewing in its first year. That makes it more special for us because we can see how this haunt will grow year after year and from what I’ve seen so far, it certainly will be a staple in the haunt community. There’s a lot of talent and creative thinking behind the scenes at MM and I cannot wait to see how its uniqueness flourishes in the years to come. Oh - and they’ll be able to touch again, which in Malice Manor, might just mean a whole lot of your modesty goes right out the window!
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Only 2 years open and already this good? |
Paul - Last year was the first year for Malice Manor and we were blown away by what they had put together in a fairly short time. While I expected a few fine-tuning type changes to the haunt for this year, I didn't expect such a drastic improvement! There were tweaks to the entire place, and a few all-new areas as well.
Malice Manor is a haunt with no theme. It's a collection of scenes that vary all over the place. There's a house (obviously), a seascape, a carnival, a meat market, and all kinds of crazy randomness in-between. While I do appreciate a well-put-together themed haunt, I love the creative freedom of an un-themed haunt. It allows the haunters the liberty to go wild with whatever twisted ideas they can come up with. I think it makes things surprising as well since you don't know what might be around the next corner.
And let me tell you... The surprises don't stop. From the first scene until you finally get out the back door, it's action and excitement the whole way. Great actors, well-designed scares, and amazingly-done props and animatronics make for a hell of an experience. While you won't get touched this year due to covid restrictions, it's still a freak-show of a voyage you'll want to take over and over again.
Malice Manor is a haunt with no theme. It's a collection of scenes that vary all over the place. There's a house (obviously), a seascape, a carnival, a meat market, and all kinds of crazy randomness in-between. While I do appreciate a well-put-together themed haunt, I love the creative freedom of an un-themed haunt. It allows the haunters the liberty to go wild with whatever twisted ideas they can come up with. I think it makes things surprising as well since you don't know what might be around the next corner.
And let me tell you... The surprises don't stop. From the first scene until you finally get out the back door, it's action and excitement the whole way. Great actors, well-designed scares, and amazingly-done props and animatronics make for a hell of an experience. While you won't get touched this year due to covid restrictions, it's still a freak-show of a voyage you'll want to take over and over again.
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One minute you're cringing, afraid of being electrocuted, the next you're feeling for the person in front of you in total darkness, and the next you're laughing at some gross dialogue or effect, just before a jump scare makes you scream. |
Teresa - Malice Manor is a relatively new haunted attraction located in Clarksville, Indiana (an easy drive to or from other Louisville-area haunts). Trust me when I say, if you love haunts, you need to go to Louisville, and if you go to Louisville, you have to see Malice Manor. The outside is rather low-key (being across from a high school they aren't supposed to draw too much attention), but inside...what horrors await! You can get tickets online or on-site at the ticket booth. The booth and queue are all inside, so don't worry about cold or rain; worry about dark, or spiders, or cannibals, or dolls, or chainsaws, or pretty much anything else you can think of. There are horror movies projected on the wall to entertain you while you wait and queue actors popping up behind you when you least expect it. Be aware that masks are required throughout the building and social distancing must be observed. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $40 for fast passes, and $60 for skip-the-line. Parking is free and located adjacent to the building. Also, this may be a good place to warn you that Malice Manor was not allowed to have restrooms this year (more COVID restrictions) so be sure to take care of that before you arrive! They have added some scenes and changed some things for this year, one of which you will notice right away (if you came last year) as the ticket booth is now closer to the front and there's a new facade where you enter the haunt proper. It definitely adds more ambiance.
Once you get inside, be prepared for anything. There isn't a single theme here (unless that theme is surprise), so you get a variety of scenes and effects. You really never know what to expect. It is so creative and so well done. Some parts have great jump scares, some have cool effects like secret doors you may have to duck through. The effects are so good and really bring each scene to life. The props are unusual and unexpected. The lighting is perfect. You will face crazy, hungry, demented, creepy, and funny characters. Some scenes are pretty intense and shocking and your adrenaline will kick up about 12 notches. Other parts are quiet and creepy. The décor is fantastic and unique; the effects perfectly executed. I just love the variety. One minute you're cringing, afraid of being electrocuted, the next you're feeling for the person in front of you in total darkness, and the next you're laughing at some gross dialogue or effect, just before a jump scare makes you scream. The actors are quite good and I love their costumes and makeup. You can find some images on the website. Some harass you and some insist on interacting and some play games. All of it is so fun! I love the new additions for this year, too. In a place that is already so surprising and creative, I'm happy to see they have changed it up with new surprises to keep you on your toes. All of this just means that I can't wait to go through again! And if you haven't been yet, go! It's a perfect way to have a good scream heading into Halloween!
Once you get inside, be prepared for anything. There isn't a single theme here (unless that theme is surprise), so you get a variety of scenes and effects. You really never know what to expect. It is so creative and so well done. Some parts have great jump scares, some have cool effects like secret doors you may have to duck through. The effects are so good and really bring each scene to life. The props are unusual and unexpected. The lighting is perfect. You will face crazy, hungry, demented, creepy, and funny characters. Some scenes are pretty intense and shocking and your adrenaline will kick up about 12 notches. Other parts are quiet and creepy. The décor is fantastic and unique; the effects perfectly executed. I just love the variety. One minute you're cringing, afraid of being electrocuted, the next you're feeling for the person in front of you in total darkness, and the next you're laughing at some gross dialogue or effect, just before a jump scare makes you scream. The actors are quite good and I love their costumes and makeup. You can find some images on the website. Some harass you and some insist on interacting and some play games. All of it is so fun! I love the new additions for this year, too. In a place that is already so surprising and creative, I'm happy to see they have changed it up with new surprises to keep you on your toes. All of this just means that I can't wait to go through again! And if you haven't been yet, go! It's a perfect way to have a good scream heading into Halloween!
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This haunt is a magnificent mixed bag of horrific delight!! |
Gayle - So, this was actually my first visit to Malice Manor, as I missed the trip last year. Man, am I glad I got to experience it this year...even (especially) during "COVID season"!
It's so hard to believe Malice Manor has only been running for 2 seasons. The atmosphere, queue line, actors, décor, overall feel is that of a more seasoned haunted attraction. The location alone offers luxuries some seasonal haunts don't, such as an indoor ticket booth, queue line, and ample parking. While in line, victims...err, guests can view a projected horror flick to get them in the "spirit" while they await their turn to enter....
The entrance façade is fantastically creepy with the looming gargoyles and eerie fog effects. Once inside, we were welcomed into a cozy manor room, complete with fireplace, and a quick backstory of the manor.
From that point on...it's one surprise after the next. There is no real "theme" here, so be prepared for anything and everything...such as tingly walls, a scorpion, creepy dolls, twisted cooks in the kitchen, bodies trapped under a car, and even a shark! There were tightly-spaced walkways and total darkness at times that just added to the heart-pounding suspense as I maneuvered through this haunt. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what exciting things this haunt offers.
The actors can make or break a haunt, and Malice Manor has fantastic ones! Each one we encountered was engaging and fun and creepy...despite the COVID restrictions. They did a phenomenal job with the "social distances" while remaining in character and super scary!!! Great job!!!
I have to say Louisville has been my favorite place to review haunts, as it seems to be a mecca for them, and Malice Manor is NO EXCEPTION. This is a MUST SEE! Kudos to the owners who are devilishly creative. Their hard work and passion definitely shows throughout this haunt, and I can't wait to return next year to see what else may be in store!!!
It's so hard to believe Malice Manor has only been running for 2 seasons. The atmosphere, queue line, actors, décor, overall feel is that of a more seasoned haunted attraction. The location alone offers luxuries some seasonal haunts don't, such as an indoor ticket booth, queue line, and ample parking. While in line, victims...err, guests can view a projected horror flick to get them in the "spirit" while they await their turn to enter....
The entrance façade is fantastically creepy with the looming gargoyles and eerie fog effects. Once inside, we were welcomed into a cozy manor room, complete with fireplace, and a quick backstory of the manor.
From that point on...it's one surprise after the next. There is no real "theme" here, so be prepared for anything and everything...such as tingly walls, a scorpion, creepy dolls, twisted cooks in the kitchen, bodies trapped under a car, and even a shark! There were tightly-spaced walkways and total darkness at times that just added to the heart-pounding suspense as I maneuvered through this haunt. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what exciting things this haunt offers.
The actors can make or break a haunt, and Malice Manor has fantastic ones! Each one we encountered was engaging and fun and creepy...despite the COVID restrictions. They did a phenomenal job with the "social distances" while remaining in character and super scary!!! Great job!!!
I have to say Louisville has been my favorite place to review haunts, as it seems to be a mecca for them, and Malice Manor is NO EXCEPTION. This is a MUST SEE! Kudos to the owners who are devilishly creative. Their hard work and passion definitely shows throughout this haunt, and I can't wait to return next year to see what else may be in store!!!
Questions? Have a story to share? Leave it in the comments!