| MT. HEALTHY HAUNTED HALL:
A frightening cemetery is the host for the queue
line outside The Haunted Hall. The old graveyard is home to
rats, and an undead body (animation) making one final attempt to escape
its earthen tomb, as well as a spooky looking fountain of blood.
A skeletal watchman, guards the premises peering down from an upstairs
window with illuminated eyes, and mysteriously waving a lantern back and
forth. Inside The Hall, an ominous looking staircase, shadowed
by a flying ghost, leads to an elevator where an agitated attendant orders
you to “push the button.” The doors slide open, and a second, equally
irate attendant orders you inside, demanding to know your destination.
The elevator buzzes, and thrashes about, eventually delivering you to some
unknown location, characterized by screams, a brief mirror maze, and startles
that arise from behind secret panels in the walls! One of the season’s
biggest surprises is about to occur inside The Mount Healthy Haunted
Hall! Actually, a series of surprises, consisting of moving,
and spongy floors serving as follow-ups to the "big one" you’re going to
have to discover on your own! The Devil himself must be dealt
with, and the adventure wouldn’t be complete without the traditional visit
to Dracula’s Chamber, which is accessed through a secret door contained
in an upright casket! One of The Count’s most recent victims
lies quietly in her coffin, but is about to deliver yet another shocking
surprise as you make your way past, and exit onto the outdoor section of
the haunt, where sirens blare, and you pay homage to Norman’s mother
at the Bates Motel. A spinning floor, and vortex lie ahead,
as well as an encounter with a wicked teacher, caught in the act of delivering
some cruel and unusual punishment to a couple of unruly students at P.S.
666. Still to come is a showdown with a hooded Executioner,
who’s busy consummating an electric chair death sentence, and a hanging,
that leads to a horrific “let the bodies hit the floor” confrontation with
a chainsaw wielding madman, and the patented maze finish that wraps up
the Mt. Healthy Haunted Hall experience.
Analysis:
LENGTH - 7½, Difficult to determine a precise
time, due to the uncertainty of the maze.
ACTORS - 8, The elevator crew is good, and there’s better
utilization of underage actors. An increase in make-up use is apparent,
and characters interact with groups by engaging them in dialogue, as opposed
to brief, growling encounters. Dracula is an annual favorite.
SCARINESS - 8, Appropriate background music complements
the frights. Actors are well hidden and fairly intense. Numerous
surprises are forthcoming in just about every scene. Would rate higher
if not for the loss of Devil scene discusssed below.
PROPS - 8, Good, scary décor, a few pneumatics,
and some unique things you won't see anyplace else. Drop down wall
panels provide three consecutive scares, not just one. Drac’s
casket door, and hidden maze passages are simply fantastic!
DESIGN - 8½, The house is as good as it’s ever
been! To their credit, they sure make the most out of every inch
of space inside The Hall itself, distancing scenes as close together
as possible. Appreciate the way spinning vortex and floor are used
to initiate your state of confusion prior to entering the dark maze.
Just wish there was some way to expand the number of indoor scenes, thereby
extending the experience. Loss of the classic Devil scene,
a Mt. Healthy tradition, is most unfortunate, as the ’07 encounter
isn’t nearly as impressive.
VALUE - 9, A $2 price hike, each of the last two years,
but still only $8 with a canned good donation! Can’t beat the price
considering the entertainment value.
RATING: 8, This well kept secret
is perhaps the best non-profit haunt in existence – always fun, and annually,
one of our local favorites. If you’ve never been, what are you waiting
for? And if you’ve visited before, you know you want to go back!
Just don’t ask me how to get out of the maze… they’ll change it, and it’ll
be different before you can get there!
NOTE: The Mount Healthy Haunted Hall
is sponsored by The Madonna Council Knights of Columbus, and Boy Scout
Troops 27 and 393. Special “Lights up - Lighter scares for the Little
Ones” events will be held October 14 and 21 from 3 to 5 p.m. Cost
is $7. |
