| RIVERSIDE JAYCEES HAUNTED HOUSE:
Scary
music welcomes you into the 2007 Haunted House
entitled
The Haunted
Castle of Carnage. From out of the darkness, a coffin suddenly
appears, and its skeletal, red-eyed occupant rises up to a sitting position,
and speaks as you stand watching in amazement. The Riverside
dentist is back for a return engagement, practicing his demented form of
health care on a poor, unfortunate, bloody-mouthed patient. Monsters
attack, clowns surround you, a man struggles to escape a straight jacket,
and a masked executioner laughs wickedly, while watching his victim fry
to his demise in an electric chair! Upstairs, a mysterious portal
projection gives way to expose an ominous black hole (vortex) in a scene
reminiscent of the movie Stargate. Walking through the “vacuum” leads
to an innocent looking bed that provides a startling surprise en route
to a darkened entrapment, then a maze, and finally out onto the trail for
more scares from cemeteries, “empty” graves, werewolves, and a multiple
chainsaw chase-out of the Riverside Jaycees Haunted House.
Analysis:
LENGTH – 7 – A few minutes longer this year with the
addition of the trail..
ACTORS - 8½, Pleasantly more intense than would
be expected from a haunt this size. Characters were well hidden throughout,
and even the child actors did a good job trying to frighten everyone.
Straight jacket captive, dentist and patient are good. Executioner
is a stand out, and worth the price of admission just to watch him enjoy
his work!
SCARINESS - 8, Great background music and sounds.
Surprises materialize seemingly out of nowhere, as many scenes are first
covered by darkness, then illuminate at just the right time.
Actor placement is good both in the house and on the trail, resulting in
effective scares.
DESIGN – 7½, House has been changed around quite
a bit, and is good and scary while it lasts. Maze is dark, intimidating
and features some dead ends. Adding the trail onto the end is a clever
way to lengthen the overall experience. The trail itself is dark,
winding, and hilly, and hosts several scares, and of course, some customary
chainsaws! It parallels the railroad tracks just to the other side
of the trees, and if a train happens to come roaring by (as was the case
when we visited) it really adds a shocking effect! Access to the outdoor
section of the haunt makes it feel more like two separate, unconnected
events, but it's quite well done considering the limited amount of space
they have to work with, and compliments the main attraction nicely.
The house is so dark at times that you could easily go the wrong way, if
not for the guide that follows you through.
PROPS - 7, Favorite is the “black hole” a.k.a. spinning
vortex, especially the manner in which it’s at first concealed from view.
Surprising mechanical scares as well. Would still be nice if more
could be done inside the house itself. What they have works well,
and you’re not ready for it to end!
VALUE – 8, A $2 price hike this season, but still just
$8 with their coupon for a traditionally scary haunted house.
RATING: 7½, This is a good, old fashioned
haunted house - affordable, and enjoyable. Extending the duration
with a short trail is a nice touch, and provides opportunities for certain
types of “scares” that just aren’t possible inside the house itself.
Price increase somewhat counteracts that accomplishment, but still pretty
much of a bargain considering today’s going rate. The Riverside
Jaycees Haunted House is celebrating its 21st anniversary, the proceeds
from which serve as the annual community fundraiser. Join them on
October 20th for a daylong celebration that includes a children’s matinee,
5k race, and beer garden. And beware of Jana, "the scary ticket
seller," who just might have a few surprises up her sleeve as well!
Tell her Ohio Valley Haunts sent you for some nice seasonal scares! |
