Haunted Review - Danger Run (NO SPOILERS) by Ash

For 24 years, it's been a challenge to survive the night. But in year 25, the game changed.

Quite literally, SO much was different! On its 25th birthday, Danger Run stepped outside their comfort zone and pushed you to new boundaries. Let's get started, shall we?

Okay for starters, for those of you who stupidly didn't check the website and find this out, the starting gate at the Dixie location is no more. Don't try it, you'll feel like a donkey. (We did, anyway.) But the Hurstbourne location is still very much up and running, and you can start online. Other than that, I swear I don't remember any other gates, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Just be smart, check before you go!

So you go to the gate, pay your $30, and you get your clue book(s) and a goody bag. Not too shabby! The clues are different this year - instead of 5-line limericks, you have 2 line rhymes. Honestly, while I admit I love the limericks, I like the 2-liner ones too. They were easier to solve with less erroneous information, and yes, I get it, that was the point of the limericks sometimes, but as the night grew later and later, we were happy to have less info to sift through. 

That being said, don't expect this year to be any easier just because the clues are more concise. The simplicity is DECEIVING, I tell you! Some clues are pretty easy, like which way to turn out of the gate. After that though, it gets a little tricky. Not gonna lie, we already missed our turn on clue 2 or 3, y'all. 

So the roads. Some of these were creepy AF. What kind of monsters live on these dark terror-filled streets?! (Okay, actually, if I had the money I probably would, it was nice to be able to see stars and not have your neighbors so close you can shake hands through your windows. But that's not what's important.) There were moments when we were convinced we'd gone the wrong way or missed something the clue was telling us to look for. There were times when the clues were worded in such a way you felt like you were naked in a physics class giving a speech on aeronautics when the highest science you'd taken was Bio 1. (Really let that image sink in...) So the clues were pretty epic this year, I give DR so much credit there! 

Not to make you panic or anything, but this year there are also missions. Now, perhaps because it was opening weekend and they had some bugs to work out, perhaps our people were new or just tired, but ultimately we were given SLIGHTLY confusing information. Big hint: JUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS IN THE CLUE BOOK REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY SAY. We aren't mad at the people, I'm sure they didn't see us pull up and think, "haha, I'm gonna ruin their effing night!" Just a helpful hint for the missions. Anyway, so you follow the directions and either look for landmarks and enter which clue you used to find them, or you simply do as the mission says. There is one on each page, and the clues on the neighboring pages won't affect the missions. It's one page, one mission. And they're FUN! Tricky, confusing, and downright weird, but so much fun. They also include sensory clues. You get to involve your sense of taste, smell, sight, lack of sight, and you also get to play with dice and a special flashlight. This is where your goody bag comes into play. All the stuff you need to solve some of the missions will be in that bag - don't lose or misplace it! This new twist was so fun, and all three of us absolutely loved it. (Have you ever played that game with the jelly beans, Beanboozled? If not, Google it, and if so...well, may the force be with you, my friends!)

But what do these missions MEAN? Why are they a thing? I'm so glad you asked! When you get to each of the haunts, you'll take your clue book to the game master at each site. There, they will see how you did with the clues and the final puzzle at the end of the leg, and you'll get between 1-3 minutes to solve a mini breakout game! These are SO fun, but I will admit, when you're tired, they are HARD to do! The first game was gory and delightful. We loved playing with the...props...lol. You'll really need a HAND to solve this mystery! It was right up our alley and although we were SO CLOSE, we didn't make it out in time. But it was so much fun, and so detailed, and so well thought out...this was definitely a wonderful addition to the Run. I highly recommend you do your best on the missions, though, you need all 3 minutes!! The second one we ALMOST had it. I will fully take responsibility for dropping the ball on this one - I thought the last clue we were looking for was like, stickers, or something. Guys, I was tired. My bad, yo. But seriously, look EVERYWHERE. Even right in front of your face. That's all the spoilers I can afford, but trust me when I say you need this in your life. 

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, "What kind of sick, twisted, demented mind comes up with these things? Well, we finally got our answer to this one! We were blessed enough to meet the man behind the madness, the twisted mind behind all the clues, behind the missions, behind the breakout games - a true genius and the real Game Master himself, Garry O'Brien! For starters, this guy is kind of our hero, and we may or may not have been fangirling over meeting him. I'm thinking of starting a fan club...lol. But Garry is one of the brightest and kindest people I've ever met. He was so patient with us explaining how we'd been slightly misled (still not mad, please don't get me wrong here!) and how we should have done it. It was like a light bulb went off when he broke it down for us. It was such a joy to meet with him! We snagged a pic with him at one of the breakout games, and it's a memory we'll treasure for a lifetime. (Okay, we're nerds and we might have a stalker-level problem...)

There's no way this year's Danger Run is earning anything other than 5 stars from me. The haunts operate independently so they will be reviewed separately (see, I told you no spoilers!). But yeah, this year kicked it up several notches, and was so much fun!! 5 stars, y'all, and you deserve every single one! Special thanks to Garry and everyone involved with this year's Run, we had a blast, thanks for the awesome night!

Haunted Review: Haunted Hotel (by Ash)

Okay, I have a lot to say here. So stick it out, I promise to deliver!

 

We have reviewed the Haunted Hotel for years, back when it was me and Aly and now with me and Michala. We've seen a lot of scary shit in this haunt. We've seen the good, the bad, the ugly, we've had good times, we've had bad times, and we've seen a lot happen inside Louisville's longest running haunted house, and every year there are new things to see and new fears explored. Let's breakdown what happened when we checked in...

 

Okay, so if you've even accidentally walked or driven by this haunt in late September through October, you'll see right away that this is a popular haunt and no cost is spared to make it extravagant. There's cop cars, lights flashing, a parking lot with people waving little lighted sticks at you to stop and park even if you don't want to...lol. It's a sight to behold, but when you get closer and actually stand there waiting, it can be intimidating. We KNOW (sort of) what's waiting for us on the other side of the doors. We still get bouncy with nervous anticipation because there's enough mystery and tension building up to the moment you're ushered inside the doors that you can't help but feel the jitters. Well, I can't.

 

This year the first change I noticed was the missing bellhop, and I was sad. That guy...damn. He got me every year. The new guy though had an interesting purpose and it kinda set the tone for the rest of our visit. He is more of a storyteller, being the original owner who's returned to fix what all the other employees "fucked up." Which makes you wonder...where are they, what did they fuck up, and what the hell is waiting beyond that rope you're moving and ushering us to follow you past?

 

Hell was exactly what was waiting for us. We got on the elevator - mind you, we KNOW what's coming. We've played this game before. The door closes and without even hesitating I grab Michala's arm and we hold each other in fearful anticipation of what's gonna happen next. Well, Gustav's incredible acrobatics showed that we can't be prepared for his world. Then his velociraptor-like wail...omigosh, I think I can still hear it! How that guy still has a voice left is beyond me!

Haunted Review: Nightmare Forest (by Ash)

Sorry for the delays in getting reviews up, this girl fell ill then started battling migraines. Still fighting, but I refuse to let another day pass with no reviews! So please excuse any typos or derailed trains of thought.

 

We ended up visiting Nightmare Forest...recently, lol. It was thankfully a well-marked entrance and a creepy road to drive down at night. That set the mood already. We parked and made our way to the ticket booth then through the corn field. I thought that was a nice touch, because it just keeps you in the mood as you meander your way to the line. Upon exiting the corn there was a traveling freak show complete with a couple of tents for stuff to look at. Honestly, we didn't stop, we were on a mission to be scared and we wanted to git r done.

Haunted Review - The Devil's Attic

Whew. I slept in late with a sore throat and exhaustion today. You'll find out why in this and the next review! This time, though, Aly and I brought in 2 extra victims-my baby brother Darren and his girlfriend (aw hell, she's already a sister to me anyway) Justis. And they provided some great insight and a good laugh at their screams. I've found that Justis is petrified of chainsaws. And that, my friends, is friggin' hilarious!

So, first on our night of terror, we hit up The Devil's Attic. First off, though, I gotta give a big thank you to Jason Besemann, who met with me beforehand and let me photograph some of his outside actors for the blog. He's awesome, as are all the employees, so major thanks for your hospitality and kindness!!

These guys were Awesome. Really awesome. And creepy. Lots of creepy.

They really liked Aly and Justis. Poor Darren might have some competition...

Okay, now for the review.

*        *        *        *        *

Ashley's Take:



The Set Design

You know, I don't know if it was the RedBull or what, but the scenery looked really awesome, and a little different from last year. There were some very awesome scenes in here that actually induced fear enough for the four of us to form a chain (with me thrust to the front) to make our way through the maze of rooms adorned with some pretty intricate details. A lot of work goes into this design every year, and not only does it show, it pays off. I really loved the room with the...well, I can't spoil it, but let's just say the Jackal scared the bejeebers out of me.


The Actors

Honestly, I've come to think Louisville has some of the most talented actors and actresses out there. I wasn't let down in any way by the actors, who had me squawking and screaming as they threatened my life. The Devil...kudos for maintaining enough immobility to make me believe you really were a statue this year. And to the Priest and possessed woman who were forced to entertain the same single guy for a ridiculous time-that takes stamina to keep it up at that high of a level for that long.  Many of the actors really did maintain their stillness and hide in the shadows enough to really frighten us. Once again, you impressed me.


The Props

I'm not going to lie on this one. I was so busy screaming my head off that I can barely remember any props. Not that it's a stab at the props, but the only things I can remember are the cricifix the Priest was holding, and the chainsaw. I'm sorry for not remembering everything else, but really, that's a compliment.


The Shock Factor

There were more shocks than I can even number off here. Again, another compliment to both the actors and the designers for making us scream too much to remember. There was a happy balance here, because this haunt doesn't rely solely on the "Boo" factor. There was just the right amount to keep us on our toes and wondering when something else was going to pop up, doing so at just the right moment when we were distracted by the other elements of the haunt.


The Scare Factor

Again, a beautiful balance between shock and actual fear, though I will admit I refused to let go of Aly's hand at one point and she may or may not have lost some circulation for a while. It was definitely creepy and you just get filled with that feeling of dread and impending doom. You really didn't know what to expect walking around from room to room, with the anticipation building for the next horrifying scene.


Originality

I hate it when there are a bajillion Jason's and Freddy's, though by now you probably know this. It makes it almost impossible to have movie characters at all without seeming cliche. Thankfully, The Devil's Attic made it happen and they weren't cliche. Older movies like Pumpkinhead and Thirteen Ghosts were strong influences, and Hellraiser, too. If you don't know those movies, fine, you'll figure them out soon. If you DO, then you're awesome and you can appreciate that these characters are done fabulously (as are the others!). But it was original. Sure, there was a chainsaw, and every haunted house from here to eternity will have a chainsaw at some point, typically at the end. But everything about this house from the layout to the costumes to the actors and everything in between was very creative and original.


Other Factors Influencing My Rating

There was an obviously drunk or otherwise uncomprehending man who was either lost from his group or going through alone, and he didn't seem to get the idea that you are supposed to keep moving, not stand there and make the poor actors continue entertaining you after you've gotten your scare. He backed us up and made us lose the scary factor for the last few rooms. It wasn't the haunt's fault. In fact, the reason I mention this is because one of the employees came through and basically ushered him along so he woulnd't keep making us wait. It was really cool of them to get this guy out of our way, and we really REALLY appreciate that!! I only wish there was a minimum inebriation level to enter haunted houses, hehe!

The haunt was way longer this year than it was last year. (Well, in my opinion, it could still very well be the RedBull affecting my perception.) I recall last year it seemed to be about half as long, but this time, it seemed to just keep going, which is awesome. Because nobody wants to wait in line for a ten minute show, even if it's a fabulous ten minute show. This had to be longer. Either that, or it was so scary, it just seemed longer...


Overall Entertainment

This haunt really impressed me. It impressed all of us, really. The fun began as soon as you got inside the haunt and didn't end until you were outside again. It was fun, it was scary, and either I'm being very lenient or everyone is stepping it up this year, I can't find much of anything I didn't like about this haunt. I have to score it at 4.5 Stars. This was truly amazing and I screamed my throat out. Literally. My throat is killing me today and I woke up with half my voice. It was a huge improvement over last year's review, and I'm DYING to see what the coming years bring!!


Let's hear what Aly has to say!


Aly's Two Cents

Interview with 7th Street Haunt

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit the 7th Street Haunt, where I met Tracy and a few other folks working the haunt. Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet the owner, Travis, but he was gracious enough to answer a few questions for me, just to get to know him and the haunt a little better. Read on for some awesome info!



LL:  First off, I was informed you ran the haunt in Indiana, Psychomania. I won't lie, it was my favorite haunt in the area. I was wondering, though, how much of Psychomania followed you to this new haunt, such as props, actors, and most importantly, influence?

Travis: I didn't run Psychomania, but I helped to create it and have been with the owners of that haunt for many years. If not for Phil Granger, one owner of the company that owned Psychomania, I would not be a haunt owner today. He got me into the scaring business when I was 16. 

But, enough about that. All the props that could be saved from Psychomania are in The 7th Street Haunt. I would say about 75% of what we have was saved out of the fire. The actors have slowly followed, many walking through it and saying, "Thank you for rebuilding a home for us," Then after seeing the haunt, they want to work in the business again. I only know how to build one kind of a haunted house, and its the traditional haunted house. That's what 31 Ways to Terror, all the way to Psychomania, was. It's something that a lot of haunts are moving away from, but these are my roots, and I can't forget where I came from.


LL:  I hear that for next year, you guys will be getting more space in the building, do you already have plans for how the haunt will be reworked, or if it will include a second haunt at the site?

Travis: Only time will tell. I can't let everything out of the bag, where's the fun in that?


LL:  You did a lot with how little time you had to prepare for the 2012 season, and I have to give credit when due. Most folks don't realize how much effort goes into putting together a successful haunted house. Could you give us an idea of some of the struggles, tears, and pain went into creating and running this new haunt?

Travis: Well, where to start? The hardest thing was dealing with the permits and getting everything the city of Louisville wanted from us to make this one of the safest haunts around, along with just getting it built. Some of our first guests may have gotten paint on them due to us painting walls minutes before we opened. I had no home life and slept very little-if any-for the last four months. But, as you could see, it was all worth it. We have a great haunt and are looking forward to next year.


LL:  There are some pretty unique rooms and features in the haunt. What do you think are the key factors that really set the 7th Street Haunt apart from the other haunted attractions in the Louisville area?

Travis: The 7th Street Haunt, like I said before, is a traditional haunted house. Its the backbone of the industry. We brought it all back to the basics. You may say unique, but I say traditional. With that beginning said we are trying to provide a haunt that will never double what another haunt does, and gives the guests a whole new look on haunts as a whole.


LL:  One last thing for you. It takes a very special type of person to come up with new and interesting ways to scare the bejeebers out of people. Where did you find the inspiration to open a haunted house initially, and what drives you to keep chasing that dream?

Travis: Years of working in haunts and watching horror movies have turned my mind into one that could be studied for years. I can't look anything with saying, "I could turn that into a prop." I watch people interact with others and see what makes them uneasy. 

But for the most part, my mother, Tracy Stanfield, is my inspiration. (I think you met her the other night.) As a child she was too scared to watch horror movies on her own, so I, at the age of 4 or younger, had to watch them with her. I said for years, "I will have a haunted house, and it would be great." She has always pushed me to follow my dream, and this is it. Who knew it would become a nightmare? 



Well, Travis, I must say, from one demented mind to another, this nightmare is a true accomplishment, and I genuinely enjoyed myself! One thing I want to share, going back to the props from Psychomania-the room with the doors. I remember that one when I went to Psychomania, and it was just as frustratingly nightmarish as before, especially with the actor guarding the doors. We were all kinds of turned around! It was nice to see so much of Psychomania in The 7th Street Haunt, because it truly was my favorite haunt in the area, and I was incredibly sad to hear of the devastation.. I'm so glad you're back and scaring the bejeebers out of us again! Thanks so much for the Q&A session, but especially for creating this masterpiece.