Primitive Fear

OVERALL RATING :

Scare Factor

Actors

Set Design

Length

RAW SCORE : 9.000

RATING

REVIEW

Primitive Fear is the first haunt at Hauntplex that I remember going to when I first found this group of attractions. I believe that for that reason I always feel that it is the main haunt at Hauntplex and usually my favorite.

From the beginning of this haunt, you really receive a chilling vibe. Right off the bat, you are greeted with a couple of glass doors and behind them a room with so much fog you can't see anything else. There was also a monster pressing himself up above the glass as though he is daring you to enter. Rest assured, when you do enter, the monster does what he can with his knowledge of the room you know nothing about. Finding the exit can be a bit difficult.

The actors like the one in the thick fog are mostly effective at getting the little hairs on the back of your neck to stand strait up. They seem to do everything in their power to get you to jump and scream. One even jumps through a hole the ceiling when you don't expect it. Another actor in a long sewer actually made me wonder if she was a dog at the other end and then didn't want you to pass. There were even people walking up above where the visitors can't get to. I'm not sure that was an intended part of the show but I still wondered what they were going to try to do to us from up there.

The rooms in Primitive Fear have the same sort of style that the 13th Street Manor has. I believe that if they were 50 miles apart I would still know the same group designed them. This is definitely not a bad thing. This group of haunts makes fantastic use of the environment to do things that the other haunts we visited this year did not do. There is much more interaction with the environment than what is common. There are great scares when actors throw objects on ropes at you, this really looks like they are aiming at your head. Other rooms have objects which seem like they will fall on your head. The rooms do also look like they are supposed to. One example is, I actually felt like I was in a sewer in certain places. The ceiling even had what looked like man holes above.

The sets were not perfect though. At one point you walk up a few stairs which then let me see over the top of the set. From that vantage point, I could even see into the haunt next door. These areas can and do ruin the illusion and take me out of the action momentarily.

I'm quite pleased with the Hauntplex haunts this year. It's great to see two different haunts with the same type of design style take on different themes. Though Primitive fear is not perfect, it is without a doubt a high quality attraction. Coupled with another good haunt next door and the bonus maze behind, Primitive Fear should be on the short list of haunts to visit this year.

PROS

Original types of environmental scares. Well Designed rooms.

CONS

Illusion can be ruined in some places. Not super long.

RATING

REVIEW

The second haunt at Hauntplex, this one does not disappoint in terms of scare tactics that are original and makes you jump right out of your skin. If I remember correctly, this haunt seems to have taken some elements from the missing 3rd haunt Realm of Terror and added them to the jungle primitive theme of last year. This was an excellent choice, as the whole jungle theme just really wasn't scary or consistent with a haunted house concept. This year, however, it has been changed for the better. They have kept all the great ideas from Primitive Fear and added the different scare tactics from that of Realm of Terror that worked so well to combine a great overall haunt. While I think 13th Street Manor is better than the two, this one is not far behind. The very first noticeable change is the entrance - as you walk up to the glass doorways, you see strobe lights, fog, and a dark unmoving figure pressed up against the glass waiting for you. As you step forward, he suddenly disappears into the fog to wait for your entrance. The blasting techno music from Blade is just a great example of how they add subtle elements to their rooms to really put the edge on. There are many elements of their design that really wrap you up in terms of your senses. The smells, the textures of wood, sand, the sounds of crickets, etc, really tie this haunt together. I also am a huge fan of a haunt that can make me feel like I'm going upstairs and downstairs or on different levels/planes of entertainment. It gives me a sense of exploration and emergence in the environment. The suspension bridge is another example of this. Also, be prepared to run through tiny passage ways as ceilings fall or duck when things are thrown at you.

PROS

Much improved from last year!

CONS

Some dead spots that could have used some additional F/X or monsters.

RATING

REVIEW

This attraction felt more like an adventure. All I needed was a whip and a hat, and I would have believed I was Indiana Jones walking through a jungle maze in search of precious treasures. My favorite part was the very front entrance where there is a ghost that appears out of the fog, clings to the door and then disappears again. The entrance has more fog in it than anything I have ever seen. You literally could not figure out which way to go or see your hand in front of your face. Yet, the actors seemed to know exactly where you were and would crawl inches from your face as you move through the fog. Once you reorient yourself, be prepared for moving and collapsing walls. Primitive Fear is so detailed it is difficult to take your eyes off the sets and pay attention to the scares in front of you, or behind you, or under you, or even above you! As a result, I am going to rat one of our fearless critics out who NEVER gets scared, Kris, and tell you she must have jumped at least four or five times! Now that is quite the accomplishment. The suspension of disbelief is strong in this haunt. You really do feel like you have entered another world somewhere in the jungle. There is so much eye candy in there; it almost makes it a little too easy for the characters to sneak up on you.

There are some unnerving qualities about this haunt too. I would almost kill to see the tough guy strolling through calmly with his hands in his pockets when he feels a rapid fire of air assault him from all different directions. I can just picture him like one of the goofy characters in “Home Alone” hit the ground outside the kitchen door when he hears the machine gun fire and the firecrackers go off! You just don't expect it. The characters may not lay a hand on you, but the haunt itself most certainly does! One blast of air hit me so hard from directly above; I thought for sure a paint ball hit me. But it wasn't, it was perfectly harmless air. At another point, there is a log that comes swinging just above your head. I mean it feels like it is close to you! It was the one time I am really glad I wasn't tall.

The best way for me to describe this haunt is it was gutsy. Not in a gruesome sort of way, but in really in your face kind of way. When you're not being shot at by the natives, the walls are collapsing in on you. So if you ever wanted to feel like you were actually in an adventure movie, Primitive Fear is a must see!

PROS

Fantastic sets, very interactive, great costumes and acting and scared our toughest critic!

CONS

I honestly can't think of any, I just wanted to see more!

RATING

REVIEW

More space this year means more scares and more fun!! This haunt has expanded and the end result is more space, more detail, more of everything!! I have always enjoyed this haunt and this year is no exception. Things are different from last year and every change that I saw, I liked a lot!! Right out of the gate I was creeped out by the actor in the fog by the window. Imagine and actor, dressed in black standing up against the window in a room full of fog. As I approached the actor slowly disappeared into the fog. I won't tell you the rest, but yes, you have to enter that fog filled room. And good luck making your way out, the fog in there is so thick you can't see 2 inches in front of your face. That's just the beginning. Once I was past the initial room I found myself wandering from one well done scene to another.

The main body of the haunt has a jungle theme which is not new, it is however revamped and much more detail has been added. The length of the haunt has increased and the new space has been well utilized. Great ideas have been brought to life in here and the elements and attention to detail are well worth seeing. If you haven't been here in a while, or you've never been here, make sure and check this one out!

PROS

Added length, new details, great actors

CONS

Some scenes unchanged, a couple of actors lacked energy

RATING

REVIEW

This is another favorite of mine. I think this haunt was especially creative. They did a great job with the props by interacting with you and freaking you out. For example, at one point it feels like the ceiling is dropping on your head and the walls are collapsing around you—something you don't expect since you are waiting for the monsters to come after you, not the walls or ceilings. This haunt even has guys jumping through the ceiling, and it scared me. This haunt put a lot of effort and hard work to make the place come alive, not just the actors. I think this was a unique concept, and I truly enjoyed it.

Some actors did amazing jobs being creepy and trying to be scary characters, like the girl in the big sewer place. That room had excellent atmosphere. It was dark, with some light coming through the sewer top. Near the end of the sewer, there she comes crawling toward you. Not moving too fast or too slow—just plain creepy. She wouldn't let us go through; she acted like a mad dog. I love when actors go above and beyond to do their best job.

This haunt brings you to another world. Overall, they did a great job, but they could improve more on the scare tactics—like in better timing when to scare the person and making sure the whole group of people receive the scare. This haunt you must check out!

PROS

Unique set up, some great actors, cool props

CONS

Could be more scary, some actors could have done a better job with their characters

RATING

REVIEW

Primitive Fear was one of my favorite haunts this year. In some parts I found it darn right horrifying. The haunt begins with you walking deep inside the dark building through a thick fog. So much is always going on in the haunt that it keeps you constantly amazed and scared.

There is an overall jungle theme in this haunt, but in addition there are some differently themed rooms that blend in fairly well, and gives you a variety of scenery to look at. The dark tunnels and the slanted rooms made it fun and interactive because you actually had to work your way through the haunt. The black painted room with the splatter paint was awesome and my favorite room, the actors were blended in and hidden so well; there was no way I could tell where they were coming from. They definitely got the best scare out of me.

The length of this haunt was a tad too short for me, but maybe that's because I was enjoying it so much. Some of the actors could have used a little more energy, but overall I would surely recommend Primitive Fear for an adventuresome and scary good time!

PROS

The different sets, props, and interactive areas were amazing

CONS

Not too much, actors could use more energy

RATING

REVIEW

Primitive Fear was such a unique haunted house it has several different features that I have not seen used before in any other haunts. From foam floors that you sink into like quick sand to the fog filled room you had to find your way out of, this haunt definitely keeps you thinking. They also used their actors in very creatively hidden ways, most of the time you didn't know where they were coming from. There were rooms where you didn't just walk through doors, but you had to go through ropes and other material in order to get out, all while being followed by the character, which gives you an unnerving experience. It always seemed difficult to get away since you had to make your way through tunnels and slanted doors, adding to the feeling that you are on an adventure. This haunt also uses the building to scare you, at several points the walls would close in on you, or the ceiling would drop above your head. The props were very well done, but I think that the actor's could have been more into their roles. This haunt is a must see, with all the interactive features, you will leave amazed, and feeling that you have really worked to escape alive!

PROS

Unique haunt

CONS

Actors could have been more in their rolesy

RATING

REVIEW

There are a lot of really cool things in this haunt, and I'm not sure, but I think that since Realm of Terror isn't right next to it anymore, there is more room in the haunt, along with some new props and ideas.

I love how this haunt starts off. The gargoyles out front are really unique. They create a dark, creepy feeling which sets the stage for the rest of the haunt. Then, as you turn the corner approaching the building, all you see is a shadow of a monster through the glass door, and to continue on, you must go through that door! Then when you're inside, you can't see a thing because there is so much fog! What a great way to start a haunt.

The one thing I really like about this haunt is that it's really interactive. It startles you not only with actors, but the props do a great job. It has walls that cave in, a ceiling that drops, sinking floors, bungee cords that you must crawl through, tilted beams, and falling bars. I also really enjoyed the real sand on the ground in one room. There was a lot of it and it really added to the set.

Overall, this was an excellent haunt. I felt like the actors could have been more intense and into their roles, but I really liked it. It was put together very well, and could benefit with a little extra work.

PROS

Great length, excellent props/special effects.

CONS

Acting could use a little work.