OVERALL RATING :

Scare Factor

Actors

Set Design

Length

RANK #11 out of 21

RAW SCORE : 7.500

RATING

REVIEW

This haunt started off too slow for me. The set has detail, but borders on unrealistic. Some parts are too well lit, and it takes away from the atmosphere. This happened a lot in the beginning. They have spots where blasts of air got me on the ground. They put these in great spots. I am a jumper. That has to be my favorite part in a haunt is when they get me on the floor. They have the best sewer and it plays a great trick on you.

The actors were very plain. Not to jazzed up. The guts lady was pretty crazy. She was older but really did a good job. I like some of the changes but also feel like they changed some of their stronger scenes. This is one of the three haunted houses at the Hauntplex. I would like to see one or two strong haunted houses instead of three okay haunts. More is not better if it takes away from detail and creativity. I do not plan on seeing this haunt again this season. I hope in the next few years they focus more on the details.

PROS

Good set and effects

CONS

Too well lit and not enough actors

RATING

REVIEW

Realm of Terror has a lot of different scenes throughout (hence the "realm" part). I like that each scene had a different atmosphere. Some of the environments that make up the realm include a bridge over a swamp, an Egyptian tomb, a sewer, a dungeon, and a secret ritual chamber with a pentagram on the floor. In a couple of places, it was a little confusing where to go and that was by design. It all added to the suspense!

I didn't think the acting in this house was all that great (I rated it "decent") and several of the actors had jeans and sneakers on as part of their costumes. One of the actors broke character to talk to us. We visited on opening night, so hopefully the actors will get more into their roles and improve in that respect.

The length is pretty decent, but felt a little short, especially after going through 13th Street Manor. If you like being immersed in different environments throughout a haunt, Realm of Terror mixes it up pretty well.

PROS

Varied scenes, nice sets, realistic atmosphere

CONS

Uninspired acting, haphazard costuming

RATING

REVIEW

Props were the only thing going for this haunt, and even then some of the design was lacking. Fewer actors in this attraction than its brothers at the Hauntplex. A lot darker than the others, however - one scene with the satanic circle and hooded figures gave me the creeps. A few sewer tunnels and a short maze through wooden beams wrapped in cellophane were also some highlights. Scare factor didn't deliver as much as the others, however.

PROS

Dark, more disturbing imagery, variety of rooms

CONS

Lack of actors, actors were not enthusiastic

RATING

REVIEW

Overall, this is a good haunt. There are lots of good uses of props and sound effects that make this haunt feel particularly spooky. There were plenty of screams inside the haunt both from the crew and other visitors, which made the atmosphere feel genuinely creepy. Actors gave good effort into their scenes and unexpectedly startled our group a few times.

There were a few dead spots in this haunt; dead that is with a lack of activity and not much décor which could have been better used. I think this haunt can only get better as the season continues and the actors find out what works and what is truly scary.

There were so many places to hide and surprise the visitors that were not utilized; if the Realm of Terror capitalizes on them it could be one of the best. The length of this haunt seemed to be about right and a good value for an overall good haunt.

PROS

Scary feel, creepy atmosphere, hidden scares

CONS

Plain in spots, missed opportunities for a homerun haunt

RATING

REVIEW

I really enjoyed this haunt. The overall layout was done well, and the rooms were very creative. The room with the pentagram on the floor was really good. It made me think twice about walking through there. I love what they did with the ropes that you have to navigate around, and the maze is something I have never seen done anywhere else. I really liked that room because it was in total darkness and we had to maneuver over and around to try and find our way out. It got scary after a couple of minutes because I felt like I might not get out.

Some of the places have walls the move in and it really got my heart pounding. There was a room that was so filled with fog that we couldn't see anything, and that proved to be a challenge to get out of, but it added to the disorientation of this haunt. There were many rooms and scenes that kept us going, and made the haunt last a bit. I didn't get the feeling that it was over too soon.

The actors did a good job, and the props and set were great.

This is a haunt I would definitely recommend.

PROS

Great actors, maze room

CONS

Too much fog, some areas too narrow

RATING

REVIEW

This was the hardest house to rate at Hauntplex. It starts out weak, but culminates to a terrifying maze of obstacles in complete black that had me running for my life believing I might really get stuck.

In the first few rooms it was easy to tell when an actor was going to jump out at you and for that reason I didn't initially like the house, but the suspense builds. Towards the end a trip through a series of sewer pipes had us feeling trapped, lost and, for me, scared. The actors seemed to be stronger in this area and their timing was much better. The sewer people were totally unnerving.

But Realm of Terror really shined at the end where total darkness and a well-constructed scare caused me to trip through a difficult yet fun-to-navigate room.

PROS

A killer final scare, the sewer people

CONS

Bad timing in the beginning, slow start

RATING

REVIEW

Realm of Terror is my second-favorite haunt within the Hauntplex trilogy. It's a pretty good haunt with some good ideas, if not always the best implementation. There are a variety of scares here, which means that while there will probably be something for everyone, most people probably won't find it consistently scary throughout.

I like that there are interactive points within this haunt, as with all the Hauntplex haunts. This is a place that involves you in the scenes unfolding around you. Set design involves some great surprises that I haven't seen elsewhere.

In all, a good haunt that's a fun place to visit. If you're visiting all three Hauntplex haunts, go to this one second -- right after Primitive Fear and right before 13th Street Manor.

PROS

Great ending, good concepts, cool atmosphere

CONS

Could benefit from stronger acting

RATING

REVIEW

Overall, this haunt was pretty good and has some great ideas. My favorite scare of this haunt is the black room with the black floor. There is a white pentagram on the floor, and at each point there's a guy in a black robe, but it's not obvious which ones are real and which ones are fake; and walking around them isn't possible, so you have to walk straight through the pentagram in the middle of them. That is such an intensive scare, especially if you're in the front of your group.

There were a few places where they could have utilized the space and the scares more efficiently though. For instance, there was a room that only consists of bungee cords from floor to ceiling and we had to crawl through and stretch them to get through. It wasn't really scary, but perhaps if this room was darker, or maybe had a monster in the middle, or chasing us, or one at the other end, this effect would have been utilized better.

A room that did utilize the space well was one that was pitch black and had foam covered beams that you had to feel your way through That was freaky, especially with the actor that we knew was in there by the sounds they made. It's always scary when you can feel the presence of someone, but you can't see them.

This haunt also had some actors that were wearing glasses. Again, this really isn't very effective in the scaring department, and I would suggest contact lenses. Great length.

PROS

Good ideas, a few outstanding rooms

CONS

Actors in glasses, some props not utilized to the fullest