OVERALL RATING :

Scare Factor

Actors

Set Design

Length

RAW SCORE : 8.469

RATING

REVIEW

This was a great haunt for people who like to be scared. I’m not sure I totally ever figured out what “realm” I was in, but at some point I stopped caring due to the simple fact that I spent a lot of my time pressed against the back of my fellow critic. Scary, yes. Surprising, yes. Innovating, creative, and long? Yes, yes, yes.  I distinctly remember hiding out in a hall daring another critic to go in the next room before me. Okay, daring… no. I wouldn’t go. It seems every room in this haunt has a space issue (in a good, scary way). If the walls aren’t falling in, then something is being killed far too close to me. Speaking of too close, I was amazed that this haunt always seemed to know when I would get scared – AND THEN DO IT AGAIN. No kidding, there wasn’t a scare in the haunt that didn’t have a back up and there wasn’t a back up that didn’t scare me as much as the first. It would seem they mastered timing and decided to double down. That combined with crazy spaces, I’ll be the first to say, I ran like a track star the minute I was outside and didn’t stop until I found my car. All said and done, maybe I knew where I was all along. I was totally in the Realm of Terror.

PROS

One-two punch scares

CONS

Inconsistent theme

RATING

REVIEW

I really enjoyed myself in Realm of Terror. The thing that sticks in my mind most is all the different sets that we wandered through. Even though there were a wide variety of scenes, I think the common theme is things people might be afraid of. And there were lots of scenes like that in this haunt. A couple of the rooms, like the Egyptian mummy and the Roman columns shaking and falling, were really elaborate effects.

Even in the rooms with smaller effects, it was noticeable that a lot of attention was paid to detail. For instance, one room was covered in barbed wire. One of the creepier spaces, for me, was the sewer tunnel which is apparently where Freddy and Jason hang out...creepy! Some of the more unique effects were the bungee cords that we had to navigate through and my biggest fear: the wooden angled pillars that we had to weave through in near-darkness. They're like a fun maze without so much fun!

The length also seemed a bit longer this year, but maybe I was just taking in all the great eye candy the sets provided. I definitely think that this haunt stepped it up, as I found myself really enjoying Realm of Terror this year.

PROS

Big effects, unique bungee effect, great sets

CONS

Not a lot of "in your face" scares

RATING

REVIEW

This is my favorite of the 3 haunts in HauntPlex. The theme in this one isn’t set in stone like the other two, which means they can do whatever they want and get away with it b/c it doesn’t break the atmosphere.

Actors were a little on the young side but they all put a lot of energy into their roles and they seemingly came out of nowhere. This haunt is also very dark at times, which I prefer. At one point you have to crawl through an intersecting metal tunnel. You have three choices and in the middle of the intersection is a light shining down so you barely have a sense of direction. All three directions are pitch black and may or may not have something waiting in there for you. It feels like a scene out of Alien and is well played.

There are also some other interesting rooms that I noticed from last year have not changed and probably for the best because they are so much fun to go through. A hallway full of hundreds of bungee cords, lots of falling ceilings, closing walls and another favorite – the satanic circle – round this haunt out with well-timed scares and creative set design. The length of this one is also worth your money, as it feels like it keeps going and going, and you begin to wonder when they’re going to run out of actors, but they never do.

PROS

Countless actors, dark

CONS

At times set design can appear weak

RATING

REVIEW

There are HUGE gargoyles outside, leering at all who pass below and I’m not sure, but I think they look hungry! What a great set up at the entryway. This was a whirlwind night of haunting and I must admit I am overwhelmed by all the cool stuff I’ve seen so far! This house had my heart pumping and adrenaline screaming.  So much darkness, so much chaos, so many nightmares and fears represented.

I was lost, I mean REALLY lost! And there were places where I was sure I’d lose my group. It’s funny how strong the “safety in numbers” instinct is. I learned from this house that I enjoy being challenged to escape a little more than being ‘led’ from one scene to the next. There are well placed surprises and FX throughout including dropping ceilings, compressing walls, blasts of air, and loud noises.

I thought this was a really good one and enjoyed it thoroughly.

PROS

Lots of surprises and scares, great sets, got me involved.

CONS

Can’t think of anything.

RATING

REVIEW

I really like the set design in this haunt, and it did not disappoint this year. There is such diversity in this one, you’re never sure what to expect as you round each corner. The lighting is perfect here, just enough to keep you from tripping over your feet, but keeping its secrets hidden until it’s too late to turn back.

Some of the rooms I enjoyed most were the pentagram room which creeped me out, the area with the mice was creatively done and a great effect, the sarcophagus room has great lighting and effects, the dark tunnel had some great actors in it that did a good job getting our group confused. The sliding walls and collapsing ceilings are a great addition to this haunt, and they get your heart pumping and keep you guessing about what’s coming next. The sewer area was done well, as was the bridge in the swamp.

The actors here did a good job, although some lacked the intensity I would like to see in a haunt. The overall length is good and the space is well used. This is a good haunt if you are looking for set design, and some good scares.

PROS

New scenes, new props, good scare points

CONS

Some costumes lacking, some actors needed to get into character better

RATING

REVIEW

PROS

CONS

RATING

REVIEW

This haunt always has a few rooms that are so original, you can't help but love it. Crawling through the bungee cord room is an adventure as well as the crazy padded beams.  I have to mention the sewers and the loud gates...the actors in this section did a great job and it was pretty creepy to walk through it. 

I don't want to ruin any surprises, but the mummy room was so cool!  I loved the cemetery, and the actor here got me pretty good too.  Overall, everything was really good.  Actors could get a little more involved however, which in turn would create better scares.

PROS

Great rooms and sets

CONS

Not bad, but acting could be more involved.

RATING

REVIEW

My favorite thing about Realm of Terror is you really never know what to expect. The element of surprise is prevalent throughout the attraction and that’s a surefire way for me to get scared.

There are two rooms in this haunt that particularly stand out. Both are later in the haunt and one is actually at the very end. But that’s not to say the rest of the experience isn’t great. The actors in this haunt aren’t particularly costumed to achieve a specific look, but they are clad in black and well hidden. On multiple occasions I was caught off guard by people standing in places that looked to be just black. The mummy rooms were really cool and I liked the moving elements throughout the house.

One of my favorite two rooms was the tunnel area, which had my group totally confused, running into one another and basically acting like a bunch of screaming fools trying to get out. The actors in this area did a nice job of making sure we got a solid scare and kept us confused enough to really get worked up about not being able to get out.

My very favorite room is the last space in this haunt and I find it absolutely unnerving. Its one of those super dark places with the creeps who grunt and breath in your ear, but it has an extra twist that I was totally looking forward to. And knowing what I know I still ran out of that room and the entire haunt screaming!

PROS

Ran out of the last room screaming

CONS

Theme is a little vague as a cohesive storyline