Just came back from 3 straight nights of HHN 26....here is my rankings/review.
1. The Exorcist - Wow. What a house. I'm not even scared of the movie but I felt genuinely uncomfortable in this house. They knocked it out of the park. The actors were all intense, very into their roles, the sets and facade were both beautiful. The only weak part was the black hallway but the rest of the house is so good it doesn't detract too much. That smell in the soundstage is just so creepy...just smells like death.
2. American Horror Story - I was looking forward to this one for a bit. I was a big fan of Murder House but not so much Freak Show and Hotel. The actors in this house are incredible. The costumes, makeup and everything was just perfect. They even included the shootout scene from Hotel complete with Hotline Bling. Great house and just a ton of fun. Looking forward to seeing it return. Only weak points is the transitions I thought could've been full facades (Murder House, Freak Show Circus entrance, and Hotel Cortez).
3. Tomb Of The Ancients - Yo the creative team absolutely killed it with this one. Detailed sets and costumes, unexpected scares, and just an overall dope premise. I loved this house.
4. Halloween 2 - Continuation of the first one, and just as good for me. A little bit better actually because this house was more fun with the sheer amount of Michaels. Was an absolute blast.
5. The Walking Dead - On par with 2014's End of the Line...I really enjoyed this house. It was just TWD Fatigue that held it back. They really packed it full of Walkers and got a little creative with the placement. Sewer zombies gave me the best scare of the event.
6. Ghost Town - Beautiful sets, amazing atmosphere, you've all heard it before. Good house, but a little forgettable for me due to the lack of scares. Would love to see Ghost Town's theme return at some point fused with another HHN legacy idea, say....Body Collectors or Nightingales?
7. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre - A bit disappointing considering the absolute fire that Universal was slinging in this tent location. A few of the Leatherfaces are excellent and others are pretty mediocre. It's possible to have a great run in this house, but for more, it fell a bit short (and felt short too). Love the after house scene and hope they continue to utilize the outdoors in future houses.
8. Krampus - This house was fun...and cool to go through. I loved the movie but was really disappointed by the final product. I also think the Blogger darling hype got to me. The costumes are ridiculously repetitive, no real Krampus. The facade smells and the attic scene are really the only saving grace for this house. It wasn't terrible...just not as good as I expected. Most of the house feels like a missed opportunity.
9. Lunatic's Playground - It was okay. No better or worse than the overrated Asylum in Wonderland from last year. Standard 3D house + Chance. Definitely not as bad as it was made out to be but would've preferred a regular house over 3D. Nothing memorable.
Scarezones
1. Vamp '55 - Best street cast of the year by far. This was my most anticipated zone and it lived up to the hype. Dope interactions, loved watching the actors play off each other. The music was perfect. Everything was perfect aside from the size, wish it was a little bigger.
2. Dead Man's Wharf - Amazing setting, the lightning and fog were top notch. Costumes great. Lacked a little energy but really effin' cool to walk through.
3. Survive or Die - Fun interactions with the cast, but overall about what you expect from an apocalyptic New York scarezone. Not great.
4. Lair of the Banshee - Generic. Average. Really hope they start changing it up here or expanding it into central park. It is what it is.
5. A Chance In Hell - We all knew what it'd be from the jump. Just a cluster you know what. Actors are doing what they can and try to have fun with it though.
Shows
Academy of Villains - I was actually looking forward to this. Jabbawockeez really surprised me last year at Hollywood's HHN and I saw how cool dance and horror themes could turn out when combined. I was not disappointed. Loose theme, great moves, fast pace. This is a great show and I hope they come back with a new theme. Maybe dedicate Animal Actors to a new AOV show every year.
Didn't see Bill & Ted, but I'm sure it was hot garbo per usual.
Overall had a blast like always, loved the event, thought it beat out 25 by a little bit. Excited for next year.
1. The Exorcist - Wow. What a house. I'm not even scared of the movie but I felt genuinely uncomfortable in this house. They knocked it out of the park. The actors were all intense, very into their roles, the sets and facade were both beautiful. The only weak part was the black hallway but the rest of the house is so good it doesn't detract too much. That smell in the soundstage is just so creepy...just smells like death.
2. American Horror Story - I was looking forward to this one for a bit. I was a big fan of Murder House but not so much Freak Show and Hotel. The actors in this house are incredible. The costumes, makeup and everything was just perfect. They even included the shootout scene from Hotel complete with Hotline Bling. Great house and just a ton of fun. Looking forward to seeing it return. Only weak points is the transitions I thought could've been full facades (Murder House, Freak Show Circus entrance, and Hotel Cortez).
3. Tomb Of The Ancients - Yo the creative team absolutely killed it with this one. Detailed sets and costumes, unexpected scares, and just an overall dope premise. I loved this house.
4. Halloween 2 - Continuation of the first one, and just as good for me. A little bit better actually because this house was more fun with the sheer amount of Michaels. Was an absolute blast.
5. The Walking Dead - On par with 2014's End of the Line...I really enjoyed this house. It was just TWD Fatigue that held it back. They really packed it full of Walkers and got a little creative with the placement. Sewer zombies gave me the best scare of the event.
6. Ghost Town - Beautiful sets, amazing atmosphere, you've all heard it before. Good house, but a little forgettable for me due to the lack of scares. Would love to see Ghost Town's theme return at some point fused with another HHN legacy idea, say....Body Collectors or Nightingales?
7. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre - A bit disappointing considering the absolute fire that Universal was slinging in this tent location. A few of the Leatherfaces are excellent and others are pretty mediocre. It's possible to have a great run in this house, but for more, it fell a bit short (and felt short too). Love the after house scene and hope they continue to utilize the outdoors in future houses.
8. Krampus - This house was fun...and cool to go through. I loved the movie but was really disappointed by the final product. I also think the Blogger darling hype got to me. The costumes are ridiculously repetitive, no real Krampus. The facade smells and the attic scene are really the only saving grace for this house. It wasn't terrible...just not as good as I expected. Most of the house feels like a missed opportunity.
9. Lunatic's Playground - It was okay. No better or worse than the overrated Asylum in Wonderland from last year. Standard 3D house + Chance. Definitely not as bad as it was made out to be but would've preferred a regular house over 3D. Nothing memorable.
Scarezones
1. Vamp '55 - Best street cast of the year by far. This was my most anticipated zone and it lived up to the hype. Dope interactions, loved watching the actors play off each other. The music was perfect. Everything was perfect aside from the size, wish it was a little bigger.
2. Dead Man's Wharf - Amazing setting, the lightning and fog were top notch. Costumes great. Lacked a little energy but really effin' cool to walk through.
3. Survive or Die - Fun interactions with the cast, but overall about what you expect from an apocalyptic New York scarezone. Not great.
4. Lair of the Banshee - Generic. Average. Really hope they start changing it up here or expanding it into central park. It is what it is.
5. A Chance In Hell - We all knew what it'd be from the jump. Just a cluster you know what. Actors are doing what they can and try to have fun with it though.
Shows
Academy of Villains - I was actually looking forward to this. Jabbawockeez really surprised me last year at Hollywood's HHN and I saw how cool dance and horror themes could turn out when combined. I was not disappointed. Loose theme, great moves, fast pace. This is a great show and I hope they come back with a new theme. Maybe dedicate Animal Actors to a new AOV show every year.
Didn't see Bill & Ted, but I'm sure it was hot garbo per usual.
Overall had a blast like always, loved the event, thought it beat out 25 by a little bit. Excited for next year.
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