Opening Weekend Review
Overview
House-wise this is one of the strongest lineups I have been to with the only dud being blumhouse. #3-7 are all basically all neck and neck and the casts will define how they move and finally settle over the event. Crowds aside Friday and Saturday, I had a blast and look to have many fun nights this year. Looking to top my 18 nights from last year lol.
I attended all three nights of the event and have done all the houses at least twice. Overall, the house lineup is strong and while I like the ideas of all the streets, the execution so far has felt underwhelming compared to some zones from years past.
Friday did Finnegan's S&S but scanned in around 5:10ish and wandered around figuring out what the deal was with how they would let out. Was about halfway back in the second holding pen they had for release and when released went to Poltergeist since we had express and didn't wanna deal with everyone going to that at once. House was delayed and got out around 6.20ish. After that things went smoothly and I was able to hit up all 10 with 5 repeats.
Saturday was with a group that didn't have express and managed 7 houses with them and they left at midnight and took breaks and did some zones.
Sunday did Simpson's S&S and that was great. Maybe around 100 people. This will be my go to spot because Finns is just not worth it especially with express I just don't want to deal with that glut of people.
Houses
1. Dead Exposure: Patient Zero
Opening Night this house was good, Saturday and Sunday though the cast was on point and one of my runs was probably one of the most terrifying experiences I have had in an HHN house ever. I know some may call this house cheap, but it does what it set out to do in a highly effective manner and the cast so far has shown to be the most energetic of the event.
2. Poltergeist
This house has scale and scares. I wasn't sure how they would translate the film to a cohesive house but they pulled it off almost flawlessly. The first half of the house is something to behold and puts your right into the events of the movie. The second house you get sucked into the other side and face the demons you know from the movie. My only gripe is that the stilt walkers could be more aggressive and the back half is basically all black walls with some empty portions with a weak ending. This and Dead Exposure will most likely battle it out for my Personal HOTY with Seeds and Carnival as the dark horses.
3. Seeds of Extinction
I love the Last of Us and when this was announced that is where my mind went. One run was alone and I got every scare. The ability for them to just be right there in your face is great and it really feels like you are in a world devoid of life that this plant life has reclaimed.
4. Carnival Graveyard
The size and scale of this house is amazing. It has some good scares but also a lot of room to grow as they find their groove. There is one guy in there that looks live a mummified barker that comes from above that is really good and I love the Tunnel of Love through the end.
5. Stranger Things
Was not at all excited for this house and was expecting it to be too boring and lacking in scares. Most of the scares come from the demagorgon but thats ok since it is just a good costume design that doesn't come off as cheesy except for their comically large feed. Plus I saw one pushing his trigger with those giant hands and smiled. Only parts that feel flat where when the people in hazmats came out shooting at nothing. Besides that great sets with enough scares to back it up.
6. Slaughter Sinema
This house is really fun and has some rooms that have really good scares. The only rooms I actively do not like is cult of the beast baby because it is just a mirrored room with mannequins and two real people that attack on cue. I find that type of room ineffective unless it is disorienting like in Dead Exposure or Poltergeist. The standouts are Pumpkin Guts, Swamp Yeti, Schitties Kidz, and Midnight Snack 2. Love that giant evil Porg. One run it got me really good because the guy operating that was so aggressive that it came out so far and hit me and snagged my sleeve on a tooth and yanked me back.
7. Scarytales
Best Facade I have ever seen. I love how the witch uses the various columns and then sometimes just dive straight at the people below. The witch scenes are what steal the show here with 3 little pigs having some good scares. Only scene that really falls flat here is humpty since it is just a few guys that come out burping up eggs. Is highly timing dependent and have yet to see the witch at the end on the zip line.
8. Trick R' Treat
Another beautiful house that is great and only this low because of the caliber of everything above it. It is the least scary house at the event so a good starter for those that want to ease in.
9. Halloween 4
First run was not good. The mikes seemed like they were going though the motions (casually stepping out and half heartily stabbing the air in front of them.) Second run was way more aggressive so not sure if they good the feel or got the other cast. Again they do great work for dealing with the space they have and doesn't feel like a last minute throw together. This house does not stack up to the first two though and thats ok. I enjoy it for what it is and am happy to see mike back at the event.
10. Blumhouse 2
Happy Death Day has great sets for its venue but has very little in scares. Purge has given me a solid scare each of my two runs but is just bland scenic and doesn't do anything to move the needle for me. Its sad that for the first time they were able to design a purge house from the inception and it can't hold a candle to the scourge house from 25, which was a guilty pleasure of mine.
Zones
The zones were fine but something seemed off with most of them except for Traditions which was the only one that felt fully realized. Vamp and Chucky felt emptier than previous zones and could have used another large prop or two to flesh it out. Vamp especially suffers from the actors just walking around or messing around with each other. I really like the Klownz zoner but just way to cramped and is selfie central.
1. Twisted Traditions
2. Killer Klowns
3. Chucky
4. Vamp 85
5. Harvest