Howl-O-Scream 2024 (BGT)

[Wesker69]

 

[Victoria]

 

[saint.piss]

Oof

 

[Clive]

Oof

This event's really gone down the drain. There was a time not that long ago where much of their offerings were on par with or within striking distance of Horror Nights.

 

[Tobias]

This event's really gone down the drain. There was a time not that long ago where much of their offerings were on par with or within striking distance of Horror Nights.

It's really unfortunate since back then you could legitimately make a good case the event was up there or real close to HHN, with many glowing trip reports of folks loving the event and encouraging others to check it out. But lately, that just hasn't been the case, let alone across the chain as SW's HoS doesn't have the same spark it had when it debuted.

I'm all for good competition as that can be a win-win for the guests, but there's not much competition if you're faltering.

 

[Clive]

It's really unfortunate since back then you could legitimately make a good case the event was up there or real close to HHN, with many glowing trip reports of folks loving the event and encouraging others to check it out. But lately, that just hasn't been the case, let alone across the chain as SW's HoS doesn't have the same spark it had when it debuted.

I'm all for good competition as that can be a win-win for the guests, but there's not much competition if you're faltering.

Zombie Mortuary remains one of the most viscerally upsetting houses I've ever gone through. Death Water Bayou, in its debut years, was spectacular. Even their clown effort, Circus of Superstition, had a fairly unique thematic angle and impressive scope. At its best, the event was allowed to be meaner and shaggier and more daring than what Horror Nights could offer -- basically the east coast's equivalent of Knott's.

 

[Tobias]

Zombie Mortuary remains one of the most viscerally upsetting houses I've ever gone through. Death Water Bayou, in its debut years, was spectacular. Even their clown effort, Circus of Superstition, had a fairly unique thematic angle and impressive scope. At its best, the event was allowed to be meaner and shaggier and more daring than what Horror Nights could offer -- basically the east coast's equivalent of Knott's.

Oh, fully agreed there. They did a lot of stuff in the past which I've honestly respected. A couple houses implementing a victim scare, giving an Icon their own little concert (Sylvie/My X), trying out the more solo interactive kind of haunts with Alone, going with a lot of unique themes for both icons and houses (Personal favorites being House of Vayne for the Icons and Trapped in the Walls for house theme), the list goes on.

I really don't know what's happened here, it's just puzzling. Being a haunt actor myself, early closure just isn't in our vocabulary. We're running until it's past close and there's no more tickets being sold. Closing early for anything other than a very serious reason like severe weather just isn't going to go over well with guests.

 

[Fedic]

Zombie Mortuary remains one of the most viscerally upsetting houses I've ever gone through. Death Water Bayou, in its debut years, was spectacular. Even their clown effort, Circus of Superstition, had a fairly unique thematic angle and impressive scope. At its best, the event was allowed to be meaner and shaggier and more daring than what Horror Nights could offer -- basically the east coast's equivalent of Knott's.

Oh, fully agreed there. They did a lot of stuff in the past which I've honestly respected. A couple houses implementing a victim scare, giving an Icon their own little concert (Sylvie/My X), trying out the more solo interactive kind of haunts with Alone, going with a lot of unique themes for both icons and houses (Personal favorites being House of Vayne for the Icons and Trapped in the Walls for house theme), the list goes on.

I really don't know what's happened here, it's just puzzling. Being a haunt actor myself, early closure just isn't in our vocabulary. We're running until it's past close and there's no more tickets being sold. Closing early for anything other than a very serious reason like severe weather just isn't going to go over well with guests.

You guys just named 5 houses that all debuted before 2014 while Scott Swenson was still the Creative Director. In my opinion, he was the driving force behind this event's success. In the 10 years since he's been gone, it seems like they are mostly just coasting on what came before.

 

[Clive]

You guys just named 5 houses that all debuted before 2014 while Scott Swenson was still the Creative Director. In my opinion, he was the driving force behind this event's success. In the 10 years since he's been gone, it seems like they are mostly just coasting on what came before.

This is great context, thank you. I'm far less familiar with the inner workings of this event's creative team and its history. He clearly did spectacular work. It looks like he runs his own consultancy firm now.

 

[Tobias]

You guys just named 5 houses that all debuted before 2014 while Scott Swenson was still the Creative Director. In my opinion, he was the driving force behind this event's success. In the 10 years since he's been gone, it seems like they are mostly just coasting on what came before.

Appreciate the insight, there was definitely a lot of creativity under Scott's direction. And while there have been some really good houses after his tenure (Motel Hell instantly comes to mind), they don't show up as consistently. Doesn't help there's been moments like Dead Fall only lasting two years and being replaced by The Black Spot, or Demented Dimensions lasting a whopping one year before getting shipped off and neutered at BGW.

 

[Speed]

You guys just named 5 houses that all debuted before 2014 while Scott Swenson was still the Creative Director. In my opinion, he was the driving force behind this event's success. In the 10 years since he's been gone, it seems like they are mostly just coasting on what came before.

I'm pretty late to this conversation, but I still see Swenson leaving BG as the downfall of HOS and really entertainment for the park as a whole