Halloween Horror Nights 18

House 1: Creatures!

TC: We’re duty bound to inform you of the intricate back story that weaves throughout all the haunted houses at HHN, which this year involves Bloody Mary, that urban legend and scourge of girls slumber parties everywhere. Obligation fulfilled. The “Creatures!” house really doesn’t tie in to her story as well as some of the others, unless you count the fact that some of the residents would probably date her. What you’ve got here is a tour through a backwoods dive that’s been overrun by monsters from space. Them durn aliens! Worse than democrats! The rednecks grit all three of their collective teeth and take arms against the critters, with you caught in the middle. Decent sets here, though most of the detail is on the outside. The scariest thing I can recall are the shotgun blasts whizzing past in the hallway, since the presence of actual scareactors seemed pretty thin.

PH: I liked the deliberate pace this house took to getting to the squishy, tentacle goods. At first, when walking through the demolished bar filled with screaming rednecks, you think “How did I end up in a DeBary bar feud and how do I get out?” But then the creatures start rattling the cages and tearing the hillbillies a new one (or two, or three). I for one like old-fashioned latex monsters, so I was more awash in amusement than drenched in sweat. But, you’re right Tod, more scareactors brandishing shotguns never hurts.