Newbie Review Crew Member

Pete (dubstyle_2k)

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Previous Reviews: 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009

2012 Reviews

Please note: this review is for the 2012 season rather than the current season.

Abandoned Haunted House Complex

by dubstyle_2k (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Sunday, October 7, 2012 at about 2:30 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

The Abandoned Haunted House Complex is an exciting new haunt in the area!  Abandoned  is easy to find with internet directions and once you get close you can't miss it, given the big spotlight in the sky. There was plenty of parking and was fairly controlled. Once you arrive, you see the big brightly lit sign and things are labeled very well. It is easy to spot ticketing and where to go to get in line. The waiting area was covered and enclosed. We arrived at about 7:39 p.m. When they let us in as a group, they talked to us about the rules. When we first entered, we were brought into a room with a television that played a disturbing message and then we went into the first haunt. We walked down really dark hallways that had audio of creepy children giggling and laughing. It was very dark and almost too dark in areas where it looked like there were lots of cool props, so we couldn’t see them very well, which is a shame. The actors did a pretty good job of jumping out at you when you weren’t expecting it. I liked the vortex, of course, but I also liked the laser lights that they had in one of the hallways.  Abandoned featured one of the best disorientating rooms I have ever walked through.  A very slow strobe plus a creepy clown is enough to put you over the edge!  This first haunt was pretty good, but unfortunately, was rather short. 

The second section was all about an infection spreading, with areas resembling that of an abandoned facility (imagine that!).  TV's looping a message of the outbreak really sets the scene as you walk through this dark and terrifying section.  A medical area with broken hospital props and pill bottles strewn about is a nice touch.  Abandoned attacks your senses in many ways, none more terrifying than the wet body parts hung from the ceiling... GROSS! The actors were very interactive and I liked the zombie girl that was crawling, she spooked me good!  And kudos to the zombie that was eating the corpse in the morgue. 

In all Abandoned was a winner.  The people who brought you Burial Chamber have come through with what hopes to be a yearly tradition for southeastern Wisconsin!  Here's to hoping the Abandoned Haunted House Complex continues to grow!

Signage / Visibility / Location


Easy to find, just follow the spotlight!  You can't miss this haunt, it is visible from the interstate, which for travelers is nice.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


Very entertaining!  Tricycle riding mutants are always fun!

Actors' Performance


Great job!  I wouldn't have guessed this was the first year by how professional they were!  Keep up the good work.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


Props were fantastic, although some scenes were way too dark, which may have made all that hard work moot.  You can tell they put a lot of time and effort, not to mention money into these props.

Length


It took roughly 30-40 minutes to make it through the complex.  The first haunt was a little short, but they made up for it with the length of the second haunt.

Crowd Control


Crowd was controlled, though inside control would be nice.  We caught up to the group in front of us rather quickly.  Perhaps some inside gatherings to slow crowds down might help.

Most Memorable Moment


Definitely the clown room with the extremely slow strobe!  This room was SO dark, and seemed to be huge!  As you walk, all you can see is a clown waiting for you on the other side!  Very creepy!

Summary

Abandoned is the best thing to happen to Southeastern Haunts in quite some time.  It is a legitimate haunt that we can look forward to from year to year.  I am excited to see how this thing grows in years to come!

View all Abandoned Haunted House Complex reviews

Comments: (0)

Please note: this review is for the 2012 season rather than the current season.

Haunted Forest and Cornfield at Meadowbrook Pumpkin Farm

by dubstyle_2k (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, October 12, 2012 at about 5:30 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

Meadowbrook gets it right!  What sets a haunt apart from the rest?  Complete sensory overload.  Meadowbrook takes that sensory overload and amplifies that by 11!  Loud, bright, startling, disorienting, and lengthy, all done without a flaw.  But the thing that makes Meadowbrook better that any haunted corn maze you've ever been too is their awesome animatronics.  I can't imagine the amount of time and money that  is spent putting this haunt together.  The actors at Meadowbrook are nothing short of excellent.  The night we went was quite cold, which can be bad news for most actors, but not these pros, they don't miss a beat, and successfully spook you like no other.  Meadowbrook is one of the best haunts you are going to attend this season.  If you've been to Meadowbrook in years past, go again!  I have attended this haunt every year for the last I don't know how many years, and not once did it seem similar to years past.  Meadowbrook is truly innovative and masters of their craft!  Hands down, my favorite all around haunt!

Signage / Visibility / Location


Meadowbrook is down a very dark street, but you can't miss it once you get to it!  Well lit, parking help, and plenty of parking!

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


The waiting area is nothing to write home about, its a line leading to a corn maze.  No roaming spooks, no real decorations, aside from the farm animals in the pens next to the line...  Oh and a giant rooster statue!  Yup, a giant rooster statue!

Actors' Performance


Top notch!  These guys and girts put their hears and souls into scaring you, and do it with ease!  The best actors around!

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


Only the best at Meadowbrook!  I can't even begin to guess how much is spent on props here.  These people are dedicated to the haunt and you can tell in their props.

Length


Easily 45 minutes.  You will definitely get your moneys worth at Meadowbrook.  I found myself thinking to myself on several occasions "it has to be over after this bend."  It just keeps going and going and going!  It's pretty awesome!

Crowd Control


The line wasn't super long on the night I went.  There really wasn't anyone controlling the crowd, but there wasn't any reason for control while I was there.

Most Memorable Moment


It's hard to narrow it down to one moment.  All the animatronics are the most memorable moments for me.  Yeah, I said moments!  Meadowbrook is too good to only have one!

Summary

If meadowbrook had a theme song, it would be that one Karate Kid (THE ORIGINAL!) used: You're the Best Around!  I go every year, and I will continue to go until they stop doing it!  If you can only go to one haunt this year, don't waste your time, just go to Meadowbrook, it's everything you want in a haunt!

View all Haunted Forest and Cornfield at Meadowbrook Pumpkin Farm reviews

Comments: (1)

Please note: this review is for the 2012 season rather than the current season.

Haunted High presents Dark Carnival

by dubstyle_2k (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, October 12, 2012 at about 2:30 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

Last year Haunted High took me by complete surprise, and quickly became one of my favorite haunts.  This year, they have solidified themselves as the best in the area.  Only problem is, it's their "Senior Year," which unfortunately means, Haunted High will be no more after this season.  These people got it right, let's take a school that is shut down, and make it into a frightful haunted house.  It's everything I have ever wanted in a haunt.  The setting is familiar to us all, the halls of a high school, classrooms, detention, the boiler room!  Splash in freaks and creeps around every corner and you have the ultimate haunt.  The actors are what really make Haunted High awesome.  If you are looking for actors who play the part like they were born to spook, look no further.  This haunt messes with all of your senses, and exploits their weaknesses.  Beginning to end, Haunted High is a winner.  Please, do yourself a favor, check it out before it's too late, because unfortunately, this is your last chance to see this phenomenal haunt.  I'm begging you Haunted High, ONE MORE YEAR!!!

Signage / Visibility / Location


Haunted High can be a little hard to find if you are not familiar with the area.  I probably would have driven right past it had I not been there before, and had a GPS.  With that being said, it is in an old school, so how hard can it really be to find!  The only signage I saw was a banner above the entrance of the school, so unless you stumbled upon this haunt by accident, it really doesn't help much.  

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


Spacious and fun.  Haunted High has big screens, actors, and snacks, what else do you need.  Set in the gym of the school, the waiting area is big enough to hold a large group, but makes the wait entertaining.  The water damaged gym floor makes for a wacky wait, and the actors roam the room spooking you all along the way.  P.A. announcements in the style that of a principal addressing the student body will make you chuckle and cringe!

Actors' Performance


Top notch performers!  Haunted High seems to only employ pros!  These actors have mastered the art of creeping!

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


Professional!  Top notch from waiting area to the awesome show at the end!

Length


Approximately 30 minutes from beginning to end.

Crowd Control


The waiting area is roped and well maintained.  Staff is on hand to control the crowd.

Most Memorable Moment


 Definitely the prom scene at the end!

Summary

Once again, one of the best haunts in the area!  Haunted High spares no expense.  If only this wasn't the last year for the haunt.

View all Haunted High presents Dark Carnival reviews

Comments: (1)





March 19th, 2024 1:13 a.m. CDT 24.01