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Amateur
My rating system
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Frights: Did they do a good job of scaring the clients?
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Make-up/Masks: professionalism
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Set Design: did they look thrown together or well thought out?
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Atmosphere: this includes both the inside and outside of the attractions. Do the entrance and surrounding areas enhance the experience?
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Overall: Was I scared? Laughing? Disappointed? Ready to go back again?
0 skulls=Disgrace to the season
=Needs 80% improvement and makeover
=Needs work in many areas. Sporadic pleasantries-inconsistent
=Good but need to make all elements work
=Great
place! Will definitely consider returning!
= Happiness is this place. Can I just stay here? I don't want to leave!
Incredible! Unique! Fantastic! Wonderful! Stupendous!
Sunday, September 30
Fear Factory
Rantoul, IL
I am going to re-review this house after I go through again. I was fortunate enough to attend this house before its opening. THANKS JASON & CO! These guys are so excited about this spot. Its huge! Here is a little background to set the mood if you decide to go. ITS REALLY HAUNTED! along with the building across the street. As a matter of fact, in the other building last month a trained K-9 chased something into this building, up three flights of stairs and leapt off the roof to its death! What would make a doggie do that? A spirit maybe? The Tater men also said they heard some banging on the windows while working. I heard many creepy tales about this place. hmmm Another creepy story is that their Amityville Room (which kicks some major a$$) was set up, without prior knowledge, in the room of the same number as the street address of the house in the movie! Watch the move before you go to this house. It will creep you out. Besides the authentic haunts these guys have done a great job.
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The outdoor sets are very impressive.
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This house includes movie themed sets. I am very much a fan of this.
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Although I'm not a fan of Scream and Ghostface, the rooms these guys have devoted to Scream have always been the best I've seen anywhere.
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Their maze is very well done.
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OH and Michael Meyers. . . he is most impressive :)
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They have some rather unique lighting effects
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the actors were very professional
Frights
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Atmosphere
Overall
Friday, October 5th
Asylum of Horror
Fall River, Ma
Well I'm not going to waste much time or effort on this "haunt". They definitely had a great building with a lot of potential. It was located near the river, under an elevated road and in an old warehouse. The area was industrial looking and kind of run down and rather deserted. The exterior was great if you ignored the music that was being played waaaay to loud in the lot. The building was decrepit, they head a hearse with fog coming out of it and a body hanging from the building. Great entrance but that was the extent of it. The owner must have stock in that caulking stuff because that's about it for the decor in the place. That with paint on it. One thing that was kind of amusing was a toilet with a bunch of that caulk stuff in it and a head on top. Aside from the annoying actors flirting with my friend and later with me (my one friends did stick his tongue in the mouth of one of the more annoying actors which, in this case, was justified) this house was $15 too much. They should have at least charged less then the good house. The neighboring house, Factory of Terror, which had a line of over 1 1/2 hours and a cover charge of $15 as well must have been worth it. We were starving and didn't want to take the time to wait for the other house (we had been driving all day as well) but I kind of wish we had :( Sorry Factory of Terror!
Frights
Make-up/Masks
Set Design the place had such potential too!
Atmosphere
Overall
Saturday, October 13th
House of Fear
Champaign, IL
I learned that if you go to this place opening weekend there is no line :) This is a religious themed house. I had never been to one of these before. I have to say that I was very much impressed! The set design was so well put together. The scares were right on the mark. The make up and masks looked very good and professional. I am really disappointed that I missed this house in previous years. If you live anywhere near Champaign and love haunted houses take the time to attend this one. Though the religious theme might make attendees a little uncomfortable, don't let this deter you. Way to go guys!
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Thursday, October 26th
Fear Factory
Rantoul, IL
First I would like to say that the Tatar brothers were working on this place since last spring so they may be well on their way to professional status!
Well I went back when it was open this time! This is all in a big old building. The actors efforts? 100%! The outdoor sets were even better than the first time I saw it. They had mist or fog or something like that effect. It even had an outdoor scent! It could be because they got the shrubbery from the courtyard of the haunted building so it was real I suppose. Anyway those sets were fantastic. I have to apologize cuz I know I went the wrong way in one room. Sorry guys! They had a great maze too. It always boggles my mind when people get lost in mazes that only have one pathway! I am a professional maze goer througher :) Anyway the place was awesome yet again. Thanks so much for the tours everyone!
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Tuesday, October 30th
Haunting of Elsnore
Charleston, IL
This cute little farm has had a haunt every year for the last 5 I believe. The actors are volunteers from local boy scouts to fraternities to sororities. This is a great idea but doesn't necessarily work that well especially when the actors don't work enough to improve their skills. I attended on a night when a sorority supplied the actors. Most of them were shorter than I am and that can work well but mostly its distracting. One gal was great-talking to us, pleading with us not to go any further-she was good. Anyway the atmosphere was great. The farm had horses neighing to each other, little farm kitties and doggies running around. There were torches lit sporadically in the area to help light the way. I really liked the setting
They had 3 attractions: the
haunted barn
the haunted walk and
the hayride
We attended the barn and the walk. The barn was creepy. The sets
creative. Some of the pathways were made of hay bales. The hosts
were wonderful of course.
The walk was a nice trek through the farmland and through some trees. This
was the first year for the haunted walk which was apparent. I have to keep
in mind that this was a little baby haunt comparatively and keep that in mind
when I review it. I just can't review it objectively because I'm used to
outdoor places like Nightmare Forest which is high tech and has been around for
a couple decades. So I hope they try the walk again next year but definitely
try to improve the sets.
I suppose this haunt could be everything Charleston IL needs for the season. I might try it again sometime to check out the hayride and if they improve the walk but the amateur houses that are closer to me I have found to be better in most aspects apart from the setting. Sorry for the not-so-great review but I believe this information can help the haunters in the future if I'm honest rather than just nice!
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Halloween
Wednesday, October 31st
Clinton Haunted House
Clinton, IL
THEY'RE ONLINE!
Terror On Washington Street Home
Page
Holy crap these guys rock! I have been to the Clinton House at least 3
times and have never been disappointed. Each year it is in a different
spot. Last year I thought their location was great and hoped they didn't
move but they did, I attended and they amazed me once again. I haven't
been frightened by a chainsaw actor for some time now but they got me. One
of the actors, in an attempt to slow down my group from the previous one,
grabbed onto and pulled my leg for about a minute! I love that kind of
stuff even though I know it is very dangerous for the haunters legally. I
love the crazy walkways and crawlspaces (although that's some hard work at my
age). The building it was in this year was extremely creepy on the inside-the
outside wasn't much to creep you out though. You start out in the basement
(reminded me of the Blair Witch house) and move up to pathways and corridors
even the stairways and upstairs rooms were just plain creepy! They had a
guillotine with a live victim and executioner. We of course voted that she
die and they shut off the lights, let the guillotine down and we felt a spray of
the victim's blood on us. Woo Hoo! What a great house! I would
say Central Illinois' best but Monticello was just as awesome so. . .
one of Central Illinois' best haunted attractions!
Frights
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Halloween
Wednesday, October 31st
Spookhouse
Monticello, IL
Not online either! I tried to put them on HauntedIllinois.com but I think the operator was too busy haunted housing himself to get the info up in time.
First I would like to wish the residents of Monticello my best in their effort to repair the damage of late October's high winds and tornado. It managed to attack the Spookhouse's vortex :( So sorry to see that but at least no one was hurt and the haunt was still great!
For the past 3 years the Spookhouse has been located in the Monticello pool's locker rooms. Cool thing is that it's next to a cemetery. The volunteers always manage to transform the place into a well developed house of horrors. They make you crawl too and right over a vampire! They have an awesome gargoyle room, a vibrating floor or wall or something-I don't know which because the actors waited till the end of my group to get them which I think is really cool. Their psycho clown stalkabout was stalking me much to my joy! They had a slanted hallway and just all kinds of good stuff!
The Spookhouse gets my vote as one of the best haunted attractions in Central Illinois!
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