Overall, a great weekend despite the downpours. The event has potential, as always opening weekend is always lacking things. Hoping they change a few things in weeks to come. I will start off by saying that I believe that it is the "scareactors" that make a house good. I have the opportunity to go to the event several times, and always become bias as to what "cast" I want to see in each house. As this was the first weekend I know the "scareactors" will get better and step up to their roll.
My review is not my intention to make anyone mad or p*ssed off, this review will change as the event goes to the end. This is just my opinion.
The Houses:
Nightingales Blood Prey - Great sets, nice props. Seems to lack in scares/and or scareactors, didn't really feel like they have that team momentum down as a team. Has potential to be a great house. 5/10
H.R Bloodengutz - Nice "gag" house, much better then the "gag" houses in the past. Good scares, and great sets. Love the smells. 8/10
Saws N Steam - I really thought this house was going to be a bomb, just because where it is located. I loved it! Best house that has been there since Friday the 13th. Awesome sets and great props. I am going to invest in a fish tank. I actually got scared in this house, and that says alot. 9/10
The Thing - Not really a fan of the first Thing house, so therefore not a fan of this house. Nice animatronics and that is about it. Lacks in scares and is down in the "worst" house in my books so far. 3/10
Winter's Night - Ahhh, my "favorite" house so far. Absolutely love the feel and vibe in this house. The atmosphere, the sets, the scares, definitely does not lack in this house. Reminds me of a "cold winter's night" just scarier. 10/10
Nevermore - Great sets and good scares in some rooms. Never really read anything from Poe, but seems like a good potential house. 5/10
The Forsaken - Seemed kinda short. Didn't really "get" this house. Nice sets, lacks in scares. Seemed like they concentrated in props in this house, then anything else. 4/10
The In Between - I had high hopes for this house, as I have always been a fan of 3-D houses. It failed in my hopes. Lake of scares and only had two rooms which I thought were good. 3/10
Warning these reviews may be harsh. The Scarezones are definitely lacking this year. I guess you can't please everybody.
The Scarezones:
Nightmaze - I have nothing nice to say about this scarezone, or what they want to call a scarezone. Worst scarezone I have seen in awhile. 0/10
Canyon of Dark Souls - I like the costumes in here, I feel like that this scarezone had potential. It is short, and will be avoiding it on busy nights. It has cluster f*ck writing all over it. The only thing that this scarezone does not lack is fog. 2/10
Grown Evil - Again, I really like the costumes in here. It seems to be spread out nicely and love the atmosphere. It lacks light, but overall a good scarezone. 5/10
7 - A photo-op scarezone, yes. I feel they should have spread out the stages a little bit more and more props in here, and it would have been a top notch scarezone. Loved the costumes and soundtracks in here. 6/10
Acid Rain - I feel a "Deadtropolis" vibe in this scarezone. Nice props, and great costumes. 8/10