REVIEW: THE FUTURE OF HAUNTING? HAUNTS OF LA EXPLORES THE PORTABLE MAZES AT MIDSUMMER SCREAM

Los Angeles is a creative community filled with strange and unusual minds. Whether you’re a grandmother who decorates her porch with handmade tombstones or a teenager who intricately carves jack-o’-lanterns, Halloween is a great reminder of the imagination and talent that surrounds us in a city we sometimes take for granted. Every haunt season we witness new creative manifestations that develop into recurring haunt features. We’ve seen this in concepts like “birthing rooms”, which are hallways built out of inflated plastic walls that you have to push through to exit. We’ve also seen this with “elevators”, in which a simulated elevator experience is created when a haunt goer is in a box which bumps around, sometimes spinning in circles.

With the constant innovation that is found in world of haunts, we started thinking about what new concepts could be looming on the foggy horizon. At Midsummer Scream, we experienced an entirely new concept: the portable maze. This was something we hadn’t witnessed before, and were very happy to explore four portable mazes in the carefully curated “Hall Of Shadows”.

The first maze we traveled through was “DeadZone 805”, an “escape room on wheels”. Though we weren’t solving any puzzles, our attention was captivated by the twisted body movements of a tied-up ghoulish scientist who came to life amid the hydraulic jumps of the trailer. This maze was great in its tone, presentation and originality. We were therefore left wishing that there had been a little bit more within “Deadline 805” to explore.

The next three haunts were from a company named HallowEve Designs, inc. This company is at the forefront of “trailer haunts” and has been building mobile mazes and renting to private events every October. While one of their haunts was less impressive (it was made with bounce house like plastic walls), the other two haunts had customized interior temperatures and interesting themes, thereby creating a new and innovative haunt experience.

HallowEve’s first haunt, “Cold Storage”, was our favorite. It contained a maze inside of a trailer filled with chilled air. As we squeezed through the narrow and shadowy maze, we were surprised when we bumped into frozen army men. The maze conjured an experience similar to what it would feel like if you explored an abandoned Siberian military outpost in the middle of nowhere. There was even a birthing room at the end which we desperately squeezed out of as we escaped from the eerie frozen landscape.

The second haunt, “Black Bayou”, was similar to “Cold Storage”, except it was swamp themed. Filled with tenebrous swamp critters, low lying fog, and neon green lights, “Black Bayou” was really enjoyable.

Will portable haunts replace the classic stationary haunts built from the ground up? Probably not. However, portable haunts are a fun and contemporary way to bring interactive experiences to different locations during and after Halloween.

VC

August 09, 2018

Hauntsofla.com

#haunts #haunted #hauntedmaze #maze #hauntsofla #midsummerscream #losangeles #la #longbeach #haunters #hallowseve #coldstorage #deadzone805 #hallofshadows

REVIEW: SPOOKY HOLLOWS AT MIDSUMMER SCREAM

Located in Van Nuys, Spooky Hollows has been impressing haunters since 2011 with their fun, interactive maze. This haunt successfully combines a variety of themes within the limited space of a backyard setting. You will travel through sewage pipes, swamps, and campgrounds as you encounter sassy animated plants, walkers, monsters, and more! Building a maze within a 24 hour time frame for Midsummer Scream (@midsummerscream) must have been an arduous enterprise. We can only imagine the challenges and limitations of building a haunt in a small amount of time within a small area of a convention center. However, Spooky Hollows did not hold back. The minute you stepped foot into their maze, you immediately found yourself in a swamp interacting with its denizens. As always, we were extremely impressed by the incredible attention to detail that Spooky Hollows offers. For example, they used reflective foil to create a surface which simulated water in its depth and reflection. We were especially awed by the intricate details of their sewer scene, which included running water and feats of illusion which revealed otherworldly characters. Out of all the pop-up mazes at Midsummer Scream, Spooky Hollows stayed the truest to their Halloween maze. They even included their legendary jack-o’-lantern display! Be sure to visit Spooky Hollows this Halloween, and you will enter a beautiful and twisted world in which the fantastic becomes real!

VC August 03, 2018

Hauntsofla.com

#haunts #haunted #hauntedmaze #maze #hauntsofla #halloween #spookyhollows #witches #losangeles #haunters #vannuys #midsummerscream #longbeach #jackolantern

REVIEW: OPECHEE HAUNT PRESENTS THE DONNIE DARKO EXPERIENCE

The Opechee Haunt (@opecheehaunt) is the brainchild of Sam Kellman - a young Halloween enthusiast whose talent and creativity far exceeds his age. Sam’s work is constantly evolving, and we’ve enjoyed the sophisticated levels of production in his elaborate mazes and pumpkin orchestras. This year at Midsummer Scream (@midsummerscream) he gave us a taste of what’s to come for the Opechee Haunt this October: the Donnie Darko Experience. We don’t want to spoil too much for what’s coming, but we will say that Sam’s use of lighting, suspense and warped psychology is, like the film itself, executed in a beautiful cinematic fashion. Whether you’re in a high school locker room or interdimensional world, each turn feels like you’ve literally become immersed in the world of Donnie Darko. If you were one of the lucky people who enjoyed the Donnie Darko Experience at Midsummer Scream, then you have a taste of what the monstrous rabbit Frank is capable of! We are really looking forward to revisiting the Donnie Darko Experience this Halloween!

VC

August 01, 2018

Hauntsofla.com

#haunts #haunted #hauntedmaze #maze #hauntsofla #midsummerscream #opechee #opecheehaunt #losangeles #la #longbeach #haunters #glendale #donniedarko #darkoexperience #richardkelly

REVIEW: MURDER HOUSE PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS TRICK 'R TREAT AT MIDSUMMER SCREAM

A highlight of last year’s haunt season was the Murder House Productions (@mhphaunt) tribute to the Halloween horror classic, “Trick ‘R Treat”. Last Halloween, this incredible maze was only open for a few nights and was one of the greatest surprises of the season. Created with incredible accuracy and attention to detail by visionaries Aurora Perchetti and Kyle Warner, this Halloween treat was built in Aurora’s parent’s garage in the LA suburb of Thousand Oaks. The “Trick ‘R Treat” haunt was perfectly executed through its outstanding art direction, technical mastery, and multisensory environments. (We were lucky enough to get a photograph with Sam while he slowly paced outside of the haunt, amid the candy corn scented fog.)

Since last Halloween, we’ve often thought about this maze and felt sad about never getting to experience it again. However, thanks to the fantastic curation of the Midsummer Scream Halloween Festival, everyone was treated to an encore pop-up presentation of the “Trick ‘R Treat” haunt.

The Murder House Production team’s lips are sealed as to what the upcoming season’s theme will be. However, if their past work is any indication of what’s to come, we know that we are in for a very special experience this haunt season. We are very excited to see what Aurora and Kyle’s new masterpiece will be this Halloween.

VC

August 01, 2018

hauntsofla.com

#midsummerscream #halloween#spooky #thousandoaks #losangeles #elvira#boneyardfx #murderhouseproductions#opeecheehaunt #spookyhallows#hauntedhouse #hauntedmaze#livefastdiepoor #randomland#pennywise #hauntsofla #trickrtreat #sam

MIDSUMMER NIGHT SCREAM

MIDSUMMER NIGHT SCREAM AND THE EXPLODING SOCAL HAUNT SCENE

Haunts in the Los Angeles area have been popping off for many years, and for good reason. LA is a city of known for its entertainment and creativity, and when you mix that with everyone’s favorite holiday: Halloween, you have the perfect combination to bring forth the best haunts in the world. Whether you are a seasoned haunter or an amateur, everyone brings to life a unique vision, conjuring the dark and fantastical worlds we all hold deep within us.

The Midsummer Scream Halloween and Horror Convention has only been around for three years, but has quickly become hugely popular thanks to it’s epic array of vendors, haunts, programs, and special guests. Located in the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, @midsummerscream offers everything from an Elvira Cafe to haunt favorites like Murder House (@mhphaunt), Opechee Haunt (@opecheehaunt), and Spooky Hollows.

Midsummer Scream sold out quickly, and this was very evident by the convention’s swelling crowds containing haunters and Halloween lovers alike. Traveling through the convention we were surrounded by a festive atmosphere filled with wonderfully executed characters like Freddy Krueger, Pennywise, Ash Williams, the Munsters, and more. We also saw real life icons like Cassandra Peterson and Justin Scarred. There was so much to see we couldn’t soak everything in, and missed some of the great panels, presentations, and our favorite theatrical production: Zombie Joe’s Underground Theater. However, we enjoyed some great experiences, such as Jon Braver’s new VR presentation of Delusion, which contained a lot of the plot from his 2014 production “Delusion: Lies Within”. This was a really beautiful and nostalgic film which made us miss the otherworldly immersive experience of Delusion’s (@enterdelusion) interactive plays.

We enjoyed some great haunt classics with our visits to the vendor booths. Seasonal legends Bone Yard Effects (@boneyardfx...the minds behind one of the best haunts of last year: “Into The Black”) had a free photo-op booth with the Munsters. The always beautiful and charming Cassandra Peterson was present for a meet and greet with her @therealelivra fans. We were happy to see a booth hosted by @dappercadaverprops, a prop shop that we love (one of our team members has used their body part props while filming videos for Adult Swim).  There were multiple live makeup demos, and our favorite was E.I. Makeup School (@eimakeupschool) who created an incredible mummy and Anubis right before our eyes. To top things off was the Slashback Video VHS store installation, complete with vintage horror film merchandise and memorabilia….taking you back to the time in which most of our Halloween icons were created.

Other highlights included several pop-up haunts, which we will cover with individual reviews throughout the upcoming week.

Even though Midsummer Scream takes place during the hottest time of the year, its ghost and ghouls are enough to put chills down anyone's spine!

VC

August 01, 2018

hauntsofla.com

#midsummerscream #halloween #spooky #longbeach #losangeles #elvira #boneyardfx #murderhouseproductions #opeecheehaunt #spookyhallows #hauntedhouse #hauntedmaze #livefastdiepoor #randomland #pennywise #hauntsofla

REVIEW: THE FARM

REVIEW: THE FARM

The Farm is a Western themed haunt located in Glendale, California. This cozy and gruesome maze contains several sharp turns, offering surprises and fun around every corner. The Farm is only open for two nights per season, so make sure you don’t miss it!

Often, mazes will be lengthy but lack enough content to make the experience satisfying. The Farm seems to be aware of this fact and instead does the opposite: it has numerous ideas, props and characters which work together within tight spaces and small sets – all within the space of a driveway.

The Farm contains five rooms which fully immerse you into a ghoulish barnyard experience. You will walk by corn stalks, horse skeletons, bales of hay, and severed human remains as you encounter high-tech mechanics in an atmosphere saturated with beautiful lighting effects. The Farm’s art direction is reminiscent of a mixture of Boney Island, Knott’s Scary Farm and Disneyland.

The Farm may be small in size, but it is large in content. This maze experience is delivered with perfect precision, bringing the horrors within to life for the delight and fright of visitors. The Farm is unique and unlike anything else you will find in the DIY haunt world. Follow them on Facebook and don't miss out on next year’s experience (which we hear will have less gore and be more family friendly).

VC

November 15, 2017

hauntsofla.com

#haunts #haunted #hauntedmaze #maze #hauntsofla #halloween #thefarm #frights #losangeles #haunters #glendale

REVIEW: FREEDOM CHRISTIAN CENTER'S NIGHT OF TERROR

REVIEW: FREEDOM CHRISTIAN CENTER'S NIGHT OF TERROR

Well we found it, the rarest haunt of them all: the hell house. We stumbled across it outside of Los Angeles in the small town of Norwalk. For those who aren't familiar with this phenomenon, hell houses are haunts hosted by fundamentalist christians where you travel through a maze of “real life” vignettes which typically portray dead children at raves, girls killing themselves over abortion guilt, and drunk teenagers dying in violent car accidents. These Reagan era ideas are a bit dated in 2017, but get strapped in because we are about to go on a wild ride.

We randomly found this maze while driving through Norwalk. We came across the parking lot of the Freedom Christian Center and saw a giant spinning spotlight projecting into the sky. (This becomes ironic later on when we were interrogated about how we found them.) We were very curious what this maze entitled "Night of Terror" would be like and we paid our entrance fee. As we waited in the enormous line they played the entire 2012 Skrillex discography on shuffle. The dubstep mixed with the suburban grey office like, strip mall church made an interesting pre-show setting.

Once inside it was a dark, cavernous high school like set of hallways, lit only by a few red lights that were diffused by an insane amount of fog. Here we encountered some very creative and professionally rendered demonic creatures who would pop out from nowhere. Each character was well-crafted and held a great amount of detail.

The path abruptly hustled everyone outside through a bloody scene with two completely destroyed vehicles. Between the slaughter stood two police officers and a "drunk" teenager. Children covered in blood were sprawled out on the concrete, their bodies ripped apart as they lay dying.

Before that image had a chance to settle in, we were looped back into the building and entered a "rave". Inside the party, a Slipknot masked dj spinned dubstep while girls wearing masquerade masks offered everyone drinks. The staggering amount of extras in this room was impressive. Among the actors was a lone teenager in the corner making money rain over the cocaine on his otherwise empty table. As we exited to enter the next room we passed by a girl who was sitting on a chair, vomiting and overdosing.

Next we saw a young girl sitting in her bedroom, holding a gun to her head, while the reflection of a demon stared back at her through the mirror. In blood, she had written a lot of degrading things about herself on the wall. While we were trying to make sense of this we then entered into a new room of people who were wearing gasmasks and holding human body parts. Behind them, real children were tied up to what I believe was the gates of hell. They were all crying while their faces poked out of holes in the wall. Human brains and limbs littered the room.

Then we entered hell: a beautifully designed room with awesome demons, skulls, and flames. Two goat skulled demons danced around a chained, real life human. They poked their spears around as they celebrated human torture. This was my favorite room as they really made the evil look cool and appealing!

But the real story is what happened next. They herded everyone into a room and onto their sermon pews. We sat in the darkness as a “sins of mankind” video looped on the stage. The video was intended to frighten the viewers as it discussed things like overdose statistics. At this point the fun part, which was the maze, was over and we kindly asked a volunteer where we could exit without a disturbance. The staff said that we couldn’t leave and that we had to stay. We explained politely that we had other mazes to go see but they would not listen. Confused, we sat down to look around for an exit door. They then starred at us as they put multiple volunteers in front of the only exit door. Knowing that we were being lied to by then we once again asked them if we could leave.

The staff sent a man who was extremely confrontational and aggressive over to talk to us. He insisted that we could not leave and in a bout of paranoia asked me an assortment of questions that were none of his business: why we were there, how we heard about it (spotlight in the parking lot anyone?), and why I had a camera. I politely told him that while we loved their maze but we couldn't sit through the service due to time restrictions. He became very focused on my camera and then blurted out that Haunts of LA wasn’t allowed in there and that we had to be escorted out.

 The escort who came over repeated the same stuff every volunteer said: "You. Have. To. Stay." and shadowed us as we pushed our way back into the maze. The strangest part was going back through their rave room, which was still packed with extras who looked like they stepped out of “Eyes Wide Shut”. These masked people all had their hands up praying loudly at us as we walked through. They were speaking in what seemed to be tongues with an audible "salvation" mumbled here and there. These teens speaking in their imaginary language in this setting was surreal to say the least.

As we finally made it out the exit we had to walk back through their make-believe car accident, where dead, ripped up teenagers were still strewn about on the parking lot. We were with another small group of confused visitors. We all had the same experience and found it baffling that the staff refused to let us leave. Why did the church try to keep us all hostage at the end, against our will, lying and telling us that there wasn’t a way to exit? This didn't seem like a professional way to run a business.

Let’s be clear, we have been to some church-ran haunts this season and we gave them all favorable reviews. We went into this maze loving it. While the message they intended was not something we'd agree with, the maze had great lighting with amazing costumes. The problem here was how the Freedom Christian Center displayed such a confrontational attitude towards its own paying customers who, outside of the sermon, actually enjoyed the experience.

 I guess in the end the Freedom Christian Center accidentally created one of the most frightening and confrontational mazes for us during the 2017 haunt season.

 VC

November 07, 2017

hauntsofla.com

#haunts #hauntedmaze #hauntedhouse #haunted #house #maze #hellhouse #hell #demons #satan #church #freedomchristiancenter #nightofterror #hauntsofla #losangeles #whittier

REVIEW: THE NIGHTMARE IN WHITING WOODS

REVIEW: THE NIGHTMARE IN WHITING WOODS

For years we have traveled to The Nightmare in Whiting Woods on Halloween, only to arrive too late to gain entrance. This haunt is located up a winding road in a cozy neighborhood. The line to get in gets very long very quickly, so this year we arrived at 7 pm sharp in order to get in. We were finally able to experience this beautiful maze with an evolving theme, and it was impressive.

The line to get into The Nightmare in Whiting Woods wraps up a winding set of narrow steps. It begins at the bottom of the hill that the maze and home reside on. As you slowly make your way up the stairs, you will see classic horror films being projected and hear grunts coming from distorted hunchbacked monsters hiding in the darkness. Once you get to the top of the stairs, you will come upon the exterior of a castle guarded by a gatekeeper. The gatekeeper is a very realistic character who will ask you in a foreboding voice if you are sure you want to enter the castle, because there is no exit. This is confirmed by the fact that no exit can be seen (it’s located on a different part of the hill). This is a great detail which sets a suspenseful tone for those about to enter the haunt.

Inside the castle we walked through a wonderfully rendered set of medieval chambers which led to a graveyard. Each section had impressive characters embellished with beautiful costuming and make-up. They helped to create an immersive narrative filled with interactive experiences. At one point we summoned the dead, which led to the cemetery coming to life. We also saw floating skeletons and we were chased by a chainsaw wielding human/pig hybrid.

The Nightmare in Whiting Woods is an incredible work of art which has existed for almost two decades. The love and labor which goes into its creation and execution makes it a coveted destination for hundreds of trick-or-treaters. The Nightmare in Whiting Woods was a perfect way to conclude the Halloween season, and we can’t wait to go back next year!

VC

November 09, 2017

hauntsofla.com

#haunts #haunted #hauntedmaze #maze #hauntsofla #halloween #nightmareinwhitingwoods #thenightmareinwhitingwoods #frights #losangeles #haunters #glendale #lacrescenta

REVIEW: KNOTT'S SCARY FARM

REVIEW: KNOTTS SCARY FARM

Since 1973 Knott’s Berry Farm has been transforming their park into Knott’s Scary Farm for each Halloween season. The park, which started with an old western theme, is built for this type of attraction. Through the years the mazes and scare zones have expanded and improved, providing inspiration for many other theme parks and back yard mazes which we have grown to love.

To begin, this year is the last year for Elvira’s live show, which has been running on an off since 1982. I am on the fence caring about this because as rumor has it, she has been butting heads with the theme park for a while because they refuse to let her be in complete control of her own show. The show itself didn’t feel inspired or even much like a farewell, instead it incorporates great comedic Elvira moment’s sprinkled between pointless Las Vegas dance group routines set to dub step remixes. I honestly don’t mind her leaving as I hope she can be in charge of her own show somewhere else. However it wasn't all bad.

Knott’s Scary Farm hosts 9 original mazes this year. All of them are superior to their competitors at Universal, which is largely due to the lack of corporate interference. All of the mazes and scare zones are original ideas unique to the park. This makes it easier for the writers, art directors, and builders to have the freedom of expression in bringing their visions to life without major branding interference.

Our highlight of the night was Trick or Treat – home to witches and ghouls and the heart of Knott’s Scary Farm. This year all the lights are out as you go through with a flashlight wirelessly connected to each room where it randomly strobes, changes colors, or turns off. This is something I haven’t seen before and greatly enjoyed its execution. Their new maze "Dark Ride" was up there on our favorites as well.

All of the other mazes were equally enjoyable for us with the exception of Special Ops: Infected, in which you are given a gun and run around shooting zombies. While I never cared for this wannabe GI Joe meets Walking Dead attraction, I can see why it’s so popular since every teen in the park loved running around shooting zombies.

Additionally to Elvira’s show and the mazes, they are running most of their coasters, including the Ghost Rider. This is a beautiful wooden coaster dimly lit by orange lights as it travels at high octane speeds. The Ghost Rider by night has always felt like the start of the autumn season, and it was nice to have it back and running this year.

Knott’s Scary Farm is the best out of all the Halloween theme park events. If the past 40 years are any indication, they are going to continue to build and expand on original ideas for years to come to the delight of visitors far and wide. Knott’s Scary Farm is the perfect way to begin and end the Halloween season in southern California.  

VC

November 01, 2017

hauntsofla.com

#haunts #haunted #hauntedmaze #maze #hauntsofla #halloween #knottsberryfarm #knottsscaryfarm #losangeles #haunters

REVIEW: REVENGE OF THE NINJA

REVIEW: REVENGE OF THE NINJA

Revenge of the Ninja might be the only haunt that exists in a Karate School. Its layout is minimal, composed of mostly brick and black backgrounds. Instead of art direction, Revenge of the Ninja focuses on combining speed and illusion in order to create a thrilling experience.

Ninjas will appear out of thin air as they speed towards you. Ninjas will even jump out from behind a 1 inch wide wooden beam! If you haven’t made it out to Revenge of the Ninja yet, we highly recommend  you visit this legendary LA haunt.

VC

October 31, 2017

Hauntsofla.com

#haunts #haunted #hauntedmaze #maze #hauntsofla #halloween #revengeoftheninja #frights #losangeles #haunters #torrance

REVIEW: ROSEHILL HAUNT

REVIEW: ROSEHILL HAUNT

Ben Conway has been making haunted attractions in his parent’s yard since he was 11 years old. Now, at the age of 15, his talent is years beyond people who are twice his age. This is evident in his creativity and technical ability which has produced a multi-leveled Halloween attraction.

Conway’s front yard is transformed into a graveyard in which jack o’ lanterns interact with you as thunder rumbles and lightning flashes. The cemetery is filled with tombstones which Conway himself has individually crafted. Behind the yard display, there is an interactive room within which an actor tells the tale of El Cucay, the creature from Mexican folklore who steals misbehaved children. This part of the yard haunt, inspired from other interactive plays like Delusion, is quick and fun. (We won’t spoil anything for you, but know that this experience is greatly enjoyable.) You will then walk into a separate yard area which is embellished with numerous Halloween decorations including cobwebs, singing jack o’ lanterns, and spooky skeletons. (The skeletons could be a nod to Boney Island, as Conway volunteered there when he was younger.)

What makes Halloween so great is seeing young people showcase their creativity, talents, and aspirations. Rosehill Haunt is a great example of this, and also proves that Boney Island, Knott’s, and Disney can stoke the imaginations of children so that they may follow their creativity. We greatly encourage you to make it out to Studio City to visit Rosehill Haunt, which is a skip and a jump away from Rotten Apple and Backwoods in Burbank. Check out this young talent as he prepares to embark on a brilliant future career!

VC

October 30, 2017

hauntsofla.com

#haunts #haunted #hauntedmaze #maze #hauntsofla #halloween #rosehillhaunt #rosehill #losangeles #haunters #studiocity

REVIEW: THE HAUNTED ROSE

REVIEW: THE HAUNTED ROSE

Brought to you by PROliFX, the Haunted Rose has spent the past few years entertaining visitors outside of a residential home in Whittier. Owner Ryan Banfield is an incredibly talented effects technician who has worked on feature films (Iron Man, Terminator Salvation, Avatar) and with world-renowned companies (Knott's Berry Farm, Stan Winston Studio, The Walt Disney Company, Cirque Du Soleil). Banfield’s background is evident in the incredible attention to detail, characters, and storytelling of the Haunted Rose.

The Haunted Rose pulls you into a Lovecraftian world in which a mad scientist uses necromancy to bring to life otherworldly and bizarre creatures. These horrific creations are the result of the hybridization of animals and humans. They appear throughout the maze as you wander through beautiful sets and exquisite lighting. The art direction of this maze is impeccable, as is the timing of the mechanics and the performances of the actors.

The love of H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror is evident throughout this haunt. You will be dazzled by the gothic settings filled with beautiful special effects and intense frights. The Haunted Rose is both impressive and fun. We love this haunt! Take a chance and go visit the mad doctor and hope that you make it out alive!

JB

October 29, 2017

hauntsofla.com

#haunts #haunted #hauntedmaze #maze #hauntsofla #halloween #thehauntedrose #witches #losangeles #haunters #whittier

REVIEW: THE SANTA FE SPRINGS HAUNTED HOUSE

REVIEW: THE SANTA FE SPRINGS HAUNTED HOUSE

The City of Santa Fe Springs has been putting together their yearly haunt for over 25 Halloween seasons. The city organizes a new theme every year, and then gets local teenagers to help out. This year’s theme focuses on a chainsaw wielding maniac who massacres everyone in his path.

As you travel through the maze you will follow the story of a man who loses his mind and kills his entire family. He then runs off into the forest, where he continues his killing spree. The narrative of the maze slowly unfolds through each part of this multi-room haunt.

The Santa Fe Springs Haunted House is a wonderful experience, made all the better by knowing the great community collaboration behind it. The inclusion of teenagers in haunts is always welcome as it is evidence of a community who cares about inspiring and encouraging creativity.

VC

October 29, 2017

Hauntsofla.com

#haunts #haunted #hauntedmaze #maze #hauntsofla #halloween #santafesprings #frights #losangeles #haunters #sfshauntedhouse

REVIEW: SPOOKY HOLLOWS

REVIEW: SPOOKY HOLLOWS

Spooky Hollows is a haunted underworld inhabited by maniacal crones and tenebrous caves. You will walk through a swamp enshrouded in thick fog as skeletal alligators stare at you from below. Carnivorous plants await you as you make your way through creeping vines. In the end, you can pray at the pumpkin shrine so that your soul is not left behind.

This beautiful walkthrough and family friendly haunt leaves behind the gore and typical scares found in most mazes. The actors could double for Macbeth’s witches and help to create a genuine otherworldly atmosphere. They are fully committed to giving you the best experience as a guest. It is unbelievable that this maze lives within a small suburban back yard.

Spooky Hollows creates a haunted world which is innovative and filled with imagination. This is a really enjoyable maze and we hope to make our way back again before Halloween.

VC
October 28, 2017
hauntsofla.com

#haunts #haunted #hauntedmaze #maze#hauntsofla #halloween #spookyhollows#witches #losangeles #haunters#vannuys

REVIEW: REALM OF SHADOW

REVIEW: REALM OF SHADOW

Some of the greatest things about yard haunts are that you get to see communities come together so that kids and teenagers can to bring to life their imaginations and creativity. Pico Rivera’s maze, Realm Of Shadow, does this perfectly. There are fun mechanics, crazy DIY layouts, and really fun scaractors contained with the tarped walls of this maze.

Realm of Shadow is a mischievous haunt which has been around for decades. The playfulness of the frights that await you around every corner will put a smile on your face. There are tricks and twists that you will never see coming. If you’re in the Pico Rivera, check out this really fun yard walkthrough maze!

JB

October 29, 2017

hauntsofla.com

#haunts #haunted #hauntedmaze #maze #hauntsofla #halloween #realmofshadow #frights #losangeles #haunters #picorivera

REVIEW: THE HAUNTED SHACK

REVIEW: THE HAUNTED SHACK

For the past 20 years, Bob and his family have brought us the Haunted Shack, an incredible home maze located outside of LA in Torrance. The Haunted Shack is an ever-evolving attraction whose features are updated and changed each Halloween season. The differences from year to year are so vast that you never quite know what you are getting into.

This year had lots of surprises - including floating beds, mirrored illusions, and hovering floors. With each turn the cavernous hallways and dark environment created an eerie atmosphere laced with suspense and shock. The engineering used in this maze is always top notch, and Bob and his volunteers no doubt work themselves to the bone to provide their visitors with an exceptional home haunt experience.

VC

October 29, 2017

Hauntsofla.com

#haunts #haunted #hauntedmaze #maze #hauntsofla #halloween #thehauntedshack #frights #losangeles #haunters #torrance

REVIEW: MURDER HOUSE PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS TRICK ‘R TREAT

REVIEW: MURDER HOUSE PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS TRICK ‘R TREAT

Murder House Productions is a Thousand Oaks home haunt created by actors Aurora Persichetti and Kyle Warner. This year they have brought the 2007 cult classic Trick ‘r Treat to life in a multiple room walkthrough maze built out of the garage of Persichetti’s family home.

As we waited in line, we were surrounded by a candy scented fog while melancholy music played in the background. As the fog parted, we saw a figure slowly lurking towards us. Our eyes settled on Sam, the demonic and mischievous protagonist of the epic cult movie Trick ‘r Treat. As Sam crept around us, we were astonished by how real he looked. He carried with him the half bitten jack o’ lantern lollipop, with which he slowly threatened everyone in line. This scaractor was absolutely perfect and offered a good omen of the quality of work which awaited us inside the maze.

The creators have put an incredible amount of imagination and work into this haunt. Once you know that Persichetti works in Universal’s Walking Dead attraction, you get an insight into the background and knowledge behind this maze. The Horror Nights influence can be noticed immediately in the outside decor which includes official signage using the AHS font and a replica of Universal’s Rules and Regulations. No stone has been left unturned as they bring to life incredible props, dazzling full moons, and professional lighting to transport you inside the world of Trick ‘r Treat. They even recreated Sam’s finale room with the detailed touch of perfectly matching the handwriting on the wall. It’s easy to be left awestruck when you realize that they have somehow turned a suburban garage into a million dollar maze.

The detail and quality of work in this haunt is stunning and will make you feel like you have been magically absorbed into the world of Trick ‘r Treat. They are only open for two more nights so please take the time to trek out to Thousand Oaks and enjoy this labor of love. I’m very excited to see what the future holds for these young actors and their very talented bag of halloween tricks.

VC

October 28, 2017

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REVIEW: VANOAKS CEMETERY

REVIEW: VANOAKS CEMETERY

VanOaks Cemetery is not a maze or a play, but instead a beautiful and ghostly yard display. Its tombstones slowly move while ghostly figures haunt the windows of the house behind it. Flashes of lightning illuminate the graveyard, allowing the viewers to see clearly the details of the cemetery. Low rolls of thunder and the sounds of crickets heighten the mood, while a large shrouded figure stands guard over a grave.

The execution of this display is simple and reminiscent of the now defunct House Of Restless Spirits. If you are in the Van Nuys area, perhaps checking out Spooky Hallow, then make a stop by VanOaks Cemetery to soak in the beauty of Halloween.

 VC

October 28, 2017

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REVIEW: OPECHEE HAUNT

REVIEW: OPECHEE HAUNT

Created by the extremely talented 15 year old Sam Kellman, the Opechee Haunt has embarked on its first year away from haunted mazes. This year, the Glendale yard attraction is a family friendly play entitled Jack’s Halloween Jamboree.

The show takes place in Kellman’s front yard - which has been transformed into a cemetery filled with animated jack o’ lanterns. The personalities in this play provide a fun variety show enhanced by the technical prowess exhibited in the sound and lighting. Kellman’s talent permeates the play through the sequenced projections and lights which are synched to the symphonic audio. The multiple stereo points throughout the yard create a great illusion as the audio seems to emanate out of the mouths of the characters. The script is well timed and playful as it incorporates pop culture, comedy, and music into a very entertaining attraction.

Jack’s Halloween Jamboree is very enjoyable and offers a hybrid of old world Halloween mixed with modern technology. A creative and original idea like this is rare. The influence of Disney, Universal and even Boney Island are present while the dialogue is whimsical and reminiscent of vintage Halloween skits and Peanuts cartoons.

Hellman's creativity is already decades beyond his age. We have no doubt that he is on his way to create great works of art that the world will love.

VC

October 28, 2017

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REVIEW: ALL SAINTS LUNATIC ASYLUM

REVIEW: ALL SAINTS LUNATIC ASYLUM

One of our Halloween traditions is to make the trek out to Apple Valley and visit All Saints Lunatic Asylum, a one of a kind maze built by a family deep in the high desert. For the past few years, this attraction has been built in a rented storefront, providing a highly creative and exciting experience that gives places like Haunted Hayride a run for their money.

The art direction and the performers in this maze are so well developed that you feel like you are experiencing an interactive play. Their maniacal characters are incredibly talented improvisers who easily mold their performances according to how people are trying to escape the asylum.

All Saints Lunatic Asylum has been around for a while, and we have noticed the development of embellishments throughout the years. Their cemetery is now complete with real coffins from a funeral home, and they have stars that twinkle in the ceiling to make it look like the night sky.

All Saints Lunatic Asylum is endlessly fascinating, and like their neighbor at the Victoria Manor, is one of our favorite haunts of the season.

VC

October 26, 2017

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