REVIEW: santa ana haunt presents shades of hell

OCTOBER 28, 2022

review: santa ana haunt presents shades of hell

During the peak of the pandemic in 2020, when haunts existed purely as displays, we randomly ended up at Santa Ana Haunt. We weren’t that familiar with it at the time and enjoyed its smaller outdoor maze that was built within the family driveway of creator, Chewie Garcia. At the time this was a modest haunt, but still very impressive considering the circumstances.

Sadly during 2021 we were unable to visit Santa Ana Haunt due to logistical issues. Thankfully we were able to visit them this past weekend to enjoy this season's “Santa Ana Haunt presents: Shades of Hell” - now in collaboration with one of our favorite haunt builders, Ernie Veloz of The Grey Phantom.

We were surprise to see the days of being a small haunt in a driveway are long gone and that the Santa Ana Haunt has now become an epic home haunt. Shades of Hell has a massive exterior build of an ancient, abandoned church complete with a real casket parked outside its door. The spooky soundtrack, synched with lighting fluctuations, sets the mood for what you will encounter behind the church’s doors. Once inside you will travel through a surprisingly large maze filled with numerous rooms that focus more on creepy encounters with its characters instead of the quick, typical jump scares. While behind its walls you will crawl through small cages, clown rooms, and a maddening lab infused with green light and filled with roaches.

The characters in Shades of Hell are all outstanding - giving it their all at every moment. There are several disturbing scenes, including one in which you walk in on a mysterious masked murderer who is in the process of killing his victim. Another unsettling scene includes a stoic, medieval monster who stands over a carcass that is torn apart as a man who is chained to the wall begs for help. All while within the maze's darkened hallways, a giant demon emerges.

Santa Ana Haunt does a great job at somehow turning their home into a surprisingly long and detailed maze that offers a thrilling experience. If you are looking for a highly entertaining and frightening maze, then this one's for you. Shades of Hell has set the tone for what Chewie and his team (and of course Ernie) are all capable of and we have no doubt that this incredible team will create amazing haunts for years to come.

VC

October 28, 2022

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