Summary:

Haunted Manor:

Throughout this attraction there were a number of scenes that followed the haunted manor theme.  There were, however, some that did not.  They effectively used mood lighting, via faux candles and colored lights in vintage lamps, to help establish a creepy atmosphere.  I liked the hidden exits that were In a couple of the scenes.  In one room, patrons had to exit the scene by finding a hidden panel on a stone wall and in another you had to exit through a sliding bookcase.  Some of the manor scenes like the library, study, dining room and the dungeon were all well-detailed.  The mirror maze had a blinding strobe light flashing, with reflective mylar strips hanging from the ceiling to make you even more disoriented.  

Most of the actors in this attraction were pretty low-key.  Many just stood there and didn't approach you.  Even so, they performed their roles well and all stayed in character.  There were a couple of actors, like the girl in the open casket scene, who had energetic performances, though.

Cage Maze:

This attraction featured a maze made out of metal cage panels, with multiple dead ends.  The strobe lights in the corners of the maze were really disorienting, reflecting off the metal cage and making it difficult to find the correct path.  There was also an actor inside the cage, who taunted you as you tried to get out.       

Evil Intentions:

This was a pretty interesting attraction.  Instead of using a lot of props and detailed scenes, Evil Intentions relied on fog, eerie lighting, music and sound effects to establish the mood of the attraction.  Throughout the haunted house there were several dark hallways.  There were even some that were well-lit, but due to the dense fog, you couldn't see two feet in front of you.  In both cases, it gave the actors an opportunity to surprise you from some great hiding spots.  One area featured red brick walls and a rotating red light.  In one area there was chain-link fence that lined both sides of a hallway.  Upon entering this area, an actor ran past, dragging something metal across the fencing, which made a loud sound that really got my attention.  The final scene was very unique and something I haven't seen done at any other haunted attraction.   This scene consisted of three 6ft tall wooden boxes, spaced evenly around a circular path.   As the patrons walked along, actors jumped from a centrally located perch, over the patrons and landed on one of the boxes, below.  That was definitely one of the most unique finales I have ever seen in a haunted house!      

These attractions have really evolved, both making many improvements since last season.  The Haunted Manor was much more detailed and the Evil Intentions house utilized more darkness, fog, accent lighting and other elements to establish a creepy atmosphere.  They did a great job and I look forward to seeing what they come up with next year.     

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