Touchdown in Ohio.
HHN was a great event this year with just a few major issues. The event seems to be in a state of shock and change; shock from last minute issues and changes from new creative leads and designers. As others have said, even the most middling or poor houses this year would stand out in prior years, this year is that good. Even my lowest ranked house would be in the middle of the pack in my first year, 24.
NOTE: THAR BE SPOILERS AHEAD. DEAD DUDES TELL NO TALES.
House Rankings:
Note: my house rankings are based on many factors but mostly scares, set design, scare actors, costuming, layout, and creativity.
1) Scarecrow
Great design, set design, effects, and scares. I could imagine this being in a soundstage for more height and being nearly perfect. Took me till my second visit to get a good run and it paid off in spades. Great distraction scares and the crows were super cool and a nice palette cleanser in the house.
2) Shining
This combines the designer's love of the Exorcist house, the set design of AHS, and the insanity of the movie into a fantastic house. The first Wendy looks like she jumped out of the movie. Lloyd scare actor is great (hey Jeromy) and the first Jack always gets me. Walking through the carpet was trippy and THEY DID THE ELEVATOR SCENE JUSTICE.
3) Blumhouse
This should be in the bottom tier but here we are. I laughed when Drew said this was a killer house, how could it be? Chance sucked, the tent was probably blown away by Irma, and they'd phone this one in. The weakest part of this house is Purge, clearly. But every scare actor brings it here and there are lots of great gags and scares. There are some cool effects in Insidious and I saw many many guests freak out in this house. The final scene is tired yet inspired in its simplicity with scares. Shout out to the run Drew and I went through.
4) Dead Water
Huge hype for this house, so clearly it couldn't live up to my expectations. The house was fun but I never felt scared. Best scenes in this house are the slanted hallway, entering the voodoo hut after the bog, and the facade scares. One big issue I had was the bog just had these mats you see Ops TMs standing on as the mushy floor but guests kick them around so you walk on hard surfaces then a noticeably higher soft floor on the next step. But damn this house is beautiful with easily the best design I've seen.
5) Ash
My sister's boyfriend got me into the show once he found out this was going to be a house. Ash works for me since I'm familiar with the show and can see the love and care put into this. Lots of fun scares and how can't you like a post house scene with a chainsaw and kegs of beer? The house still lacks something the other four AMAZING houses prior on this list do. Additionally Orlando's terrible casting scene gives us Ashy Slashy's that are all over the place in height, build, and facial features. In the end the house is fun, which I love.
6) AHS
I'm always mixed on AHS and, like Ash, if I watched the show that would help with my excitement and interest. The house is good and fun but suffers from the disproportionate wait disorder. In the end when I do AHS I feel like it's a requirement, not something I want to do.
7) Fallen
This house was hyped to be a sleeper hit. To me it doesn't bring the scares or fun that the other houses do. Too much attention was spent on the three scares around the bungee that it all falls flat to me. Some distraction mechanisms and a quicker reset time would make those scares way more effective. Hell, maybe a distraction then a scare on either the left or right to reduce set up times. But as I said before, this house would be much higher if this year wasn't so good.
8) Hive
Similar to Fallen, any other year and this would be higher. But something for me never clicked with this house. House should have more of the glowing contacts/faces than it does. Additionally the exterior is one of the poorest ever done at HHN. I just... don't know what more to say?
9) Saw
LETS PLAY A GAME TO SEE IF YOU CAN BUY PIZZA FRIES AT THIS EVENT. I knew I was going to be in for a meh time when the entrance was just the drop ceiling for Shrek behind the scenes. Some nice sets and interactive elements but nothing ever felt out of control or in danger. Better than Dusk till Dawn or Dracula Untold from 24, not as good as Run from 25.
SHOWS!
I did not see Academy of Villains. My own ambivalence to the show is known plus the fact it's the temp show I just never got around to see it.
Bill & Ted - I think this year was very solid. Unlike the past two years where the main antagonists were every present and grating (and for last year, also boring) this year it's way more light hearted and fun. Most of the jokes and segments land compared to last year (again, why are we making Starbucks jokes in 2016? What's with the random CAH reference?) and are way more on the spot. The show has more teeth and more places for improv'd jokes. I will miss this show more than I can even imagine at this point and I am looking at flights for the final night.
Scarezones?
Woof. I don't want to break this down too much but state in general the scare zones this year are rough. Yes, I get Irma caused issues but how does the Altars of horror NOT EVEN HAVE ANY ALTARS. Purge is fun but exactly the same at 24 with two more set pieces and the additional actors from Psychoscarpy. Festival of the Deadliest I get what they're trying to do but it seems things are being added piecemeal over the past few days. I enjoy the campy Invasion and think creepy/cool is an ok thing for scare zones. The clear winner is Trick r Treat for its design, love, attention to detail, and great cast. While not a technical zone, the chainsaw clowns this year were top notch with new creepy details. They ENJOYED their job. One clown put the chainsaw on a bench and chased a man down the bench till he fell off. Others would sit and relax before sprinting up. Great job to them.
Alcohol and Other Topics
I like to drink. I was in a fraternity in college and my college was a
unique type of party school. I believe HHN was drowning in its own alcohol but the current set up isn't the most ideal situation, yet. Having shots and shot girls in the streets and queues is overkill. Yet not allowing guests to sit down and relax at Finn's is hostile to the guest experience. Liquor should be sold at bars. I don't have the answers here but something still feels off. But good on UOR for adding the stools back to Duff Gardens and offering the super cool/hidden/chill Wharf bar.
For the first time ever for me the ops in the house were unobtrusive and good. No flashlights, no standing in front of set pieces, and no yelling in the house. I think this is just as much about ops as it is about good house design.
For next year I want to see some more risks with scare zones and houses. They've made some small changes in layouts and tropes, now I want to see more.
