RECAP:  Up a lengthy staircase pauses briefly to visit a quiet funeral wake, where house rules are reviewed and groups are equipped with a lantern to light the way for the remainder of their journey, then the adventure itself gets underway through a heavy fire door that welcomes guests into The Bad Side of the old Hotel.  Stepping inside, the course is immersed in total darkness with only the house-furnished beacon to light the way, and the the large door is heard slamming securely shut from behind.  Hidden foes unleash unexpected attacks as the reliability of the illuminating beam becomes uncertain, flickering off just when it's needed the most, then back on to reveal the presence of some previously unseen obstacle!  Growling noises can be heard coming from within surrounding walls, and a tall, horn-honking fiend appears out of the shadows during another breech of service from the continuously malfunctioning lamp! 

Several areas of reported paranormal activity are explored, including "The Burning Room," and "The Biting Room," where years ago, guests experienced events that can only be referred to as "out of the ordinary!"  Progression continues into "The Friendly Drunk's Room," where "spirits" are regularly seen, or imbibed upon daily, depending upon one's interpretation of the word!  Slowly but surely, advancement makes its way beyond the various hotel rooms, to a narrow crawl space through an open window that departs the occult side of the excursion and accesses the newer, "Haunted House" side of the building.

Screams and pounding invite entrance into the second half of the proceedings, where an insane "janitor" mops up blood from the floor!  Strange symbols are seen on walls pointing the way to a mysterious encounter with a Voodoo Priest, who announces his prior knowledge of our imminent arrival, and proclaims, "It's time for a sacrifice!"  Right on cue, a deranged, chainsaw maniac suddenly appears focusing his attention on a restrained victim, then a sadistic, demon room connects to a bedroom that finds a girl crying out for help from underneath a bed.  Forging onward discovers a blood-spattered room, where another despondent girl sits lamenting on a bed cuddling a baby before taking a knife and slashing her wrists wide open spewing "blood" on close passersby, just as her similarly bloody, husband springs onto the scene, calling us, "maggots!" and ordering us to leave while he slams a hatchet into one of the walls! 

Still to come is a deadly clown encounter with Pennywise, ready to make people "float," then into a kitchen of vibrating cabinets, through a hallway occupied by a threatening ghoul clutching a baseball bat, and a confrontation with a jailed, Joker-looking prisoner begging to be set free!  Aiding his cause soon exposes a grisly, Christmas party, where a pair of bloody elves usher in the arrival of a menacing, chainsaw-toting Santa, joyously wishing a "Merry Christmas to all!"  

Escape leads to the back staircase for a second run-in with the aforementioned Joker escapee trying to hitch a ride to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the eventual exit from The Anderson Hotel Haunted House!

ANALYSIS:  Legend has it that the hotel was built in the 1930's at the same site of a previously existing boarding house, and closed in the 1980's after many unusual suicides reportedly t took place!  The attraction has expanded into two sections this season, first recalling and revisiting stories originating from the paranormal activity that occurred in the old "Bad Side" of the hotel (Burning man, Biting man, Drunken man, suicides, etc.), then the second "haunted house" segment.  Suicide scene is exceptionally well done, and recreates events surrounding a girl that took her own life inside the structure, and whose spirit remains to haunt the building today.  New Christmas room is likewise memorable, and perfectly set up by the jailbird Joker!  Crawl space is a nice touch as well.  Added soundtrack is loud and most complimentary making the event spookier than ever before.  Fire door adds legitimacy to the experience.  Intermittent lantern is a fantastic prop that creates an outstanding effect - frustrating at first, but becoming more comical as you get more accustomed to its continuous failures just when it's most needed!

Actors once again put on a very energetic show!  Attraction is limited only by its duration, which timed out just under 13 minutes (could possibly take a little longer if you stop to explore some of the goings on in the paranormal leg, or read the historic articles, etc.).  Continued expansion to increase overall length would raise the score.  Also incorporating burning, biting surprises, an actual drunken individual, or even an actortronic or animatronic monster or two would supplement the actor count, add to the overall endurance, and create even more scares along the way.  Additional high-tech props (perhaps shock walls, a claustrophobic passage, etc.) would fit right in with the theme and likewise elevate the rating. 

This is a really well-done attraction!  They opened up the "Bad Side" this year, capitalizing on their local legend, and creating a most enjoyable haunted house!  2019 marked OVH's second visit, and we're already looking forward to returning again next year!  You may get bit, you may get burned, you may even get blood-splattered on you, but one thing for sure you will have a great time at The Anderson Hotel Haunted House!