| CHAMBERS OF HORROR:Arrival is welcomed by live music being performed on an elevated stage in a spacious area that's complimented by The Splatter bar serving adult beverages, and a convenient gift shop selling souvenir shirts, etc. Prior to entering the attraction itself, a video presentation explains U.S. Army Special Forces Project TCO 138. In short, the plan attempts to take a tragic negative, and turn it into a positive by combating biological warfare used by terrorists in order to save lives. Invulnerable machines are being built to serve as super soldiers to annihilate the enemy. The events about to unfold visit the rigorous testing these defenders must undergo, and we as potential recruits are invited to tour the facility before joining the program. Once inside, groups are lined up against a wall, and subjected to a rather talkative Drill Instructor that speaks about enhancing our bodies so they're more suitable to the institutions needs while asserting, "Your eyes tell the story - you have no souls!" As his initiation continues, a sudden gunshot rings out accompanied by an unexpected surprise, as he's soon joined by an irate squadron commander that's none too pleased about the quality of his latest enlistees, and following a few insults, and a promise that following orders will result in the fact that he, "Might not have to kill you," exploration begins amid posted warnings of "Danger," as the course progresses onto an elevator en route to central processing. Simultaneously, a big brute having a bayonet-like saw for an arm overpowers our commander in chief, then boards the old hoist that begins thrashing and vibrating its way to its intended destination that dumps into a darkened hallway that at first appears to have no way out! Discovery of a secret escape accesses a fog-filled area littered with body parts, where the avoidance of sparks stumbles past a series of numbered doors, then advances through an electrified hatch (shock skins), and a claustrophobic passage, where a ceiling of severed human appendages comes crashing down, then exits onto the sight of a victimized female (prop) urinating blood as a dismembered torso on a zip-line goes flying by overhead! Continuance through another hidden portal exposes a wicked laboratory that gives rise to a robot-like attack, and witnesses a diabolical experiment that finds high voltage being emitted from the face of a caged monkey, and some poor soul having, "Want some d*ck" scribbled on his chest in blood that's about to have his penis (prop) chopped off by a neurotic nurse! A demented, forced c-section childbirth is on the horizon that climaxes in a puking surprise, and rounding the bend interrupts the newborn feeding time of an outraged, three-breasted mother that erupts in a spray of milk! From there, it's onto a torture chamber that empathizes, "We feel your pain," where a beheading takes place, and an innocent martyr suffers the fate of having his legs amputated! "Hail Satan," invites entrance into an unholy abode decorated with pentagrams, where a wretched demon comes crawling upon the ground, followed by a body being bisected by an oversized saw! Climbing through a hole in a brick wall eventually leads through a chain-link fence maze that connects to a failed attempt to reanimate a lifeless corpse, that's soon followed by another cadaver dropping down and slamming into a wall from above. Body bags direct the route through warnings of "Beware" and "Flash Flood Area," and into the clutches of a gigantic, yellow-eyed monster! Avoidance into a cave provokes the wrath of a hostile fiend armed with a barbed wire baseball bat, then egresses through a swamp, and onto the scene of a ranting General that's upset at the creation of robot strippers instead of soldiers! An ensuing argument results in an alarm sounding red alert, and a subsequent multiple chainsaw chase-out of The Chambers of Horror.
Analysis:
LENGTH - 9, 21 minutes.
ACTORS - 10, Crew is intense, enthusiastic, and very theatrical from start to finish. Costuming is good, and dialogue is outstanding. Opening Drill Instructor delivers a remarkable performance, and sets a perfect mood for the remainder of the experience. Squadron Commander likewise does a great job with his dejected demeanor, and name calling insults, and outraged mother goes absolutely beserk! Cussing is present throughout, which legitimizes the experience. Lots of victimizations are present as well, and a few more intimidating threats directed at recruits themselves would shore things up and maintain this perfect score. Total Characters = 27.
SCARINESS - 9, The story is well played out, but not quite threatening enough in nature to develop overwhelming scares. Most of the actual violence is directed towards other cast members, so it never quite reaches the point of inducing fear among patrons. This could easily be remedied by actually strapping customers down to chairs, placing them on tables, etc. to create the illusion that they might be next. The opportunity for these interactive scares exists within this type of presentation, and should be capitalized upon.
DESIGN - 9½, This is a very unique experience. Duration is above average, and a complimentary soundtrack exists throughout. No other haunt pushes the envelope further than Chambers of Horror. Many scenes are horrific in nature, and not seen elsewhere. Vulgarity and sexuality are exploited, but not abused to the point that they become offensive.
Continuing to expand upon what they've already accomplished by striving to invent even more visually impressive defilements would push them over the top. The attraction's reputation precedes itself, which in turn leads to customers anticipating and expecting a lot, thus the pressure is on to deliver.
PROPS - 9, Adequate static props decorate the various scenes complimented by shock skins, claustrophobic air bags, "firecrackers," and an actortronic monster. Body suits and even a fake phallus also have a presence, and spraying/dripping surprises originate from the most unlikely places! Additional high-impact, mechanical and/or animated scares are needed to reach the next level.
VALUE - 9, $17 is a competitive rate to expect by today's standards, but that jumps to $22 the week before Halloween. VIP admission is a bit steep at $45 as well, but includes a t-shirt and a free drink at The Splatter Bar. When considering the cost, keep in mind that this is no ordinary haunted house. The quality of acting ranks well above average, and the sights to be seen simply don't exist elsewhere.
RATING: 9+, This is a "one of a kind" experience that's like no other. They're dubbed, "The world's most shocking attraction" for a reason. If you're tired of the same old haunted houses, look no further than the adult oriented Chambers of Horror.
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