RECAP:  A short hayride transports customers back along a torch-lit path to the entrance of the WJAA Haunted Woods.   The adventure itself gets underway through an unholy church, where dead bodies lie in coffins awaiting their evil rebirth!  Continuance through a majestic, iron gate takes you onto a decrepit, old school bus, where a bloody masked Jason Voorhees orders all to, “Sit down and shut up!”  Numerous masked monsters and aliens join the fray unleashing a massive chainsaw ambush that sends everyone fleeing out the emergency exit in the back, which returns the journey into the forest over a rickety, wooden bridge via an eerily-lit “Abismal (sic) Mire,” that’s inhabited by multiple, well-hidden swamp monsters instigating a series of unseen attacks!

Several buildings are explored along the excursion route including the new “Delusional” (tilted living room), “Chambers of Hell, Wildcat Purgatory, Newman Jerky,” highlighted by low ceilings and hidden doors, and where a mysterious girl offers up free samples of “Human” (instead of beef) jerky!”  Other structures include, “Fear Factory, featuring ghouls emitting sparks off metal cages, a heinous monster holding a circle saw in one hand and a decapitated head in the other, and a honking truck crashing through the wall in near miss hit-and-run!  “Terror Zone” and “The Circus of Carnage” are still to come, as are several others consisting of total darkness, extremely dense fog, pallet mazes, a moving/shaking hallway, dangling body bags, strobes, spider webs, spongy floors, etc., all combining to complicate navigation.

A variety of scenes are presented, like a diabolical doctor’s office that employs a trio of blood-soaked nurses, one of whom is armed with a crimson-stained hammer, while another carries a human spine that she’s sharpened to use as a weapon!

Additional notable sights include a chained captive jumping forth while burning over hot coals, a pole dancer trying to earn a few extra dollars, a vicious clown pounding on what’s left of a still living girl’s half missing torso, and an incarcerated prisoner shouting, “I know you did it!” and “You’re Guilty!” before extending an invitation for you to take his place in an adjacent electric chair!

"Circus of Carnage” is home to Pennywise, Captain Spaulding, OVH Award winner Jinx, and a slew of others, all having their way with you in accompaniment with a spinning vortex, and a garage door surprise!  Midnight Theater tours booths featuring appearances by The Invisible Man, The Bearded Lady, and Wolf Boy, and visits a festival of participation games such as ring toss, spin a wheel, and pop a balloon dart throw along with many others.  This segment is hosted by a carnival “Barker” explaining the various activities, and coordinating participants to test their luck, and perhaps win a prize, but failure is taunted by a Gypsy fortune teller criticizing their shortcomings and calling them all, “Losers!”  There’s even a concession stand giving away free samples of freshly-cooked popcorn, peanuts and candied eyeballs!  And a brightly-lit Ferris wheel has arrived for 2020 signaling the end of The WJAA Haunted Woods!

ANALYSIS:  Boasting duration of approximately 47 minutes, this is one of the lengthier attractions around!  Cast size is likewise larger than most, with more than 95 actors contributing to the action.  Characters are energetic and do a good job of trying to insure entire groups are met with quality scares, which isn’t always easy to do, and there weren’t as many repeated sightings of the same characters staffing multiple scenes in comparison to a season ago, which is also a good thing!  Scenes have been expanded upon and feature longer mazes, and as always, plentiful chainsaw attacks.  Costuming is a little basic with some performers clad only in street clothes and a mask.

Jailed prisoner earned best performance of the night.  Bloody nurses gave standout efforts in The Chambers of Hell.  Fear Factory’s assailant clutching a saw in one hand and a decapitated head in the other is similarly memorable.  The Midnight Theater is applauded for its participatory activities and interactive aspect. Delusion is a fun, new building with its tilted flooring and challenging navigation! Spark cage is appreciated, as are “spongy” floors, and “moving” hallway, the latter of which isn’t this well duplicated elsewhere!  “Swamp” is quite well done too, and properly inhabited by a number of monsters!  Soundtrack is audible practically throughout.  Spooky messages ring out loudly in their appropriate sections.  Flashing emergency vehicle lights can be seen from a distance, thus amplifying anticipation prior to arriving on the scene.  Confetti is missed from finale.  Ramping up the ending with one final, stronger sendoff would raise the score.  Price of admission has jumped $5 from 2019.

The WJAA Haunted Woods is one of the longest running haunts in existence, and many would argue one of the best kept secrets too!  This annual event began some 30-plus years ago, and helps maintain the site’s baseball fields serving as the major fundraiser for Williamsburg Youth Sports.  OVH encourages you to pay them a visit for some good, lengthy Halloween fun!  And while waiting for the hayride, be sure to visit their concession stand and enjoy some delicious grilled burgers!  They sell nachos, chilidogs, beer, and candy bars too!