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RECAPS: Queue line entertainers perform along the entrance route to Hell’s Dungeon including the ever popular Beetlejuice, a magician showcasing some amazing card tricks, and a trio of little girls hosting a tea party that brings about a shocking surprise!
The storyline twists Dayton’s Montgomery County into a transformation more resembling Ruggsville County, Texas of Rob Zombie fame, specifically his 2003 horror film House of 1000 Corpses and especially its 2005 sequel The Devil's Rejects. The sadistic, serial killer Firefly Family from the movies have become the Firewoods, and Rufus, the Devil himself, reigns terror over the entire abode! The Prince of Darkness intimidatingly speaks via voice enhancement to summon the services of his many demons, better known as rejects! Exploration of the dark, eerie dungeon visits cemeteries; a murky swamp; old, dilapidated buildings; and an enormous, man-eating jack-o-lantern! Witches, killer clowns, assassins, and cut-throat fiends join forces with a demented dentist, who enjoys extracting teeth with pliers while drilling deep into the gums for his own bloody satisfaction, and a malpracticing doctor who’s thrown a screaming patient onto a gurney then proceeds to rip her intestines right out of her helpless body! Torture rooms include a kitchen of human appendages where Mama, Baby, and Maddy are busy preparing a cannibalistic dinner, and a room of possessed dolls that’s occupied by a small girl asking if you “wanna play?” A bearded, transgendered nurse is all about injecting Covid -19 vaccines from a larger than life syringe, or better yet, she says, “I’ll bend you over and shoot you full of Covid!” as she bursts into wicked, hysterical laughter! There’s also a bloodthirsty butcher, Hogtie Firewood who can’t wait to “chop, chop” market intruders with his over-sized meat cleaver, and Morguean Firewood seen bisecting cadavers by means of a gigantic, murderous table saw while harvesting body parts and fingers to add to the adornment of his bizarre necklace!
Other atrocities include run-ins with a large-beaked “Plague Doctor,” a demented childbirth, an unsightly monster proudly displaying her grotesque tentacles, a vibrating Hellevator confinement, and a lengthy excursion through The Circus of Hell, where no one hears you scream that’s highlighted by a biting, path-invading, actor-tronic clown, and a green, laser-lit, entrapment inhabited by Pyro, Lollipop, and a pogo stick-jumping Bubblez happily inflicting “blue ballz” on whomever gets in his way! Advancing sets the stage for a scary meeting with an 8-foot tall, red-eyed, path-blocking behemoth ready to send you home in a body bag from Hell's Dungeon!
ANALYSIS: This second year haunt boasts a longer than average duration, yet still is blessed with a lot of space to expand and grow. The Devil’s Reject theme is one of their strong points, introducing the homicidal Firewood Family one-by-one. Standouts include nurse, Devil, Bubblez, Hogtie, Baby, and Doctor. Voice enhanced Devil provides an intimidating beginning. His scene could be strengthened by the visual presence of some demons and/or hellcats or succubi, and some sort of action or incident at the conclusion of his speech. Likewise, finish could be amplified by some sort of aggression by the stilted villain.
Actor-tronics (man-eating pumpkin and biting clown) are among the more powerful props. A few animatronics would further compliment this department. Makeup is elaborate and well done throughout. Arming more characters with various noise-making weapons would intensify their scares and elevate the score. Attention to the soundtrack is also needed, along with development upon the foundation they’ve already laid. Detailing can also be improved upon, especially in the Hellevator. Price is a bit steep for a 2nd year attraction still trying to build a fan base.
Hell’s Dungeon is an all indoor attraction, so inclement weather is never a factor. Check them out, and watch them grow in the years to come.
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