RECAP:  The OVH 2019 Haunt of the year begins up an old wooden staircase into the central guard room area of the prison, then onto a dilapidated, boarded-up “house” for a variety of hauntings that take the form of mechanical startles emerging through the walls and clawing down from the ceiling overhead; monsters grabbing trespassers; creepy ghouls desiring to cut the skin off your face to use it as toilet paper; bloody atrocities eating the intestines of an unfortunate, departed soul; a hallway of hanging body bags; a contemptable brute in a kitchen wearing a chef’s hat who’s ready to cut the heads off of intruders with his enormous machete; and  hands lunging through openings in adjacent walls!  Dark turns, flickering lights, and loud, thundering sounds compliment the adventure, and creeps hide around each and every corner readily vaulting into action at just the right moment.  Descending an iron staircase and passing through narrow, lightless hallways discovers a series of tiny cells that at one time housed some the worst offenders in the entire state.  Unseen entities clutch at visitor’s legs from within these confinements furthering the terrifying, unnerving nature of the experience!

A claustrophobic tunnel labeled Bunker 13 guarded by a convulsing zombie accesses an apocalyptic battlefield, where additional walkers attack, and demented soldiers wearing gas masks lurk in the shadows!  An armed sharpshooter guards the area as searchlights scan the East Cell Block illuminating wreckage consisting of Army tanks and the cockpit and fuselage of a crashed plane!  The undead populate a sector of piled-up cars, and scattered bodies are seen over a chained grating where they’d been pushed or jumped to their deaths from five floors above!

More roamers appear out of the twilight assaulting with chainsaws giving pursuit into a clown-infested carnival featuring large jester pneumatics, a legion of animated clowns invading the path out of obscurity, a red and white striped squeeze, jack-in-the-box surprise, and a “Carnevil” vortex capped off by a chainsaw wielding monkey; a villain swinging a cinder block sledge hammer; and multiple run-ins with a laughing clown introducing folks to “Eddie,” a severed head attached to a bungee cord she repeatedly tosses at passersby like it’s a game of catch!  

Other areas include a morbid hospital, the rubble of a ruined chapel adorned with broken church pews, and a chilling cemetery filled with eerie tombstones and skeleton animatronics that’s ruled by a Baphomet-masked demonic devil!  CGI doors escort the route to a too close for comfort zombie horde intrusion, then onto a murderous torture chamber, and a laboratory of diabolical experiments staffed by a mad-scientist doctor speaking with a German accent concurring, “I can see why you broke the mirror!”

Still to come is an in-your-face conflict with a gigantic, red-eyed rat (actor-tronic) bursting forth out of a sewer pipe; a corpse-filled morgue; and a bloody, headless torso grasping onto a meat cleaver that springs forward while an insane girl caresses its detached head and warns, “You’re next!" before the event climaxes with a sudden chainsaw chase-out of Blood Prison!

ANALYSIS:   The sheer size and legitimacy of the structure itself is a huge asset!  Looking upward unveils floor upon floor of dilapidated prison cells – just a spectacular sight!  The chambers themselves are equally impressive, and disturbing in the sense that they’re too small to even imagine living in, but knowing that people were locked in these confinements for months and years at a time.  

Lighting and sound are unmatched, the latter of which thunders through the whole building during the entirety of the experience!  Set design is fantastic as well, and scenes are exquisitely detailed.  Memorable props include two distinct claustrophobic passages, wrecked cars, crashed plane, tanks, a pair of zombie horde doors (one of which has been modified into a gathering of clowns), rat actor-tronic, and headless torso.

The scope of the props plus the actors coming at you from all sides (and even grabbing you with the touch pass option) keeps the experience feeling all too real. Actor intensity is good and interactions are more than adequate, especially with the touch pass, which is perfectly done and not too rough.  Costuming is likewise appropriate, and utilizes orange prison attire for many of the “inmates.”  Best characters include convulsing, Bunker 13 zombie displaying outstanding mannerisms of the undead, German speaking doctor, and clown playing with Eddie.  Cast size has declined slightly in population in comparison to last season. 

From a design perspective, the course begins with a traditionally haunted aspect, transitions through the prison and clown sections, then ultimately climaxes in blood, guts, and gore prior to cleverly exiting into the OSR museum (gift shop) and the new Schofield Café, which sells snacks, soft drinks, Trick or Treat Mocca, “Poison Apple,” Jack O’ Lantern Coffees, and even Smores!

The only shortcomings arise from a second line that exists prior to entering Bunker 13, the laser assist beam being absent from the sniper/sharpshooter area, which always provides a most intimidating scare, and more “Tasers” being needed in the cell blocks.

Tickets MUST be purchased online this season, and timed ticketing has been implemented to reduce wait time, cut down on lines, and address traffic jams.  Price of admission is up $10 this year and the cost of the Ultra Lightning ticket has undergone a $20 increase.  Touch Pass is up a few dollars as well.

This annual, “must see” attraction makes a powerful bid for Haunt of the Year honors!  Be sure to check out Escape from Blood Prison.