RECAP:  The USS Nightmare adventure gets underway inside the Mitchell Museum for a brief history lesson, where ancient crew photos come to life as visitors are quickly ushered into a shaky, old freight elevator that’s being operated by a crewman who dangles a noose as the hoist rattles and shakes its way up to the main deck.  Arrival unveils a number of strange occurrences including a tortured soul strapped to a wildly spinning wheel; vibrating floors; and a foggy, face-to-face encounter with an oversized "Impaler.  "Crossing a wooden plank bridge, a volunteer is singled out and ordered to crawl and “bark like a b*tch!”  

Camouflaged servicemen separate groups while testing their super soldier serum, offering complimentary injections, placing patients in cages, and demanding the performance of a variety of rituals.  Ascending to the second deck visits the boat’s sleeping quarters finding bunk beds covered with blood and occupied by convulsing corpses in advance of a run-in with Captain Mitchell and his daughter Anna, who wants to turn everyone into stuffed rabbits.

Stormy seas, visible through a series of port holes located in the ship’s helm foreshadow a wicked encounter with a circus that’s come aboard showcasing a playful clown named Sprinkles encouraging progression into an ensuing sheet maze that hides a sharp-toothed killer called Spike.  Other scenes include a filthy bathroom; a nauseating cook’s unappetizing galley serving up distasteful, smoldering delicacies and choosing an RIP guest to drop to her knees and assume the mannerisms of a dog before being rewarded with a treat; a rubber room housing the insane; a wretched infirmary of mutilated patients, one of which pops out from beneath a bloody sheet, and a wickedly laughing nurse handing out medicine and warning, “You’re all gonna die!”

An intimidating, open-air decent via an iron grating returns the course to the main level, where lightless corridors dump into a swamp-like maze that’s stalked by a mosh monster and yields through dense foliage that serve to conceal a couple of additional surprises along the way to the engine room for the eruption of a vicious chainsaw chase-out of USS Nightmare!

But just when you think it’s safe a large brute attacks and gives chase off the boat, up the ramp, and all the way back to Newport on the Levee!

The RIP EXPERIENCE includes minor touching, extra rooms, and various tasks that must be completed.  Without giving any of the details away, these bonus areas allow patrons to participate in the action by solving dilemmas, having clown makeup applied, etc.  There's a Speakeasy Bar that offers a new take on gambling while serving up a foul-tasting shot, the vessel's Radio escape room where a distress signal must be sent to summon help, a decontamination chamber, the boat’s power room that mandates proper connection of various wires and cables, skirmishes with the devil's son and daughter, Sprinkles’ makeup room, a couple of group-separating entrapments behind barricaded doors, a galley taste test, and an added infirmary interaction with a bloody nurse.  OVH definitely recommends upgrading to RIP!

ANALYSIS:  USS Nightmare has always been one of the lengthier attractions around from a duration standpoint, and the RIP Experience strengthens this aspect even further.  Costuming and dialogue is good throughout, especially in those above mentioned RIP zones where guests are sometimes selected for one-on-one interactions and/or isolation.  Professional lighting, an elaborate soundtrack, and an abundance of fog compliment the experience from start to finish creating the perfect environment for a haunted house!  Many animatronics and pneumatics contribute to scares, and almost all were found to be in working order.

Elevator attendant did a great job within his scene, and the cast in general is talkative and utilizes appropriate dialogue.  RIP performers go above and beyond the call of duty when conversing with guests and try their utmost best to get them involved in whatever task they happen to be engaged in. 

Since its debut, this attraction has been a trend setter in the industry and they hit the jackpot with all the extras delivered by RIP!  OVH had been calling for this type of interactive alternative for a number of years, and here it is!  Not only does their special attention immerse you in the storyline activities, but it’s also a pleasant change to roughhousing often seen at so called “extreme” haunts elsewhere!  The RIP admission is definitely the way to go!  Pay a few extra dollars for RIP and experience The Nightmare like you've never seen it before! 

NOTE:  Ticketing and pricing can be confusing and rather pricey on Fridays and Saturdays so plan your visit accordingly.  A less scary, "Lights-on Matinee" will take place on Sunday, October 22^nd  from 4-6 PM ($13).  Captain's Season Pass can be purchased for $100 (unlimited entry), and the UNRATED Captain's Tour is scheduled for November 3^rd & 4^th  from 8 PM - 1 AM ($30/$50 Fast Pass/$70 Front of the line).