RECAP:  Cincinnati Fear Fest is an event unlike any other.  More than just a haunted house, it’s an experience that takes place in the old West town of Bravado, where haunted happenings begin immediately upon entering the grounds, as guests make their way through a “Scare Zone” known as Welcome to Bravado.  A second such area called Twisted Harvest (Fields of Fear) is also part of the night’s entertainment, as are three more traditional haunted attractions -  Buzzsaw (Madness at the Mill); Darkwood Theater (The Haunted Ruins); and the main event, (All Hallows’ Eve) Terror Trail.  Several Haunted Dining Delights including a pair of secret bars, The Whispering Vines and Hush Hush Hooch Hideaway are also offered, as well as several on-site shops and vendors.  The aforementioned Secret Bars require the purchase of a Bar Creep Pass to enter and enjoy.

For those familiar with prior years’ versions of All Hallows’ Eve/Terror Town, the most noticeable difference is their popular Red bracelet option that allowed customer participation has been eliminated, at least for 2024.

Events that transpire in the village itself are similar to those from previous years – the hanging of a witch or town drunk, fires that erupt inside the jailhouse, pistols being shot, and the rapid blasts from a multiple-barreled Gatling gun, etc.  Elaborately costumed characters roam the streets interacting with patrons, telling fortunes, and instilling fear in all who enter.  The happenings in the town itself are the strength of the overall adventure.

(All Hallows’ Eve) TERROR TRAIL:  The adventure kicks off in a hospital-like room where antique medical equipment is displayed, then it’s on to see the Doctor, who’s busy working on a headless patient that’s suffered the fate of having her chest cut open!  The talkative, discontented physician praises The Mayor calling him, “Our Savior,” then intimidatingly meanders about the room glaring at onlookers and violating their space before screams of, “You’re all gonna die!” send the course out through sewer pipes connecting to an area filled with body bags.  The living dead attack amid pleas of, “Help me!” as continuance along a torch-lit walkway discovers a path-blocking conflict with an 8-foot tall, horned monster!  Fleeing onward down the dark, broken road spies another menacing villain standing in the way up ahead, but he seemingly vanishes into thin air upon our approach!  Avoidance delivers the route into a schoolhouse, where a ghost causes trouble for students by stealing an apple from one of the pupils and throwing it against the blackboard provoking the wrath of their teacher who’s unable to see the phantom-like apparition, thus blames the kids and angrily holds them responsible for misbehaving!  Escape through a hidden passage that’s only revealed when a bookcase mysteriously swings open on its own leads back out into a cornfield of empty crosses, and into an abandoned structure that gives residence to a vengeful, undead zombie that bites at intruders!

Persistence through a frightening cemetery of coffins and tombstones directs the aimless journey into a church that’s been destroyed by the attraction’s long-time nemesis, “The Prophet!”  Pews are scattered and broken in pieces, window shutters open and close of their own volition, and nuns are leading some sort of sacrilegious ceremony demanding quiet, and issuing dire warnings that, “The Prophet will have her way with you!"

Exiting concludes the All Hallows' Eve Terror Trail.

- 12 minutes, 20 actors

ANALYSIS:  Duration has been tremendously reduced this season mostly due to the elimination of customer participation events and an overall shorter trail.  Doctor, teacher and nuns are the most memorable characters.  Tall, horned monster and biting zombie are likewise noticeable.  Path blocker provides an intimidating scare when he’s seen from a distance while approaching the scene, but it’s somewhat anticlimactic when he simply scampers away.  Costuming is good and some of the masks are uncommonly unique.  Dialogue could be improved upon as there are far too many “rahs," growls, and screams, and interactions in general would benefit from a more threatening demeanor.  Witches reanimating the dead, cannibals, and shadow-lurking vampires formerly seen along the trail in past installments are conspicuous by their absence, fit the theme, and would serve to lengthen the experience.

Bookcase that moves to reveal a secret passage, new sewer pipes, torches, crosses, and Prophet are among the best props.  Others, while a bit lackluster by today’s standards, are appropriately reflective of the time period being presented.  Blood that rained down inside the church in prior years is absent and sorely missed.  Lighting needs attention as the direction of travel is uncertain at times, and soundtrack is practically non-existent. 

Also, the introduction at the door needs to be significantly condensed, as it lasted 14 minutes, which turned out to be longer than the haunt itself.

SUPPORTING ATTRACTIONS:  BUZZSAW (Madness at the Mill):  Drop panels provide some initial jump scares upon entering the mill setting the stage for an early encounter with an irate Shop Foreman barking, “Where the hell have you’ve been?  I’ve been waiting all night for you to get here!”  Mistaken for workers, navigation past a giant table saw incites the wrath of a bloody-faced maniac armed with an oversized chainsaw, who attacks from above!

Wooden hallways with dismembered body parts littering the floor lead the way into a locker-room like changing area stocked with coveralls and hard hats, then to a morbid dispute with a strange girl licking the blood off her knife!

Remaining scenes include butchered hogs hanging from the kitchen rafters of an ill-tempered cook seen slamming a meat cleaver down on a nearby table, a railroad crossing highlighted by an eardrum-bursting train horn, and a skid pallet maze that hides a sledgehammer chase-out of Buzzsaw!

- 7 actors, 4 minutes, oversized chainsaw and train whistle are best props.  Railroad crossing would benefit from the presence of train tracks.  Foreman and Knife girl are best actors.

DARKWOOD THEATER (The Haunted Ruins):  Upon entering, an usher-like vendor stationed behind a popcorn counter explains the rules, and cautions us to, “Beware of the Phantom!”   The theater consists of various scenes including a dressing room containing a lighted, makeup vanity mirror, the “reflection” from which provides an immediate surprise!  Other sights and sounds include screams ringing out from inside a fitting room, living dolls, puppets, an Opera of larger marionettes, and an actor proudly introducing his assistant that turns out to be a skull!  Advancement alongside and beneath a paranormal-like array of stacked chairs briefly interrupts an ongoing audition in advance of a projector room escape from Darkwood Theater.

- 8 actors, 4 minutes, mirror reflection/surprise is best scare.

OVERALL:  Many changes have taken place for 2024.  This is somewhat of a rebuilding year for the attraction formerly known as All Hallows’ Eve – Terror Town.  The event considered as a whole scores higher than any of the haunts otherwise would if rated individually.  Losing the red bracelet option severely limits what they can do, and comes as a major disappointment to their established fan base.  As such, the haunts need to be lengthened, expanded upon and drastically improved in order to even begin to compensate for what’s been lost.  The trail continues to serve as the main attraction.  A pair of supporting haunts and Scare Zones debut this season, but they’re too short to make much of an impact.  Future development offers unlimited potential, but unfortunately, the haunts are the reason we're here, and their inherent weaknesses in their present states limit the score.

Cincinnati Fear Fest provides a lot of seasonal entertainment in addition to the haunted attractions.  The atmosphere is the main draw, with the town itself being the strength of the event, as previously mentioned.  Bravado’s central figure is The Mayor, and everything that happens revolves around him.  Performances of Witches, Sheriff, Town Doctor, Grave Digger, and Palm Reader/Fortune Teller Madam Sorrow deserve recognition.  Activities alluded to earlier including witch hangings, roaming characters, etc. should not to be missed.  Enjoy some food and drinks in their restaurants and/or saloons, do a little shopping with the on-site vendors while you’re here, and compliment your stay by touring the haunts.