"My Trip To HOUSE ON HORROR HILL!"

Several people read and saw pictures about my trip to Netherworld this past Halloween and wanted to know what I thought about the "other" haunted house I visited this year which was the House on Horror Hill. Nothing can compare with the vastness and budget of Netherworld but it's always good to keep an eye out for the smaller venues and competition because you never know what you'll get.

Having gone to Netherworld first (three days earlier so it was still frest in my mind) Horror Hill was a bit guvenile as it's primary audience was for eight to sixteen year olds as only they would be scared on the antics of this type of house/attraction. The venue was made up of several rooms depicting scenes from which patrons would be simply squeezed into the room and allowed the scenes to unfold before having all the lights turned out (thus ushering the strobe lights) and the actors in the scenes would thene grab out at the patrons as they were pushed from that room into the next. The whole experience was very "militaristic" as we were marched from one room to the next and I didn't enjoy any of the rooms regardless of some of the rooms and scenes actually being very well made with actors who really put an effort into their work.

There were too many people crammed into each group and the person leading the group from from room to the next was someone whom you think didn't want to be there. This being said, me and my friends did go on the busiest day of the season - HALLOWEEN, so I'm willing to forgive them a little. I do have to say that the people behind the actual production of the venue did care about the quality of what they were putting together as they gave comment cards to every person who went through the house wanting to know which were their favorite and least favorite of the rooms.

Although I now know that this in not the venue for me, it's definitely a place I could take my little nephew who would actually get a kick out of the place.

"My Visit to the NETHERWORLD!"

It's been a long time since I visited a haunted house so when someone at my job suggested that this year we all go to Georgia's (in)famous Netherworld I jumped at the opportunity. I decided to bring my sister along since (if I recall) I don't think she's ever been to one.

The first thing you notice when you walk to the location is that it is housed in what appears to be a two story furniture store. It may not look (at first) like something special but that's just the impression they want you to have about the place. After you get your ticket(s) you have the choice of going to one of two houses (or haunts) to enter. In the case of Netherworld they have the Manger and the Carnavore. You can buy tickets for only one of the houses but its just as cheap to get them both.

Once you have tickets in hand then you have to stand in line until its your turn in the house. The great thing about Netherworld is that there are just as many monsters and creatures outside as there are inside and those monsters are doing anything and everything to get the patrons ready for when they enter the house. It's a great audience booster as the patrons get an up close and personal look at all the great make up and creatures on hand and believe me there were many and they were great. One of the fun things on this trip for me was watching the eight year old kids in front of me get excited by all the monsters that roamed the street. At first they were scared and didn't want to go near them but as time went on they got used to them and at one point even tried to scare the monsters.

Needless to say it was a very enjoyable beginning.

When it was time to enter the house Carnavore (and I refuse to give up the goods in hopes that those of you that can do decide to go) I was at first captivated by the great lighting of the facility. Being a lighting technician that's always the first thing that I think of and take notice. Netherworld's Carnavore is the most traditional of all haunted houses as rooms remind you of EVENT HORIZON, POLTERGEIST, CLOVERFIELD, PUMPKINHEAD, and just about any other haunted house and horror film you can think of. It is truly an experience not to be missed. A trip through this house runs about fifteen to twenty minutes (yet seems longer) and is truly fun for the whole family.

Next up was the house Mangler which looks like something Clive Barker cooked up and is a bastard child of the film SE7EN and THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE or SAW. This was a much shorter haunt (about ten minutes) but works because from the moment you enter you just want to get out as soon as you can (this is in the good way).

Both houses were worth the small admission $20.00 with coupon (or $25.00 regular) and was better then any horror film currently at the box office. If you want to spend this Halloween getting scared then there's no better way then this.