The Chambers of Horror (Middletown, OH)
“Middletown’s Classic Haunted House”
By Noah Wullkotte: Jollypumpkin@aol.com
The City Blood crew has been touring The Chambers of Horror in Middletown, Ohio for over 10 years. Over the years this classic haunt has undergone many changes and has given customers a unique experience unlike anything they’ve encountered in Southwest Ohio. This haunt uses an old school approach to its scares. The Chambers of Horror is less than 40 minutes from where we live in Cincinnati, Ohio. It’s a short drive and easy to locate because of its large flood light. An actor dressed as a ghoul can also be seen with a sign pointing you in the right direction.
When we arrived, the line was pretty small, but got larger and larger as the night progressed. We waited in line for about 30 minutes which isn’t too bad. The Chambers of Horror offers a VIP ticket for $17. This is five dollars more than regular admission and I highly recommend it on busy nights. It was finally our turn to enter The Chambers of Horror. After watching a short video featuring Jigsaw from the movie Saw, the door slammed open and we were allowed to enter. We slowly walked up to the ticket booth and got our tickets. We were told to stand in front of the fireplace and wait before we were allowed to enter.
A creepy butler stood in front of us as we looked at all the spooky props that decorated the waiting room. An organ is off to the side with a picture of the Phantom of the Opera on it. Behind you is a picture of Regan Mcneil from the classic movie, The Exorcist. This is a bone chilling room that incorporates elements of well known horror flicks. We were pumped up and ready to get the living day lights scared out of us at The Chambers of Horror. The door opened and there was no turning back. Would we survive the madness or die of fright?
The Chambers of Horror is an old school haunt, but is very creative with its scare tactics. An element that sets this haunt apart from others is its locked doors and hidden passageways. The monsters at The Chambers of Horror won’t let you leave until you pick the correct door. No other haunt in Southwest Ohio does this and it’s a part of what makes The Chambers of Horror so special.
The Chambers of Horror focuses on different fears such as dark rooms, tight hallways, clowns and more. If you’re afraid of the unknown, The Chambers of Horror has you covered. It’s a dark and mysterious haunt with a mixture of horror movie scenes and original rooms. One of the new additions to this year’s haunt is the creepy cave, but I would refer to it as “The Catacombs”. It’s a highly detailed room with candles, skulls and realistic rock walls. It’s sure to be a fan favorite. The new control room is also a great addition and has a shocking surprise.
The Chambers of Horror has some unique effects like a falling ceiling, walls that crush you and the Hellevator. The Hellevator is an elevator that takes you straight to hell and there’s no turning back. The Chambers of Horror also has a variety of bone chilling scenes that are sure to give you goose bumps. This includes a haunted cemetery, a walk in freezer, Freddy’s boiler room, a sewer and much more. The lighting could be improved in some areas. The addition of LED Lights would add dimension to scenes as well. Some effects didn’t seem to be working properly in a couple areas. This was the case with the sewer. The fan wasn’t spinning and the neculear waste wasn’t animated. Everything else in the scene seemed to be working properly including the jumping barrel.
The Chambers of Horror incorporates scents into many scenes, but you didn’t actually think I would tell you what they were. It would ruin the surprise. We smelled popcorn in the drop panel room, but we think it was from the concession booth on the other side. The Chambers of Horror is around 25 minutes long. But it could be longer or shorter depending on how long you’re stuck in some of the locked rooms. It’s an intense haunt with actors who definitely have a great time scaring the crap out of you. The standout is of course Freddy Krueger. He’s up close and personal and loves to play “Skin The Cat”. A better mask that was tucked into his sweater would elevate his performance.
After you’re done with the haunt, you’ll enter the concession area. Everything from food to masks is available. Hot dogs are only $1 and drinks are less than a buck. Next to the concession area is a Halloween village and The Last Ride. The Last Ride is a coffin ride simulator that’s been relocated inside. Experience being buried alive with realistic movement, scents and sounds. If you’re claustrophobic, you might freak out just a little. It’s only $5 and the haunt’s very own Gimp Chambers is in charge of your burial.
We always have a great time at The Chambers of Horror. It’s a fun haunt that is sure to raise a hair or two. General admission is only $12 and VIP tickets are $17. Parking is free and the haunt is easy to locate. Bring a nonperishable canned good and get $1 off admission on Fridays. Please watch out for Michael Myers. He’s sometimes seen stalking customers on the outside of the haunt. Visit The Chambers of Horror and tell them City Blood sent you.
Length-9 Design-8 Props/Animatronics-8 Acting-8 Scare Effect-9
Final Stab: 8.4
www.thechambers.org
148
