Underworld Fright (Williamstown, KY)
“The Freaks Come Out at Night”
By Noah Wullkotte: jollypumpkin@aol.com
Underworld Fright is Northern Kentucky’s newest haunt. It’s located in the small town of Williamstown, KY and it’s underneath the Starlight Roller Rink. Two killer clowns stalked the crowd as we waited to get in. One was from the local psych ward. We’re always excited to see a new haunt open and Fright Underworld was a fun time.
Underworld Fright is an old school haunt that features a dedicated cast of characters and it has a very creepy atmosphere. They don’t follow an exact theme and that makes the haunt very unpredictable.
The graveyard accompanied by a thunderstorm was pretty detailed and realistic. Some scenes could use music or sound effects. Adding a pipe organ soundtrack to the church scene would definitely improve it. You’ll meet a nun who wants to kill you. Parts that are pure darkness would benefit from shock strips attached to the walls. So, when someone touches the wall they get zapped. The green laser swamp isn’t high enough. You need to feel like you’re drowning in thick fog.
The actor playing Freddy Krueger does a great job. Hopefully I won’t see him in my nightmares. You’ll see other horror movie villains including Ghostface from Scream and Leatherface from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The acting is noticeably better when dealing with the older cast members. The actor shoving his hand into a bloody corpse was disgusting.
You’ll explore a variety of scenes which includes a doll room, carnival, jail, taxidermy room, spider’s lair and much much more. There are little details here and there that you’ll appreciate. The kitchen has a microwave with a heart and brain inside of it. The jail cell features a prisoner who is being electrocuted as his head lights up. The young actor who was behind bars did a fantastic job. He yells as he tries to free himself. This isn’t a big budget haunt, but we were pleasantly surprised to see Distortions Unlimited’s Mutant animatronic. Watch this 7 foot tall monster thrash back and fourth as he sprays water.
Underworld Fright has a lot of potential and we’re looking forward to seeing it grow. Yes, there’s room for improvement, but this is its first year and they’re planning bigger and better things for the future. Total tour time was 12 minutes, but could be longer depending on how you interact with the various characters.
Tickets are $15 for Thursday and Sunday. Tickets are $20 for Friday and Saturday. All First Responders and Frontline Workers receive $2.00 off admission with proper ID. There was a merchandise tent that sells T-Shirts and stickers. The Starlight Roller Rink offers concessions on the side of the building above the haunt. This includes pretzels, hot dogs, pizza, coffee and more. Fast Pass and Dual Passes for Starlight Roller Rink will be available upgrades ($25 each). Trick or Treat at the haunt on Halloween! They will have candy to hand out and kid friendly monsters from 6PM-8PM. If you want even more candy, you can go through the haunt for $5. Lights Out takes place on November 3rd and 4th.
Underworld Fright has tons of potential and it reminds me of classic Jaycees Haunts from the past.
Length-7 Design-6 Props-6 Acting-6 Scare Effect-7
Final Stab: 6.4
www.underworldfright.com