2015 Annabelle Trophy Presented

Mr Haunt Presents the 2015 Top Honor

Annabelle Trophy

Wharton, NJ -- The 2015 Annabelle Trophy presented by Mr Haunt and the Haunt Hunters on opening night to present Haunted Scarehouse in Wharton, NJ with award for Best Haunted Attraction 2015. This is the second year in a row that mastermind Steven Bailey has earned the top honor.  It was very tight this year, with other Haunts getting very close to Haunted Scarehouse's score, but Bailey and his team were one step ahead of the competition with a total score of 96 out of a possible 100, based on Haunt Hunters criteria. This year's other Gold Standard Haunts were Bane and Brighton Asylum, who both scored a 90. We were very lucky to have this year's trophy be designed by the amazingly talented Tina Brown from Parsippany, NJ. Brown is the Owner/Operator of Fantasy Foundlings, where she lovingly hand-crafts unique babies like the one she made for us.
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Mr Haunt presenting the trophy to Haunt Owner Steven Bailey and Dr Louie Lazarus.

Mr Haunt Reviews Brighton Asylum

Mr Haunt Reviews Brighton Asylum

Clifton/Passaic, NJ – Brighton Asylum, on the border of Clifton and Passaic, NJ, is a high-energy Haunt!  The intensity is kept up from the moment you hit the front door, all the way to the exit door (and sometimes beyond)!   The cordial Owner, Rich Allen, ensures that all of his actors are physically up to the task, as they are literally everywhere and always have to be “on.”

                The drive up to Brighton Asylum sets the stage, as you go through a dark, creepy, and aging industrial complex.  Kudos again to Allen and his staff, who do a spectacular job coordinating parking and other logistics.  In fact, we witnessed a wind gust while we were there that was strong enough to pick up the waiting line tents that protect customers from the elements.  Needless to say, Allen had each and every one of the corners tied down to concrete blocks, so it was a complete non-issue.  Allen was completely engaged at all times, ensuring everyone’s safety and comfort.  Yet another thing that Allen has implemented for his attendees is a timed-ticketing system, which attempts to reduce wait time. 

                While on line, you are treated to one of Mr Haunt’s favorite tunes: “Thunder Kiss ’65,” by White Zombie, playing on repeat throughout the night.  “Thunder Kiss ‘65’s” beastly guitar grooves help set the stage for what’s to come inside.  Brighton Asylum also has a concession stand to serve the line.

                When you finally reach the inside of the Haunt, you must first survive the new and creative descent into “The Tunnel,” which this year’s most recent addition.  “Everything is new for 2015,” offers Allen, “This is the first step in a three-year plan.”  Brighton takes a long time to go through, with a plethora of new and different elements around every turn.  All the while being followed by the most energetic actors in the business.  Brighton Asylum is definitely one of the Elite Haunts this year.  Be sure to check out their new Escape Rooms!

Haunt Hunters App is powered with speed by Chuck Mound broadcasting live on your smartphone when you Tapp the App using your smartphone web browser. Driven by Jim Salerno GMC with the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 gets the Haunt Hunters safely to each Haunt. Eat at I Hop Roxbury, the home of the Scary Face Pancake.

Bane Haunted House 2015

Bane Haunted House 2015

Livingston, NJ -Bane Haunted House 2015 in Livingston, NJ is a unique and unforgettable Haunt.  It differentiates itself from other Haunts by being completely immersive.  You literally become part of the Haunt!  I’ve been to hundreds of Haunts, and never before have I been so poked, prodded, and otherwise man-handled.  Forget everything you know about Haunts, because once you enter, all bets are off!  This is, by far, the most physical and disorienting Haunt I’ve ever been to.  Many attendees finish the Haunt feeling both physically and emotionally exhausted.  Any early quitters are met with enthusiastic “boo’s” from the crowd in the indoor line.

            Another unique aspect of Bane is that they pride themselves on having no animatronics.  A mainstay of most Haunts, animatronics have no place in Bane.  Bane relies on it’s over 70 talented, live actors.  Many of these actors have years of experience in the Haunt industry and make for an amazing experience.  Additionally, there are many new and innovative features inside Bane, including the tightest and stickiest “Claustrophobia” that this reviewer has ever encountered.  I won’t give any spoilers, but wait until you experience “The Church!”

            Bane is owned and run by the lovely and engaging Jen Condron.  Many members of Jen’s family assist in running the Haunt.  Her husband, John, helps manage the overall logistics, her mother helps out in the ticket booth, her brother is at the indoor concession stand, and her father does make-up, just to name a few.

            You can’t pull off a Haunt of this nature without an amazing Safety and Security team.  “We have the safest Haunt in the industry,” states Team Leader John Condron “We designed the Haunt so that you can get to any point in it within seconds.  Plus, we work with the Fire Marshalls to ensure that we are always in compliance.  Every single thing here is covered in flame-retardant spray.”  Sure enough, the ever-vigilant Condron took several breaks from our conversation to listen to his ear-piece. 

            Bane is one of the best Haunts I’ve ever been to and receives my highest recommendation!  I look forward to coming back and reviewing their live-action Zombie “laser combat” experience that they have running all year long.

Haunt Hunters App is powered with speed by Chuck Mound broadcasting live on your smartphone when you Tapp the App using your smartphone web browser. Driven by Jim Salerno GMC with the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 gets the Haunt Hunters safely to each Haunt. Eat at  I Hop Roxbury, the home of the Scary Face Pancake.

Haunted Scarehouse 2015

Mr Haunt Haunted Scarehouse

Wharton, NJ--The Haunted Scarehouse 2015 in Wharton, NJ is a consistently excellent Haunted Attraction.  As 2014’s “Best Indoor Haunt” winner, we expected great things, and boy did they deliver!  It all starts outside, where you buy tickets from the Haunted Scarehouse bus!  While you wait on line, you have the option of purchasing a variety of haunt-inspired treats, handmade by Marge Vasquez of Lekker Sweets.  And, working the line is famous Horror Writer/Director David Boyle.  Boyle makes sure to fill everybody in on the disturbing history of the property and pump them up for what they are about to experience. 

                One of the several unique things about this Haunt is that it follows a storyline.  Specifically, the gruesome storyline of the Hayden family and their history on the property.  Once inside, you enter a time machine.  This is not an easy thing to pull off, but Owner Steve Bailey actually managed to do so without it coming off as cheesy.  Bailey takes his inspiration from Walt Disney himself, whose high-production value at his theme parks are esteemed the world over. 

                The Haunted Scarehouse continues with a staggering array of amazing sets, spread out across two floors.  Another very difficult thing to pull off is making it feel as if you are actually outside.  Again, Bailey succeeds.  Each new twist and turn is designed to disorient you and attack all of your senses.  In fact, you quickly realize that your senses can no longer be trusted, as even stationary props seem as if they are moving and you start to get a very tangible feeling that you very well might get hurt.  All of this, coupled with the extraordinary cast of actors makes for an absolutely unforgettable experience. 

                David Boyle put it best when he said, “Not everyone realizes that they are about to see a show. These are very talented actors. This is performance art.”  The one thing that always pushes this Haunt to the top is Bailey’s attention to detail.  He works on his Haunt all year long, and leaves no stone unturned.  His passion is evident in everything he does, from his hacked animatronics to the industry’s longest and best “Claustrophobia.”  Boyle adds, “Nobody else is doing what Steve Bailey is doing.” With Bailey’s competitors getting better and better every year, Bailey’s game-changing innovations keep him a step ahead.

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-          Mr Haunt

Haunt Hunters

HAUNT HUNTERS

“We’re not experts. We’re enthusiasts!” exclaims Mr Haunt, making sure to draw the distinction.  “We focus less on the technical, behind-the-scenes aspect of Haunts, and more on the actual experience of going through the Haunts.”  Mr Haunt states, “We need more people doing reviews of Haunted Attractions.  This is one of the best ways to support the scene.  Other topics, like Sports for example, have hundreds of reviewers.  Haunts have very few.”  Mr Haunt offers, “It is also important to note that we are not Paranormal Investigators.”

The Haunt Hunters bring decades of experience to the table, having gone to hundreds of Haunted Attractions all over the world.  “We separate the haunted attractions into different sub-categories,” Mr Haunt continues, “Each year, we give out awards for best Haunted House, Haunted Hayride, Theme Park, and Home Décor. And, new for 2015, we’ve added a Haunted Trail category.”  Mr Haunt couldn’t be more excited for the 2015 season.  “We’ve developed a proprietary rating system, with a 100 point scale” Mr Haunt added.  The Haunt Hunters rank each haunted attraction on the following criteria:

1. Website/Marketing/Hype

2. Access/Signage/Parking/Wait time/Management/Organization/Security/Weather considerations/Cost/VIP options

3. Extras (Entertainment during wait time/Food/Vending/Things to do)

4. Makeup

5. Wardrobe

6. Acting

7. Effects/Sets/Layout

8. Length

9. Innovation

10. Overall atmosphere/Scariness/Theme

 

The Haunt Hunters are led by Mr Haunt himself, whose extensive biography appears separately in these pages. The Haunt Hunters include local legends Doktor John, Johnny Halloween, Crazy Mike, and George.  Other Haunt Hunters include Bubba Pazuzu, and Weird NJ’s own Chuck and Mike Pizzuta.  We are often joined by special guests from the entertainment industry and beyond. The Haunt Hunters can be found on your smart-phone at www.HauntHuntersApp.com.

DOKTOR JOHN

A life-long fan of classic Universal and Hammer horror films, Doktor John‘s interest dates back to the 1950’s, with his devotion to late-night TV host Zacherley.  An early subscriber since the first edition of Famous Monsters of Filmland, Dok read and re-read the original Frankenstein and Dracula novels, plus every available review and criticism of cinematic horror from the silent era of Lon Chaney, Sr, through the sci-fi “psychotronic” disaster-pieces of the 1950’s and 1960’s.  In the early 1990’s, at an age when most middle-age, middle-class doctors were studying golfing journals and shopping for second homes in Myrtle Beach or the Hamptons, Doktor John was drawn into the Gothic Rock music scene, first as an Executive Producer and then as a band manager/promoter, partnering with Mr Haunt.  Now deeply engaged in the Gothic subculture scene, Doktor John is a recognized and familiar attendee and chronicler of Goth, Steampunk, and horror-themed events not only here in the States but in such places as Germany, Poland, and Italy.  Doktor John lives in a gothic cathedral of his own design, surrounded by his curated collection of oddities from across the globe.  Dok can currently be found as a Docent at The Morbid Anatomy Museum in NYC.  His reports, which are published in the Aquarian Arts Weekly on these and related subjects, can be accessed on his comprehensive website, www.doktorjohn.com, where abundant photographs, astute reporting, and critical reviews are to be found. 

JOHNNY HALLOWEEN

                Johnny Halloween's earliest memories are of watching classic Universal monster movies on New York's "Cinema 13."  Growing up, he regularly attended horror and sci-fi conventions up and down the East Coast -- long before the "Comic-Cons" of today became popular and trendy.  He has been published twice in FANGORIA magazine, he was a key member of the Usenet alt.horror group back in its '90s heyday, and he has sat down with horror luminaries including Christopher Lee, Clive Barker, Zacherley, Ray Harryhausen, and David Prowse.  Johnny Halloween brings a lifelong love of monsters, Halloween, and haunted attractions to the Haunt Hunters team.

Crazy Mike

Crazy Mike has been Mr Haunt’s trusty sidekick for many years.  It’s hard to put into words the unique brand of crazy that is Crazy Mike.  Let’s just say that one year for Halloween, he donned a brown jumpsuit and pinned a bunch of little yellow balloons to it. -- He was shit with corn in it.

George

                George is Mr Haunt’s constant companion.  He is not easy to please.  Accompanying Mr Haunt to hundreds of events, George helps him interview unsuspecting victims, violating people's personal space, and rendering his constant, disapproving opinions.  George has even taken a turn becoming "zombified" by up-and-coming Hollywood make-up artist, Alyssa Vandall.

Haunted Scarehouse

Haunted Scarehouse

Wharton, NJ--Haunted Scarhouse 2015 is the next stop on the Haunt Tour 2015 driven by Jim Salerno GMC who gets the Haunt Hunters safely to their Haunted Destination. Haunted Scarehouse 2015 will kickoff on Friday, September 25, 2015 on West Dewey Ave in Wharton, NJ. The Haunted Scarehouse is all new for Haunt Season 2015 and will tell the story of events that occurred in the 1970's on the farmland where the Haunted Scarehouse now stands. "It is important that you make changes to the Haunt every year" says Haunt owner Steven Bailey, who won a Best Indoor Haunted Attraction Award from the Haunt Hunters in 2015, "this was a story that needed to be told".  A Haunted Scarehouse keychain brings big discounts at the ticket booth for opening weekend and provides discounts for when you return for any other visits throughout the Haunt Season.
"I love the Haunted Scarehouse" says Mr Haunt of the Nationally Recognized Haunt Hunters "Bailey pays attention to such detail in all aspects of the Haunt, I am looking forward to see what he has for Haunted Scarehouse 2015". The Haunted Scarehouse will be broadcasting live on your smartphone when you Tapp the App Haunt Hunters App, which brings you the Best Haunted Attractions. Tapp for GPS Directions from the Driven By App powered by Jim Salerno GMC, who will get you safely to and from the Haunt.

Haunt Tour 2015

New, York, New York -- Haunt Tour 2015 will be released by the Haunt Hunters broadcasting live on the Haunt Hunters App powered with Speed by Chuck Mound on the Entertainment Network App. The Top Haunted Attractions App will release a Preview of all of the Top Haunts for the 2015 Haunt Season that will include Haunted Houses, Haunted Trails, Haunted Hayrides and more. Mr Haunt will  lead the Haunt Hunters on the Haunt Tour 2015 driven by Jim Salerno GMC (Tapp the App: Salerno Duane App) located in Randolph, NJ. Mr Haunt will be broadcasting live from the Top Haunts from across the country such as the Haunted Scarehouse in Wharton, NJ, Bane in Livingston, NJ, and Brighton Asylum in Passaic, NJ leading to Scream Park in Monroe, NY and more. Tapp the App Haunt Hunters App from your Smartphone to bring all of the Best Haunted Attractions to your Mobile Phone with Speed.