Hotel of Horror 2016 Review
Mr Haunt: “You smell that?”
Chuck Mound: “What is it?”
Mr Haunt: “Authenticity!”
…so went my favorite conversation of
the night. Very few Haunts can boast co-locating
with actual disembodied souls in a 200-year-old hotel. It feels like you are stepping back in time,
even out of time, into the most authentically ethereal Haunt this reviewer has
ever experienced. With two distinct
Walkthroughs, a Museum, and several other interactive experiences, HoH provides
for a full night of twisted entertainment. Nestled deep in the Pocono Mountains, even the
location itself adds to the mystique of the Haunt.
We were
warned at the very start that we would have a hard time picking a favorite Actor,
and boy were they right! You’ll find no
teenage volunteers here… only talented, committed Actors, many of whom have
been here for years and truly consider each other “family.” We’re talking everything from clowns to
contortionists. With scripts ranging
from evil, guttural vocalizations to a full-blown, interactive Voodoo Priestess
vignette. And, big-ups to Toukatsu for
his highly impressive implementation of the Suzuki Acting Method!
Haunt
Owners Dan and Marlo Ambrosio cultivate an amazing show, using the hotel itself
to its fullest, most detailed potential and encouraging the ensemble of artists
and actors to immerse themselves in their roles, allowing their individual
creativity to shine through. Marlo is a
talented make-up artist in her own right, due in large part to early
inspiration from the legendary Frazetta family, who also reside in the Poconos.
Another
impressive facet of HoH is its soundtrack.
Many Haunts don’t even have a soundtrack and, if they do, it’s blasted
loudly over the entire Haunt, and it’s not always the most appropriate song
choice. HoH’s soundtrack is spot on. It
features creepy music on the exterior, as well as different compositions in
different interior rooms. Always at the
perfect volume, it’s sometimes coupled with custom sound effects to perfectly
eerie effect.
Also
unique to HoH is their solution to the all-too-common problem of scares getting
ruined by your proximity to the group in front of you. They actually have a three-minute-timer that
they set between each group to ensure that you get your money’s worth and
experience their artistic masterpiece the way it was intended. HoH takes very good care of its customers,
with fun things to do and amenities like free parking and a covered wait line. They also have a variety of fun HoH
merchandise for sale. Be sure to grab a
bite at NiBor’s Coffee while you’re there!
A huge
shout-out to Master Accumulator “Dead” Dan Ritter and his wife Samara. Dan has been collecting funerary artifacts
since he was 12 years old and now his collection has grown to include an
astounding array of antique medical instruments, asylum finds, and myriad other
oddities. A sampling of his collection
is on view in The Exhibition Macabre, located inside the hotel.
With
all of the amazing artistry and kindred spirits here, I definitely didn’t want
to leave! My big Insider Tip here is to
be sure to check out iPas after you ride the Coffin Coach. iPas offers a
seriously next-level look into the future of the Haunt Industry. This is a legitimate game-changer!! Hotel of Horror is the first Gold Standard
Haunt of the 2016 Season and we look forward to visiting again in the future! Be sure to tell Snort I said “Hi!”
-
Mr Haunt
