HHN XXVI: HOUSE RANKING UPDATE, WEEK 2

Greetings internet dwellers!

My second week at HHN has come to a close. I will return to the event next Thursday. I did not take a whole lot of pictures these last 2 days, or video. I wanted to just take in the event, and spend time with friends and family. My sister's birthday was this past Thursday as well, so there was that. I apologize, and will take as many as I can next week. 

​Let's talk.

CHANGES

It is no secret, that I am not a fan of how things have transpired at the event this year, courtesy of Universal management. First and foremost, as of right now, I am glad I did not buy an Unmasking The Horror Tour. If you have not heard, they have banned photos and video, within the IP houses on the tour. I know Universal has already issued a lot of refunds because of this. At least, to their credit, they are doing that. 

There are a few rumors, that this decision may be overturned, but I am not positive on that. We will see how it goes. My advice is, if you have booked an UTH, and it comes towards the end of the event, perhaps wait it out for a while. You can still take photos and things in the original houses, but the tours consist of 2 IP's and one original, so it's kind of pointless. 

They added some more interactive elements in the some of the Zones, especially Survive Or Die. The school bus finally returned to Vamp 1955, after being out of commission last weekend. Dead Man's Warf, was the most improved, as the actor's were a lot more aggressive in the Zone. They didn't just lumber around this time, or just stop to take selfies.

The biggest change though, came in the form of music. Virtually all the music around the park, was changed on Thursday. There was less of the Chance interruptions on the speakers, and no more NIN, or Marilyn Manson either. 

On Friday, the music changed again. The Chance interruptions came back; this time a lot more prominent, and some remixes of horror themes played around the park. Halloween, The Walking Dead, and The Exorcist, are what I heard. I wonder if there was more, but those three stood out. I do not recall hearing any other music with words, other than in Vamp 1955.

There are a few other issues that have cropped up, caused by Universal management and their boneheaded decisions, but I will save that for my own rage at this point. I'm sure more stupid decisions, are in the future. 

CURRENT HOUSE RANKINGS

Got The Exorcist in finally, so we can rank all 9. As always, this will change and fluctuate throughout the event, as things are still bound to change. 

​From worst to best.

9. LUNATIC'S PLAYGROUND 3D

CURRENT RATING: 1/5
This is quickly becoming one of my most hated HHN houses ever. I noticed the strobe lights a lot more on Friday. This entire thing has no life. There is no flow, things don't work, and there is no energy. There isn't even a sense of fun in here. The entire thing, feels like a waste. 

8. KRAMPUS

CURRENT RATING: 2.5/5
There were a few changes in here as well. The elves, all got different masks for one. I did get a good scare in here on Thursday, and there was a bit more life injected into the house. Overall, Krampus is still severely lacking for me. 

7. THE WALKING DEAD

CURRENT RATING: 3.5/5
Had a few really solid run through's of The Walking Dead. The house is a lot of fun, and is a nice trip down memory lane. All it needs, is a slight extra punch in the scare department, and it will fire on all cylinders. 

6. THE EXORCIST

CURRENT RATING: 4/5
My first time through The Exorcist, was absolutely awesome. The second time through, it was just OK. Still, even with the dumb looking dolls, that first run was packed with scares. I love the effects work in here as well. I need to go in a few more times, to see if the consistency changes.

5. GHOST TOWN: THE CURSE OF LIGHTNING GULTCH

CURRENT RATING: 4.5/5
​We had a couple of runs, that weren't as good as the first couple of times. Still, there are a lot of good scares in here, and the house is fantastic to look at. 
​

4. THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE

CURRENT RATING: 4.5/5
The house is still awesome. However, they have brightened up the place a little bit, which takes away from some of the scare factor. Still, very solid.
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3. AMERICAN HORROR STORY

CURRENT RATING: 4.5/5
Had a very solid run through this house on Friday. A lot more actors, a lot more scares, and some great methods in which to do them. I still need a few more times in here, as it generally is the longest wait, but very impressed the second time through. 

2. HALLOWEEN: HELL COMES TO HADDONFIELD

CURRENT RATING: 5/5
I'm in love with this house. Every time through, has been consistent. The cast brings it every time. Really impressed with what they have done in here. The sets are really cool as well. I got to experience a little bit of the house by myself too. That is always a plus. 

1. TOMB OF THE ANCIENTS

CURRENT RATING: 5/5
Consistency. Both Halloween and Tomb, have been the most consistent houses I've gone through. Tomb of the Ancients, really kicked it up though, on Friday. Everything worked in conjunction with each other perfectly. Right now, it's a fight between Tomb and Halloween for my favorite. 

CURRENT SCARE ZONE RANKINGS

I am still not a big fan of the Scare Zones this year. All of them, are severely lacking in every department. While some tried to improve on things, everything else just stayed flat.  

5. A CHANCE IN HELL

CURRENT RATING: 1/5
What a waste of space. That is all. 

4. VAMP 1955

CURRENT RATING: 2/5
Still very blah. We had a few cool moments, but nothing really to write home about. Glad the bus is back too. 

3. BANSHEES LAIR (OR WHATEVER IT IS THEY ARE CALLING IT THESE DAYS)

CURRENT RARING: 2.5/5
Fun, and atmospheric, but not much else. It is really nice to just stand and watch in here. 

2. SURVIVE OR DIE

CURRENT RATING: 3/5
They added some more interactivity in here, and the cast is starting to perk up a bit. It's a fun Zone, but pales in comparrison to other New York Zones of the past. 

1. DEAD MAN'S WARF

CURRENT RATING: 3.5/5
A lot more fun this time around. The cast was much more active. It's also another great place to just look at. Still, all the Scare Zones are lacking this year. 

PARTING WORDS FOR NOW

I am still not a fan of the Zones. I am also very displeased with how things are going down behind the scenes this year. I had a particularly sad conversation, with one of my Scareactor friends on Friday, which just cemented my anger. There is a part of me which hopes there is someone who will eventually realize, that some of their decisions this year, are just wrong. Not just wrong, but bad, and they will eventually come back to bite them in the butt. I enjoy the majority of the houses though, so that's a plus. 

This has been a very weird year overall so far. I will return next Thursday and Friday. I am ready.