Haunted House Survey: The Chamber of Horrors
THE CHAMBER OF HORRORS
$13
229 W. Capitol (the Sterling building), Oct. 12 – Nov. 3 (excluding Mondays and Tuesdays). 7:30 p.m. until the last visitors go through
501) 398-FEAR
Length: 13 minutes
Synopsis: Remember 25 years ago when horror films relied on suspense instead of gore? This haunted house pays tribute to the good ole’ days of terror that didn’t require excess blood. But make no mistake, this place spares no expense on special effects. From the moment you wait in line, your face illuminates from the eerie glow of black light. The anticipation builds as you hear the groups ahead of you scream, followed by demonic shouts of, “I smell fresh meat!” Once inside, make sure your sense of touch is at its finest as you maneuver through pitch black along a cubicle-like maze. By the time there's enough light to see, though, you’ll probably just close your eyes. Many different characters await your arrival: evil clowns, deformed creatures, imprisoned victims and, of course, someone will be carrying a chainsaw. If you want to be especially creeped-out, listen closely for the sound of a little girl’s voice at intermittent parts during the journey. Tour guides are on sight to make sure you find your way around, but they follow at a non-imposing distance. Had there been more character involvement during times of total darkness, I would have been more frightened. A tad too much time went by that I was not accosted by something sinister, but just a tad. If at any moment you think you are lost, just push on the walls around you. You’re bound to find a hidden door that will enable you to proceed. Its not like they would actually let a group enter and then not give them a way out. Or would they?
Final Thoughts: If you are looking for a fun haunted house that provides a good amount of scares, this is the one for you. Enough screams occurred for me to leave hoarse. The old Sterling building seems non-threatening from the outside. Before making that judgment, though, step through the doors of The Chamber of Horrors. I’m confident you’ll never look at these premises the same way again.
Overall Rating: B
—Daniel McPherson
