On the Wisconsin-Illinois border is the longest clock-timed haunt we have ever had the opportunity to attend. Dungeon of Doom (DoD) has provided fright and terror in North Chicagoland for over 20 years. With some of the most detailed and frightening props around, it’s very clear to see why DoD has been so successful throughout its history. They provide some of the most amazing and gross-looking animatronics we have had the pleasure of viewing. Combine the number of props and scenes with a running time like no other (over an hour), and it’s no wonder they are called ‘The Legendary Dungeon of Doom!’
We attended on opening weekend when there was a cast of only 60-75 actors. That sounds like a lot but when considering the length and size of DoD, there wound up being quite a bit of empty space throughout, even with the number of well-placed actors. Many of the cast we encountered utilized pop-scare effects and they did well on that.
We would have liked to have seen more interactions with the actors, as most were growlers and screamers. The handful of cast members who did interact and had dialogue were dexterous. Most interactions happened at the beginning, where the actors assisted with forming the lines for groups to go into the haunt. One group had someone with a birthday that day and they gathered around to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her, which was something we haven’t seen before.
DoD’s website lists several of their highlighted characters to look out for throughout the haunt – main characters if you will. We were able to spot most of them throughout. Rektal Trauma was walking the floor, insulting most guests with great banter. Connie Lingus helped move another line along once inside and had picked on each of us at least once. Biscuit the Butcher and Gory, we can say, were of high energy and gave way to a realistic approach for the night. Madame Gavourna had stopped us in our tracks to tell us we were trespassing in her swampland. She also told one person from our group, ‘I’m gonna whoop you the way your momma should have!’
Overall, the actors we did confront were enthusiastic and entertaining. We are sure in the upcoming weeks, with more actors coming aboard, that DoD will have the dead spaces that we encountered filled properly, and it will likely increase the scare factor for the haunt.
Most of the costuming throughout DoD was appropriate for the scenes. We saw our fair share of clowns that were colorful, yet covered in blood, and they seemed to be entertained by it… which added to the creepy factor. The masks were well detailed and fit the actors appropriately. We recall a clown that had a latex mask that looked like his natural skin, giving off that perfect, eerie feel.
As we continued through, we wound up in a sewer scene and the dwellers throughout seemed to all have uniformed costuming. They were dressed in some fearsome armor that gave these characters a post-apocalyptic vibe. Another scene had actors dressed in tribal gear in an ancient tomb area. The makeup used in this area made one actor look like a voodoo priest, and the white contacts added an extra dimension to the costume.
Overall, all of the costumes seemed to be of higher-quality items and were appropriate for all of the surrounding scenes that we encountered them in.
DoD’s staff has had years of experience and they do a fantastic job with their service. All information needed to visit the haunt can be found on their website and Facebook page. Locating the haunt can prove to be a bit tricky.
Our GPS led us according to the address, but there were plenty of ways to get there that were blocked off. After finding ourselves on I-137, there were enough clear signs that led us in the right direction. We discovered that the reasoning behind this is to keep traffic flowing in one fairly consistent direction, which keeps everything organized to get to the parking lot. There were a couple of free parking lots and security posted throughout.
During our visit, one couple touring the haunt had a moment of extreme panic and needed to leave immediately. We had addressed this to an actor and, considering the situation, the actor stopped right away and escorted the couple to the nearest exit. It was really nice to see that they instantly took someone who had an emergency and tended to their safety. The staff was very professional and answered any questions we had about DoD.
We do want to give some helpful information to anyone reading: Make sure to keep any bags or purses in the car, and bring an ID with you if you purchased tickets online. There is a gate with this information on it, but it’s a bit of a walk to get to that point and you could find yourself turning around and heading back to the car to drop off your personal items. Hopefully, we saved everyone a second trip.
Also, we would like to give a shout out to the helpful security guard that had some good tips on nearby restaurants and bars. This proved that their helpful customer service didn’t just stop at the haunt or the door.
When we stepped foot on the grounds of DoD, the first thing that we noticed was chainsaws revving up and people running for their lives in the distance! One of our group members went to the restroom (portable) and some actors surrounded it, waiting for her to exit and, when she did, they chased her right out! Good thing she relieved herself before that.
When we walked up to the main gate, it had a pipe-shaped entrance that was lit up and we knew exactly where we needed to be. The main floor was mostly a ticket line with a photo booth, but was also flooded with actors all around to keep those in line pretty entertained. There were two main screens that had different music videos to watch, and another screen that was running past-year advertisements. Watching these was very entertaining. DoD shared a very intimate look at their yesteryears and how far they’ve come along. We were also able to look at the different main characters on the screens, and they each had a well-thought-out bio. This really helped in preparing us to enter! The lobby also had a really impressive animatronic that looked above us and gave a few words of wisdom to those next in line for the grand marathon ahead of them. This was all enough to keep us well entertained and excited for what’s to come!
DoD has some of the most well-placed and -planned special effects that we have seen. The amount of animatronics and special effects were insane! We wound up in a sewer scene that stretched for a good amount of time that had giant rats popping forward at every turn, which was very creative. Within DoD’s marathon-timed haunt, we found ourselves really needing to pay attention to our every step! It can be difficult to maneuver with tricked floors that change direction, declining walkways that are just enough to make you almost miss your footing, small spaces that are literally pitch black and tilting walls that can trigger one’s claustrophobia.
The sound effects were appropriate for their respective scenes. When we reached Biscuit the Butcher’s butcher shop, all we heard were squealing pigs accompanied by the sounds of chainsaws revving. Adding the well-detailed limbs hanging everywhere made it feel as if we had walked into some backroad butcher who probably cuts up more than just animals!
There was one simulation in DoD that we have never experienced anywhere else. There has been so much panic from visitors in the past that they will give you a fair warning once you’ve made it this far (IF you make it this far). It is called, ‘Buried Dead or Alive’ and that alone should be more than enough information to either intrigue you or make you want to steer clear. Luckily, for those who don’t want to actually live out their living nightmares, you can skip this part. We, of course, must write a review, so we did it, and it felt like it lasted an eternity!
SFX Effective at Scaring, Entertaining (35% of score): 7.65
Could Tell What Theme Was Without Asking (15% of score):
Theme Well Executed, Believable (25% of score):
Location Authenticates Theme (10% of score):
How Scary (15% of score): 7.45
DoD does not have a specific theme that flows through its entirety. We did happen to notice last year as well as this year that most of the main characters listed on DoD’s main website do have relatable scenes. Shank the Clown could be found in a scene that’s made to believe you walked into a circus and of course, Biscuit the Butcher was in the butcher shop.
We can understand how difficult it could be to maintain a storyline throughout a haunt that’s runtime goes past the 60-minute mark but for the most part, all effects and props were suitable for their respective scenes.
Reflecting on the amount of time the haunt runs versus the number of actors we had on that night (and again, I am sure DoD is still hiring more since it is still early in the season), we were limited on the number of jump scares or creeping actors roaming around that we encountered. The ones we did encounter mostly performed with growls and screams that were effective, but again, limited. The screams did mostly affect the more forward reviewers in our group, as they were the first ones to be spotted. This led to most of the scares being targeted to whoever entered the scene first. We can say that the amount of animatronics were plentiful, grotesque, and some of which we haven’t seen elsewhere. The ending of the haunt was a wild scene that was made to be difficult to maneuver, which caused a lot of terror and panic.
What They Liked Most:
I go to 3-4 Haunted Houses every year and check out DoD every other year. DoD never disappoints with its jump scares, animatronics, actors, technolog... Read More
Suggested Improvements:
Not much, but more air pillows that are clastrophobic...those are fun.
What They Liked Most:
Our group visited Dungeon of Doom on 10/14 Saturday and we arrived at about 10:15pm. The GPS leads you to a different address, however, it was really ... Read More
What They Liked Most:
This haunted house blows my mind every year! I love it so much! Will come back every year!
MASTER: 100 reviews of 60 unique haunts in 10 years.
EXPERT: 50 reviews of 30 unique haunts in 5 years.
VETERAN: 15 reviews of 10 unique haunts in 3 years.
APPRENTICE: 5 reviews of 5 unique haunts in the past year.
NOVICE: Entry-level team.
600 29th Street, Zion, Illinois 60099