Hellscream Haunted House Review (2019)

There was never a dull moment at Hellscream, from the ticket counter through the end of the haunt. Creepers taunt and jeer at customers in line, while the Team Wildlyfe fire dancers spun flames opposite a movie screen showing a seasonal classic. Even Dr. Von Helton himself, accompanied by his quick wit, strolled about, welcoming new guests.

The cast inside the haunt took that same interactivity and supercharged it! From the moment the front door swung shut behind us, we were inundated with [SOMETHING]. As we worked our way through, treated to a slew of aggressive ghosts, writhing wretches and other undead inhabitants trapped in Von Helton manor, the off season changes became obvious, but it was the cast that brought those set pieces to life. Each different area was fully stocked with unique characters, complete with dialogue to match their various surroundings. Although there was the occasional spot where an actor merely screamed or screeched as we passed, most seemed well prepared to progress further than a simple jump scare. One roaming scene, in particular, was a tremendous addition, as we were witness to a familiar character tracking down a cowering, hospital gowned patient in real time right before our eyes.

As with the cast, the customer service personnel at Hellscream leaves nothing to be desired. We were greeted with friendly smiles, warm welcomes and fast answers to any questions we had. Given Hellscream’s social media, regular media and general internet presence, there were no problems gathering any necessary information. The only real oddity is the parking situation, where there seems to be an unspoken understanding that hauntgoers park in the dark lot of a neighboring strip mall. The darkness and unlevel surface of that lot could cause some issues, particularly for over-enthusiastic haunt fans. With respect to the haunt itself, though, possible tripping hazards were adequately marked for the most part that even the most terrified guests would be safe.

Hellscream definitely boasts some great special effects, but it is not what we would consider a high-tech haunt. Most of the special effects played supporting roles to the cast, which allowed the cast to truly shine. Ambient audio floated through the path, including warning bangs and clangs from further ahead, pairing perfectly with the strobes and spotlights highlighting the horrors below beautifully. The pathway winding through the haunt is it’s own masterpiece, allowing the creative cast to bring forth scares from its many shadowy crossings. The environmental effects that existed were very well done, with one exception. A particular room on the top floor of the Manor, as mentioned in our 2018 review as well, fell flat. While it could conceivably fit within the haunted manor theme, it seemed to bear little resemblance to the areas before it and after it. It was also quite unadorned, leaving little to the imagination and laying bare some home haunter’s tricks. Suffice it to say, we were not fans of that room no matter how hard we tried to noodle it into something more fitting.

Dr. Von Helton’s story is set out on the Hellscream website in a clear yet entertaining manner, but it fully sets in when visitors are met with the ‘real’ Dr. Von Helton just inside the gates. As the actor paces the queue line, guests are treated to his dark humor, a bit of his history and an introduction to some of his more heinous experiments. Although one of the big changes made at Hellscream renders part of the back story inapplicable, speaking with Vince Stites of Hellscream Entertainment, it is clear that the haunt is working to truly embrace the Victorian mad scientist’s menagerie theme, and it does so quite well. As interesting as Dr. Von Helton’s story is, however, the building itself apparently has a long and storied history involving medical mishaps, which heightened the authenticity of Dr. Von Helton’s sordid estate.

Even to seasoned haunt fans like us, Hellscream is frighteningly fun! Between the wending paths for the haunters to pop up in new and unexpected spots, and the changes made during warmer weather, the haunt layout was familiar enough to lull us into believing we knew where actors would emerge only to be proven wrong. One room in particular, which was fairly unremarkable in and of itself, gave the impression that we were entering a scene from a scary movie, triggering an instinct to get out as soon as possible, which is a rare thing for us. While there were a few times when the scare was given away by the visible slits or holes in the walls, they didn’t detract from the experience overall. Likewise, the cast’s preference for going after the screamer in our group, while perfectly sensical, did leave a few scares unrealized for the rest of the group.

Once again, the finale at Hellscream was a gem! Four actors combined to give one of the best performances at the haunted attraction. Beginning with the raucous hangman, and continuing through the cavernous entrails of the Von Helton manor with a monsterous miner and killer clown working in tandem to give fleeing guests one final buzz, the finale added just enough of a twist to give a somewhat cliche conclusion a second life!

Despite being one of the premiere haunts in the nation, Hellscream keeps its rates very reasonable, with a general admission price of $22.00. The real savings, though are in the combo pass for just $36.00, which grants access to both Hellscream and its sister attraction just down the road, Haunted Mines! For those low prices, haunt fans get an evening’s worth of entertainment, complete with a pizza coupon to boot. One would be hard pressed to find a better time this haunt season, especially for such a great price. Make sure to make time to visit Colorado’s fan selected reigning top haunt for the second year running, Hellscream!