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I’m waiting at the door to what appears to be an intake chamber. The young investigator before me seems almost oblivious to the… “patients”… that are gleefully messing with her hair and tugging on her arm right before my eyes, even though she acknowledges what’s happening. “Looks like they’re having some fun with you,” I remark, prompting her eyes to widen slightly. “You can see them?!” (If she had asked me that question later on- when a crap ton of them were coming after me with chainsaws and tasers, trying to implant me with horrible parasites, and literally attempting to chew my face off- “oh, could I EVER” would’ve been my response.)
But right now? I’ve just arrived at the entrance to the former Bracken-Hart Institute for the Criminally Insane. B.H.I.P.S. (Bracken-Hart Institute Paranormal Society) is conducting an investigation, and it’s up to volunteers like me to answer the question: what really happened inside? Given the creatures I’ve already faced harassment from on my way there, I’m not completely sure I want to find out… but a haunt reviewer’s job isn’t without its hazards.
Born from the remains of the former 7th Street Haunt in Louisville, 2025 marks the seventh season for the American Horrorplex, a fully original haunted attraction located in the Portland area of the city. This year’s story picks up where last year left off, bringing a team of paranormal investigators in and giving patrons the role of volunteers seeking to uncover the secrets of the former Bracken-Hart Institute, where it’s said evil experiments involving parasitic “Fleshlumpkins”- and far worse- may have taken place. A risky endeavor for sure – but someone’s gotta do it, right? Continue reading to discover what I found when I went inside…
NOTE: I experienced American Horrorplex completely alone and did not enter with another group.
The investigators of B.H.I.P.S. may not have been able to see the entities haunting the Bracken-Hart hospital, but I sure as hell could – and believe me, that was more curse than blessing. From deranged doctors and nurses to mutated monstrosities, creatures and crazies were everywhere. You couldn’t even escape them outside: several were tormenting the line (and me) as we all waited, and occasionally reappeared in the midway. Quinn, who slid about through the crowd and wore a mask full of sharp teeth, popped up frequently throughout the night. (Ever seen a slider go after people with an actual child riding on their back?! Because I can now cross that off my list.) At one point, I was offered a “shot” by Dr. Death… and let’s just say it wasn’t quite what I was expecting!
After experiencing the preshow, I was temporarily detained in a holding pen; where two uniformed security guards kept watch over me (while repeatedly coming back to let me know I was being “shunned”… for supposedly “letting the scary patient in”… yeah, totally my fault). A nurse greeted me at the facility’s entrance and welcomed me to the Institute, but that’s about as friendly as it got from there on out: a patient then burst in and attacked, setting a siren off as I was urged to board an elevator and head straight into the belly of the beast. It all went downhill from there – countless attacks from the doctors’ many vicious experiments and sinister staff members followed. Naming characters who stood out is honestly hard because so many of them were going crazy from beginning to end. I had a nurse frantically call out to “Kitty-Kitty” in Animal Testing, insisting that I was coming for him. (And resulting in me getting attacked. Repeatedly. Thanks, lady.) Someone else wanted my toes as part of their research. In the cafeteria, the cook was rather… enthusiastic… about his job, slamming plates about and bellowing that “Sloppy Joes” were on the menu that night. “Extra sloppy, just for you!” An unlikely savior came in the form of Dr. Bracken himself, warning me of the dangers ahead – particularly that of the Mother Lumpkin.
Other than the bit of silliness from the guards at the beginning- which was honestly a welcome break from the insanity that would follow- all dialogue was appropriate to the haunt’s story. Those playing insane hospital staff would mention treatment options or tell me it was time for my “appointment”. Fleshlumpkin victims, both in the throes of transformation and fully transformed, made convincing growls, screeches, and grunts. Other characters ranted and raved nonsense, coming across like they’d completely lost their minds.
Great care was taken to make this cast of crazies look as grungy, mutated, and unhinged as most of them behaved – while still adhering to the haunt’s storyline. Both inside and outside of the attraction, I saw the facility’s signature striped uniforms, traditional nurse outfits, lab coats, scrubs, and other costumes you’d expect from a hospital-themed haunt. Quite a few of the experiments running loose through the facility sported what appeared to be blood-stained muzzles or face masks, while other actors wore facial appliances blended in with makeup for an even more grotesque look. Similar appliances were included in the actors’ costumes, too, suggesting they’d been infested by the parasitic Fleshlumpkins. My favorite was the actor I saw in line with a whole MAW full of fangs coming out of their belly!
Masks and makeup were mixed well, with a bit of a heavier emphasis on the latter. Just about everyone I came across looked somewhat haggard, like they’d been around for far too long or had undergone some major torment. Some had wounds, while others had pus-filled boils and other nasty skin afflictions. Both partial and full masks were used; partials, like the face appliances, were blended with makeup to give the actor a more twisted appearance, while the full masks were reserved for characters in the final stages of transforming into monsters. Although all masks were in good condition and makeup was very detailed, I did spot the odd bits of detail that were missed on some actors. (Example: an actor may have had a great costume and mask, but their arms or legs had little makeup to match.)
Finding American Horrorplex was super easy. Before I even reached the haunt, a brightly lit sign reading “HAUNTED HOUSE” at an intersection let me know I was headed the right way! A parking crew was waiting for arriving cars outside, and the building was lit up in various colors. Parking was free; their small lot was full when I got there, but the crew found me a nice spot on the street. Upon getting out of my car and walking to the front gate, a banner confirmed I was at the right place, and the ticket booths were clearly labeled. Ticket prices were as follows: $26.00 for General Admission, $46 for VIP (included a $5 credit for stuff in the midway), and $66 for Front of the Line (also included a $5 credit). Each line was labeled for its corresponding ticket, and plenty of friendly staff were around to help as well.
Parking areas were reasonably lit, and there was a security presence while I was there. At no point did I feel unsafe being at the haunt or navigating it anywhere, outside or inside. I did check out their website prior to visiting, and not only did it cover every question we commonly hear from prospective customers (and then some), but it also went over the current storyline and had some fun media.
Shortly after getting my ticket and walking through the front gate- where banners displayed the haunt’s name and flags bearing the Bracken-Hart insignia waved in the breeze- I was swiftly pulled into the world of the Horrorplex. Several stray patients and doctors prowled the line, scaring and entertaining groups. Many podiums were positioned throughout the queue, allowing customers to brush up on AHP’s backstory while they waited. Projections on a screen above the line also played clips relevant to the story, and music played in the background to keep people entertained.
Following the haunt’s preshow, a brief (and slightly comical) entrapment, and an intense pursuit to the front doors of the main house, the walkthrough continued to pull me into the story I was introduced to in line. Every room and area of the haunt was either what you’d expect of a haunted hospital-themed attraction, or was easy enough to figure out how it tied in. There were multiple laboratories, an animal testing scene, an absolutely disgusting cafeteria, the foggy remains of what were once the hospital’s showers, padded patient cells, and much more. The final few scenes got a little wild, and I could see some customers being confused by the shift in environment, but the actors’ dialogue did help it all make sense, especially right before the finale. (A little extra credit is in order here: at one point, we had a conga line situation. The haunt has a unique and effective way of breaking these up without ruining the experience for each group, and I got to experience that firsthand. It was cool to get to see that!)
Once the show was over, I stumbled breathlessly out of the exit – and right into the gift shop, where the employees at the counter up ahead had my souvenir photo ready and waiting! In addition to loads of different Horrorplex-themed merch items for sale, a lot of cute Halloween stuff was available, too. Leaving the gift shop took me out into their midway, where patrons could buy food, take photos, shop with vendors, interact with roaming characters, or visit with friendly animals (courtesy of Butterfly Valley Rescue).
Although the current story is explained in detail on AHP’s website, and they did have staff members playing along as members of B.H.I.P.S., the paranormal group investigating the Bracken-Hart Institute, I did feel some minor changes (like extra dialogue) better explaining what groups are heading into before they enter the haunt would help them understand. Not everyone will check the website before leaving or read what’s on the podiums out front.
Immense amounts of detail were poured into most of the Bracken-Hart Institute’s rooms and scenes. Layers of textures and props coated just about every surface of the walls, and just about every room was loaded with props as well: dusty shelves and tables full of pill bottles and medical supplies, patient x-rays clipped to boards, malformed animal experiments in the animal testing lab, jars of severed human heads as wet specimens, trays and plates full of rotting food in the cafeteria – I could go on, but you get the point. Some of my favorite set details included the glowing orbs embedded in the walls of the Mother Lumpkin and the grotesque, fleshy walls that formed one particularly disturbing character’s scene. (They kept insisting I add mine to their wall of flesh. No thanks, buddy, looks like you’ve got more than enough.)
Animatronics and other forms of SFX were also used to immerse patrons deeper into the Horrorplex’s world. Most of these took the form of unlucky patients or animals being experimented on or those that were already transformed into beasts (with a few cleverly positioned for scares). Others were unique to the Horrorplex, like the scene where you actually face off with Legion- the main antagonist responsible for all this mayhem- himself! A couple of the sensory effects I encountered during my walkthrough were vibrating benches and a “white out” room filled with fog, where it was near impossible to see beyond your own hand in front of your face.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 9.15
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 9
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 8.8
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 8.8
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 9.2
Because American Horrorplex is a largely actor-driven haunt, most of the scares came from the cast. And when it came to scaring, this cast was a well-oiled machine! Scares came from literally every direction, including above and below, and many of the actors knew the haunt’s layout so well they could come back to nail you again and again. There did seem to be a heavier emphasis on striking from the front and middle and I would’ve liked to see a little more attention given to the back; looking at it from the perspective of a full group, that would divide the scares more evenly. A variety of scare tactics were used: actors went for my legs, got in my face, surrounded me at multiple points, attacked with weapons, slid, threw sparks, or used other props to make me jump and scream. I was honestly surprised I had a voice left by the time I got out of there.
Of course, not all of the frights in this hospital of horrors came from those residing in it. At least one, while actor-activated, was cleverly built into some set pieces and it got me good! I commented on this in another portion of the review, but a few of the animatronics were set up to deliver further scares, and there were also effects like air blasts to startle customers. I would advise the haunt to continue looking for new ways to diversify their scares and would still like to see additional animatronic or automated ones added.
With great effort, I managed to escape the horrors of the Bracken-Hart Institute- and sans any Fleshlumpkins, I might add- in approximately 24 and 1/2 minutes. A General Admission ticket to the Horrorplex is currently $26.00, so their MPD (Minutes Per Dollar) rating came out to 0.94; just a hair shy of the full minute we usually look for in terms of value. To put it bluntly: this was an awesome show. Immersive, scary, funny – it checked all the boxes. No haunt is 100% perfect, but I was seriously impressed by how much American Horrorplex pulled off this season. And in addition to the haunt, there were quite a few other things included with the ticket to enjoy: music, roaming characters, photo ops, and live encounters with animals in the midway. I didn’t get to see these things the night I went, but on select nights, live shows are also offered at no charge.
Of course, I’m only one investigator… and I’m sure the fine folks at B.H.I.P.S. could use a lot more help with uncovering all of the doctors’ secrets. If you think you and your friends are up for the task, join the investigation going on at the Bracken-Hart Institute this season. But watch out for Legion and his minions, and remember: FEAR is only the beginning!
2012 Northwestern Pkwy, Louisville, Kentucky 40203