The Haunted Hydro Review (2008)

It’s very clear that the actors have a passion for the scare. Most of the actors dive deep into their character, lending to the effectiveness of the haunt. For the actors that speak, some have even developed names and backgrounds for their monsters. The cast interaction is very good, as well, when two or more actors are needed to achieve the desired scare. While a majority of the cast had great timing, wit, and energy level, some of the actors missed the mark with their opportunity to get the best scare. Overall, the cast played a vital role in the success of the attraction.

We already know that an abandoned hydroelectric plant makes a superb setting for a haunted attraction, but how well is it utilized? Extremely well. Throughout the entire hydro attraction, each ‘blemish’ of the structure is taken advantage of, heightening the sense of surrealism. Whether walking through eroded tunnels or gazing above at the towering columns, you constantly feel like you’re trapped in a Stephen King movie. One of the highlights of the night was seeing and hearing the LIVE keyboardist from Hell playing an ambient soundtrack to our nightmares turned reality. The atmosphere at the Haunted Hydro simply can’t be found anywhere else.

This attraction nearly perfects the use of inexpensive, yet effective special effects. One of the strongest points is the use of lighting, or lack thereof. All the lighting is very well balanced, with lots of variation of well-lit and nearly pitch black areas. We were happy to see very little black light FX, which often have a tendency to be overdone. While we would have liked to have seen a bit more original and perhaps elaborate special effects, the majority of the props and sets were very well-done. Some memorable sights to mention were the bloody bathroom and the room full of mannequin heads.

While most of the cast had great character development and make-up, there lacked a sense of horror throughout the attraction. We found ourselves laughing more than we were screaming. Some of the one-liners came off a little dry, and we couldn’t help but chuckle. However, there were certainly moments where we truly jumped. The true frights scattered among the night definitely raised our pulse. The claustrophobic chain-linked maze, known as the House of Shocks, caused us to continually watch our back, after a fast-footed monster snuck behind us for the perfect scare, seemingly coming out of nowhere. As for another memorable scare, we don’t want to give it away

This year, the folks at the Haunted Hydro have tried very hard to make their attraction affordable. By visiting their website, [www.thehauntedhydro.com] you can find out all about their various ‘Budget Buster’ programs, including ‘Zombie Hour’, where you can visit both attractions for only $5 each. Even without a coupon or discount, admission to both haunts is only $15. Even some smaller, less enjoyable attractions charge more than that! The only reason the value isn’t outstanding is that the attractions can tend to move fairly quickly, as we finished the House of Shocks in less than 10 minutes. Still, we consider this haunt to be one of the best deals in the area, and definitely worth every dollar.