Features:
✓-Free Parking✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site✓-Food/Concessions✓-“Old-School” (Low Tech)✓-You will NOT be touched✓-Original Characters✓-Uncovered Outdoor Waiting Line✓-All-Outdoor Attraction
This attraction was reviewed on October 15, 2021 by Team Houdini.
How Do We Get These Scores?
Our Rating System
UPDATE FOR 2022: Our former “Atmosphere” and “Theme” categories have now been combined and renamed “Immersion.” Our intent with this is to give more appropriate credit to attractions that have shown a clear focus on achieving and maintaining better customer experiences (both inside and outside the attractions) and developing creative storylines.
Each of the category scores in this review are calculated using a weighted average of several questions that we rate on a scale of 1 to 10.
The following breakdown explains what these scores typically mean. All of our Teams use this as a reference for providing accurate ratings:
10: “Peak Performance”This score is treated as if it has a chastity belt on it. “10’s” are reserved for the best of the best; those that we feel could not possibly improve on what they’re doing.
9: “Innovative and Groundbreaking”It rocked! Nearly everything seemed to go as planned and it was one of the best we’ve ever seen! These guys are leaders in the industry, and attractions like this are truly hard to come by.
8: “Solid”A high score on our scale. They had a good handle on it and, overall, they knew how to use it well. Most attractions can learn from what these guys are doing.
6 to 7: “Good”We could tell that a good effort was made. However, we’ve seen this done much better at other places, or can detect areas where significant improvements can be made. This is about the top end of what we’d call “Family Friendly.”
5: “Average / Fair”Compared to the competition, they weren’t the best, but definitely not the worst. Scares and Special Effects in this range are usually considered “Family Friendly.”
3 to 4: “Below Average”We could see that a clear attempt was made, but most other professional attractions are doing a much better job at this.
1 to 2: “Poor”It appeared that very little time, thought or effort was contributed to this aspect.
0 (Zero): “Non-Existent”No apparent effort was made to make this a significant contributor to the attraction.
Afterword:This rating system is standardized across all of The Scare Factor’s official haunt review teams. However, keep in mind there will always be minor differences between Teams, as we all have varying levels of experience. Regardless, we do our best to remain true to our core values, which is to promote all haunted attractions!Perhaps the biggest thing to remember is: sometimes the score – in and of itself – doesn’t tell the whole story about an attraction’s merits. This is why we provide detailed explanations for each category… to help you better understand how and why we chose the score/s that we did.We do our best to not let feelings or emotions rule our judgement, while also viewing the attraction through the lens of the typical haunt-goer. But, because all reviews with ratings are inherently subjective, this is nearly impossible to completely prevent. Though, when in doubt, we tend to give slightly lower scores than our original “gut feelings” to account for this, and also give the attraction more room to improve over time.We also do our best to be fair and consistent across all of the haunts that we review. We know that you’ll be looking at these scores and comparing them to other attractions, so we hope this review helps you out in that aspect.Do you have some feedback about our review system? Contact Us Here to let us know what you think!
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Final Score: 7.52
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 7.6
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 7.77
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 8.5
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 7.3
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 7.32
(5% of Final Score) Theme:
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 7.28
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 7.13
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Summary:
Shadows and darkness have scared humans for all of eternity, not being able to see something that could be right next to you, that vulnerability, and the fear of the unknown. Now you can find out for yourself at The Shadows in Tarentum, PA.
After the Haunted Mine originally closed, some of the inhabitants escaped and took residence in the woods, and in 2012, The Shadows was born. Some of the previous employees that worked at The Haunted Mine decided to open a new haunt in the woods above the mine area. It is located on four acres of wooded land with half a mile trail. The Shadows is a volunteer haunt with a classic haunted trail theme. After a year off due to Covid, they are ready to make their return this season.
Cast: 7.6
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 7.75Explanation:
Actors were mainly at the set locations we would have seen more throughout the woods to give a creepier vibe.
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 7.25Explanation:
Most actors did a good job, mainly screams and jump scares. A little more dialogue and interactivity would have increased the score.
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 7.75Explanation:
Some interaction would have liked a little more dialogue and banter.
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 7.88Explanation:
Some original lines
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 7.63Explanation:Some generic “ghosts” a little more diversity wouldn’t hurt.
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During our moonlit stroll, we came across seventeen departed souls. The majority of which provided quick jump scares from screams or loud noises. There were some of the traditional haunt scripts such as ‘where are you going,’ ‘help,’ and ‘what are you doing?’ We also heard screams and a few horrendous laughs. We were happy to hear some additional lines of dialogue, as we entered an area we did not knock and were told ‘it’s only proper to knock before entering someone’s house,’ we were invited in one area enthusiastically ‘come in you’ll love it’ followed by a loud YOU’LL LOVE IT!’ One interesting interaction was with a guy behind a metal fence area, he was causing sparks to shoot out while singing the national anthem that he followed up with a Matthew McConaughey ‘alright, alright, alright.” A woman yelled ‘burn them to ashes’ as we passed by her area. We came across a creature in the corn area that said ‘I smell kids,’ I made a joke about Biden and everyone laughed, thanks folks I’ll be here all week.
We had some good back and forth discussion with the first character in the woods, the woodsman I guess. He talked about the previous people that came through that he ate. He told us he was the mild one in the woods. I complimented his mask and he told me he liked my pretty face, yay I’m pretty!
We would have liked a little more interaction with the spooks as we went through, but we felt the dialogue seemed fitting for the characters and areas.
Costuming: 7.77
How Did We Get This Score?
Costuming Scores (15% of Final Score):
(15% of Costuming Score) How complete / finished did the costumes appear to be?: 7.63Explanation:
Some characters had better costumes than others, mostly looked like store-bought costumes, which I understand as this is a smaller haunt in the woods.
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 7.63Explanation:
Some costumes were more creative than others but overall fit well.
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 7.5Explanation:
Makeup was done well on most characters.
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 7.5Explanation:
Masks were fitting we really enjoyed the first guy’s glowing mask.
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 8.38Explanation:The costumes matched the scenes appropriately.
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Costuming was a mix of simple costumes and street clothes with masks and makeup. One individual had a high-quality plague costume that had the traditional long black coat and pants with the long-beaked plague mask. A girl with ghoulish makeup and a hooded costume was hiding in one of the shacks. The ghostly makeup seemed to work for most of the cast, from the characters we saw it looked well done not just thrown onto people.
One of the more stand-out maks belonged to the woodsman who had on a wooden face mask with green glowing eyes. It looked really good as we approached.
As it was dark in the woods it was hard to see some characters in detail so detailed costumes may not be needed as much like other haunts. But a little more detail would be appreciated.
Customer Service: 8.5
How Did We Get This Score?
Customer Service Scores (10% of Final Score):
(25% of CS Score) How easy was it to locate the attraction, park, and navigate the premises?: 8Explanation:
Good signs around, parking was confusing especially with both haunts.
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 8
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 10
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 8
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The Shadows were easy to find with GPS, as we approached the main road, signs were leading to The Shadows as well as The Haunted Mine as they are located in the same area. Parking was a little confusing as there were no parking attendants and they share the area. Since we were doing both we parked in the middle.
The staff was professional and friendly from the ticket booth to the greeter. The lady at the ticket booth joked about us not making it through and the gentlemen at the gate provided some info on the history of the haunt.
We did not notice anything outside of normal safety concerns. The lighting is well done where we could see where we were walking. There was some uneven ground that could be slippery. I did slip slightly on some gravel, but that is the nature of the beast when you are in the woods. This is outdoors so some areas could get muddy as well, just use caution.
Regarding Covid they are following local guidelines.
The Shadows does have a modest website but more info can be found on their Facebook page.
Atmosphere: 7.3
How Did We Get This Score?
Atmosphere Scores (10% of Final Score):
(60% of Atmosphere Score) How obvious was it that you were at a haunted house before entering?: 7.5Explanation:
The shadows keep a darker vibe with less flash before entering. We wouldn’t mind some additional decor or minimal lighting to enhance the outside area.
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 7Explanation:
It keeps customers wondering what is inside. We think some additional line actors would help amp up the queue line.
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The Shadows leans on the side of mystery and, well, shadows. Minimal lighting is in the waiting area, just the lights from the ticket booth, the lights from the Shadows sign, and our natural satellite is the only light there is. They keep things bare bones to provide a more somber and realistic tone. One line actor was around and he was silent and just wandered the land. He was wearing a brown cloaked robe, with a burlap mask. He also carried a scepter with an animal skeleton on it. There were also skulls on top of the poles in the waiting area.
We felt the modest d������cor felt right for this haunt but we wouldn’t be opposed to some additional scare actors, d������cor, or entertainment for customers.
Special Effects: 7.32
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 7.25Explanation:
The sound was minimal but they went for respectable realism. Some additional sounds would be welcomed. All those Jasen masks and no “ki, ki, ki , ma, ma,ma”
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 7Explanation:
Some interesting sets throughout that are fitting with a woods area, the carnival may be a stretch but hey why not.
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 7Explanation:
For little wood shack, they had some good details, but a little more wouldn’t be a bad thing.
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 8
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 7.13Explanation:No big animatronics to produce scares but more realistic scenes, which were effective to an extent.
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The Shadows does not rely heavily on elaborate sets or special effects but rather on the seclusion of the woods. As we made our way through the woods most of the sound is provided by the crickets, wind, and rustling of the trees, which provides an added effect. A few areas did have some additional sound; there was some thunder and lightning effects, as well as some music in a few other scenes, most noticeably the clown section.
Lighting was used throughout the trail to help provide enough light to see our way around and to provide a better atmosphere for its scenes, utilizing red, blue, and green tones. They also had a nice effect with a tunnel of fog, as you entered different sections the fog would appear to have changed colors. Strobe lights were also around to enhance scenes.
Props were used throughout the woods to help keep customers on their toes as they went from scene to scene. Jason masks were placed throughout the woods to give the illusion of people hiding. Besides the hockey masks, we saw skeletons, a guillotine, bloody body parts, a giant spider coming down from a tree, a smoking freezer, and some glowing tombstones. We liked the ghost bride that glowed a ghostly blue color and appeared to be transparent.
The sets were scattered throughout the trail and usually had a small scene with a scare or two, one shack had a ghost projection, another had pallet walls with a labyrinth feel, another felt like a church that was taken over by a cult, and then there was also a carnival theme area with color lights and a black light section.
We felt the props and sets mixed with the eeriness of the dark woods provided a convincing feel.
Theme: N/A
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?:
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?:
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?:
This score is left “N/A” when we believe the haunt is trying to target a random variety of themes or phobias, rather than a single overarching “Theme” or “storyline.”
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The main theme is a haunted woods trail but that could be all-encompassing as literally, anything could lurk inside a haunted woods. Therefore we will omit this section.
It is a trail in the woods so the location fits well, you know because it’s in the woods. With the smaller groups, it had a Blair Witch feel to it that we enjoyed.
Scare Factor: 7.28
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 7.25Explanation:
A good amount of scares though out but most feel on basic jump scares. Some additional stalkers, followers, and people in the woods, not just the scenes would have added more of an impact.
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 8
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 7.3Explanation:
We realized most of the scares were in the scene areas so we were not totally surprised.
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 7.13Explanation:
Mainly boo scares.
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 7Explanation:
The normal chainsaw at the end routine is back, we have seen this at most haunts this season, at least there was a finale.
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The Shadows was able to provide some scares for us during our visit, mainly through its actors. Most of the scares came from jump scares as the actors were great at popping out at unsuspecting times. The Shadows also keeps groups small so everyone gets the full effect of being alone in the woods. We would have liked a little more variety with the frights just to keep things fresh, but we did enjoy some of the interactions with those who live in the woods. The classic haunt finale that everyone has been using was on display this evening, I guess if it’s not broke don’t fix it.
Entertainment & Value: 7.13
How Did We Get This Score?
Entertainment & Value Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment received during the main attraction/s?: 7.5Explanation:
It was a fun time for sure.
(25% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment that’s available with* the ticket price, excluding the main attraction/s?: 6.75Explanation:
not much going on outside, one line actor was intimidating guests.
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 7Explanation:
The ticket price is lower at $15, the haunt was 15 minutes which is 1 MPD, below the average of 1.38, with lower visuals that seemed a bit higher than other haunts.
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 7.25Explanation:A half-mile was good they have a lot more area to explore but I do not think they could get enough staff and decor to make it efficient.
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The Shadows is open in October on Fridays and Saturdays from 7-11. Admission is $15 and it took us about 15 minutes to walk through. That places the minutes per dollar at 1, which is a little below the average of 1.3 MPD that our team has been seeing most often. There was no additional entertainment this evening either.
The Shadows provides a realistic haunted woods experience with interesting scenes and solid scares that will have you questioning what lurks in The Shadows.
How Did We Get These Scores
Our Rating System
Each of the category scores in this review are calculated using a weighted average of several questions that we rate on a scale of 1 to 10.
The following breakdown explains what these scores typically mean. All of our Teams use this as a reference for providing accurate ratings:
10: “Peak Performance”This score is treated as if it has a chastity belt on it. “10’s” are reserved for the best of the best; those that we feel could not possibly improve on what they’re doing.
9: “Innovative and Groundbreaking”It rocked! Nearly everything seemed to go as planned and it was one of the best we’ve ever seen! These guys are leaders in the industry, and attractions like this are truly hard to come by.
8: “Solid”A high score on our scale. They had a good handle on it and, overall, they knew how to use it well. Most attractions can learn from what these guys are doing.
6 to 7: “Good”We could tell that a good effort was made. However, we’ve seen this done much better at other places, or can detect areas where significant improvements can be made. This is about the top end of what we’d call “Family Friendly.”
5: “Average / Fair”Compared to the competition, they weren’t the best, but definitely not the worst. Scares and Special Effects in this range are usually considered “Family Friendly.”
3 to 4: “Below Average”We could see that a clear attempt was made, but most other professional attractions are doing a much better job at this.
1 to 2: “Poor”It appeared that very little time, thought or effort was contributed to this aspect.
0 (Zero): “Non-Existent”No apparent effort was made to make this a significant contributor to the attraction.
Afterword:This rating system is standardized across all of The Scare Factor’s official haunt review teams. However, keep in mind there will always be minor differences between Teams, as we all have varying levels of experience. Regardless, we do our best to remain true to our core values, which is to promote all haunted attractions!Perhaps the biggest thing to remember is: sometimes the score – in and of itself – doesn’t tell the whole story about an attraction’s merits. This is why we provide detailed explanations for each category… to help you better understand how and why we chose the score/s that we did.We do our best to not let feelings or emotions rule our judgement, while also viewing the attraction through the lens of the typical haunt-goer. But, because all reviews with ratings are inherently subjective, this is nearly impossible to completely prevent. Though, when in doubt, we tend to give slightly lower scores than our original “gut feelings” to account for this, and also give the attraction more room to improve over time.We also do our best to be fair and consistent across all of the haunts that we review. We know that you’ll be looking at these scores and comparing them to other attractions, so we hope this review helps you out in that aspect.Do you have some feedback about our review system? Contact Us Here to let us know what you think!
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