Final Scores – By Category:

Cast (20% of Final Score): 7.1

Costuming (10% of Final Score): 9.03

Customer Service (10% of Final Score): 9

Immersion (10% of Final Score): 8.38

Special Effects (15% of Final Score): 8.6

Scare Factor (20% of Final Score): 8.1

Entertainment & Value (15% of Final Score): 9.13

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Final Scores – By Attraction:

Attraction 1: 8.34

Hidden away in the farmlands of Powhatan, Virginia, about 40 minutes west of Richmond, lies a haunt unlike any other we’ve encountered this season: Total Terror. Now in its 12th year of operation, this destination weaves folklore and horror together, making it feel as though the grounds themselves are alive. This year, they’ve added a huge 2-acre corn maze and a fun midway, bringing even more excitement to the haunt. The main haunt spans 6,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor scares and immersive scenes. Step into ‘Feldgeister,’ inspired by the German legends of field spirits who roam the crops, where you may encounter the mysterious Corn Mother and the twisted Bilwis. Then, get ready for ‘Mouth of Madness,’ a folk horror adventure where you join a search for a missing mining team. Guided by their foreman, you’ll venture through a small town where strange whispers have driven the locals mad, leading to a monstrous cult worshiping an entity known as The Maw.

With a cast of 25 trained actors, Total Terror brought its haunted house to life. From the KornVater’s eerie silence and blank stare to the Oat Man’s welcoming presence in his cemetery, the characters were diverse, captivating and original. The Corn Mother’s startling screeches and underworld whispers added to the tension, as did the characters warning of impending doom. On the midway, the clowns Tiny and Dr. N-Sane provided a lively atmosphere, while the construction worker in the Mouth of Madness effectively set the stage for the terrifying mine. Within the depths of the mine, we encountered a cast of disturbing characters, from cult members to victims. Two characters to note are the DigCorp miners who pushed the boundaries of creepiness and insanity.

The cast inside of the haunts at Total Terror had some solid energy and definitely brought the haunt to life, even though there wasn’t much banter between us and the characters. They interacted with us here and there, but it sometimes felt like we’d caught them a bit off guard. It did create a bit of an unpredictable vibe, but there’s definitely room for the cast to amp up that interaction. A little more back-and-forth could really pull guests deeper into the experience and add an extra layer to the scares.

The costumes and masks at this haunt are seriously impressive and really set it apart from the usual spots. With a talented team of makeup artists led by Campbell Getch, they have some crazy unique talent here that you won’t see at other haunts. They even make their own masks and props using this cool technique called barth mâché. It’s basically soaking paper in adhesive, and it dries fast, so they can create some really creepy designs you won’t find anywhere else.

These handmade masks have a gritty vibe that totally gives off that Troma look, which amps up the horror. While the haunt is filled with terrifying characters, the clowns in the midway have their own unique twist. They rock custom masks created by Tiny the Clown, and trust me, they’re not your typical clown masks, they’re super detailed and demented-looking!

Everything about the costumes and masks matches their scenes perfectly. Honestly, from the pictures I saw beforehand, this was the haunt I was most excited to check out this season because of their unique style.

The team at this haunt clearly takes safety seriously, and it shows. Their head of security is a federal officer with extensive training in law enforcement, EMT, and firefighting, which adds a reassuring layer of preparedness. He even coordinates with local fire and rescue squads, and they’ve got a detailed emergency plan with radio communication throughout the haunt. There was a firetruck on the premises the night that we visited. The staff here is genuinely friendly and helpful, and finding important info on their website and social media is a breeze.

On the flip side, parking was a bit tricky. The area was very dark, and there weren’t any attendants directing cars, just a small sign showing where the entrance was. A little more guidance and lighting in the parking area would be a big help. However, once inside, you’re in good hands with a well-prepared and welcoming team.

The Midway offered some lively entertainment with a game where you throw a toilet plunger at a zombie, a merchandise booth, a vendor featuring some cool 3D-printed pieces, original movie scenes playing on a projector screen, and let’s not forget about Tiny and Dr. N-Sane, the resident clowns at Total Terror. Those two are either trying to startle you or tell you a joke.

When we walked into the corn maze, a natural eeriness quickly crept in. Obviously, it’s dark, but there’s a mist settling over the farm. After we were about 10 yards in, you could hear something rustling in the corn, but you couldn’t see whatever it was, creating the feeling that you should be constantly looking over your shoulder. We stumbled upon our first ghoul, hidden on the side of the path, growling something about us being “fresh meat.” My immediate thought was that these monsters were planning to include us in their chili cookoff. We managed to get away and kept walking through the maze, where we met The Oat Man, who had built a fantastic cemetery that he hangs out in at night.

When you visit Total Terror, you’re bound to see some wild things. For instance, you can’t see what’s going on below knee level very well, so Dog Boy might rush past you on all fours. There are massive scarecrows and bodies on stakes that look like fresh kills and an authentic cauldron with a surprise character you may or may not escape from. The maze wraps up when you encounter The KornVater. This dude is large and in charge, the meanest of the mean, and eerily quiet until he decides to take off your legs with his chainsaw. This is the first year for the maze portion of Total Terror, and they’ve built a fantastic foundation. I suspect that some of the dead areas we walked through will be filled with more scenes and ghouls by next season.

After the maze, you enter the main course, I mean, the “Mouth of Madness” mines. It seems there was an accident in the mines, leaving lots of folks dead down there. It’s our job to make it through without becoming eternal residents ourselves. The lost souls in the mines hear voices in their heads, driving them to some dark places. The characters here are not shy and love to scare you and creep you out. Some get really close to you, trying to tell their story and coerce you into staying. Others will sniff your hair repeatedly while their friends bang their heads against the walls, hoping the voices will stop.

There’s so much to experience in the midway, the maze, and the mines. Since we made it out alive, all we can say is that we truly felt like we were in another world.

Special FX at Total Terror is all about home cooking. Chip has been working with homemade Special FX for a long time, and his skills are quite impressive. His build crew consists of himself and his family. They use a papier-mâché technique that is also used on Mardi Gras floats. Traditional papier-mâché often creates heavier props or masks, but this particular technique, Barth Mache, is lightweight and looks incredible. The actors wear some wicked masks that must be seen in person. The props you’ll see at Total Terror are made with a lot of imagination and skill. Some of them probably top out at 7-8 feet tall along the corn maze. They are beyond creepy. In the Mouth of Madness, you’ll see lots of human remains and gore, along with a very grotesque scene in a bathroom. The property for the Finale is one of the best we’ve seen this year. It felt like something from an Indiana Jones movie. We hope you can escape it, and we’re definitely glad we did, so we could bring you this review.

While Total Terror employs a variety of classic horror elements, such as eerie sounds, fog, and sudden jump scares, the overall experience may vary depending on individual scare tolerance. The KornVater, a menacing figure armed with a chainsaw, and the intense performances of the DigCorp miners, who invade personal space and engage in disturbing behavior, are sure to unsettle some visitors. Additionally, the heart-wrenching cries of victims seeking escape contribute to the unsettling atmosphere. The creepiness of the masks and the overall atmosphere, coupled with a great finale, made for a very entertaining evening and one that we look forward to returning to.

When it comes to entertainment and value, this haunt delivers in spades. General admission is priced at $24.99 (plus a small fee), while the VIP Fast Pass is available for $39.99. Both options feel fair for the experience you get.

The midway adds a whole extra layer of fun, featuring videos playing on a projector, engaging midway actors, games, music, and a couple of vendor booths where you can snag some cool merchandise. There’s also a food truck to satisfy those cravings while you soak in the atmosphere.

We spent about 30 minutes navigating the corn maze and going through the haunt, which brings the Minutes Per Dollar (MPD) to around 1.2. That’s a solid value for the entertainment offered! We had a blast and left feeling like we got our money’s worth. I’m excited to see how this haunt continues to grow and evolve in the future!