Ripped Reviews
This review is based on
13: Your Number's Up
Since this is a house, and a nicely organized and listed room house, I will be going room to room giving a full review. Also note, I will be giving away some scare methods used in the house and spoilers for those who have not gone through or have not paid as much attention as I have. Enjoy!
Room 1 - Fear of Funeral Homes
I really don't see what is scary about funeral homes. Funeral homes are definitely not a common fear that you think of when someone asks you what you think are the most common fears. However, I do like that it is a great entrance room. You don't get caught completely off guard right away. Which is nice to take in the general atmosphere of the house before just getting blasted with scares. Also please note, when I say scares I refer to the act of startling or catching off guard. I do not believe anyone is actually scared, just not expecting something as far as the terminology goes. The only scares in this first room is a lady with a hat that blends in with the flower arrangements and I noticed a two in one scare method, in the archway, there is a drop door and the coffin door opens up as well.
Room 2 - Fear of Enclosed Spaces
This room is always one of my top favorites. It really gives you a sense of the fear. For many people, this plays off of not just enclosed spaces but darkness as well. This is definitely a two fears in one room. I only wish it were slightly more powerful. I realize they can be inflated to be tighter to squeeze through, and they are almost on point. Otherwise, I have to say I rate this room to be one of the absolute best.
Room 3 - Fear of Doctors
I really think this room as potential but it is missing some key elements. I like the white plastic with "blood" drippings, however a person in a gurney is not necessarily an appropriate display of fear of doctors. They should have an actual doctor with something like a needle, or needles. This can be effective as needles are some of the most feared props a doctor could possibly ever use. Or perhaps a rotary saw, like the ones they use to cut through bones. Like I said this room lacks the doctor factor.
Now we take a short intermission in the waiting room. This room is not listed as a fear. It really is just a buffer point. Something to take up space. I will say that after a few comments had been made regarding this room on the forums, I do see how this room could provide a build up of anticipation. However, that would require to be in the room for longer than five seconds. As of right now, I dance through this room as it really does nothing but fill empty space with a non-listed theme.
Room 4 - Fear of Dentists
This room is ideal and room three can learn a few tricks from this one. You have the actual dentist with an actual drill. Yes you have the patient in the background as a diversion; however, you still rely on the dentist to ultimately deliver the scare. I also prefer him using the power drill over a small tooth drill because it really deliver the extra umph needed for the scare. In previous years, they just had the dentist behind the patient, which is okay but there was no real scare. This year the dentist has a hiding spot to jump out from which is amazing for a scare.
Now you take another short intermission and travel through a empty hallway. I know they could have easily fit in a good room right here. It is just a matter of getting it set up.
Room 5 - Fear of Clowns
This room is definitely amazing for those who have a phobia of clowns. It is literally filled with clowns faces everywhere staring at you. The few items hanging in this room are full body clowns, which actually look like they died from hanging themselves instead of just being hung up. There are two great spots where actors can pop out at you, and provide great scare tactics. However, in a room like this with one of the most common fears, you don't need to rely on scaring, but more just being there. Having clowns right there with air horns walking back and forth through the hallway would be ideal.
Room 6 - Fear of Going to Bed
This room is very well done. Honestly, this room needs to rely on the element of surprise and scare in order to be good. Otherwise, it is hard to pull off going to bed because your guest who is supposed to be scared is not going to bed but rather walking through. I think the wardrobe/closet drop door scare is great and catches a lot of people off guard.
Now we take a much longer intermission. This is what upsets me the most about this house. You walk through a dim hallway with clothes hanging down and a few actors in the dark, then you walk through two or three brightly lit all black rooms with a creepy girls voice wanting to play hide and seek. I hate this because there is no theme. There is nothing. There are some actors that are able to pull off some good scares, but there is literally nothing. They could have totally turned out all the lights and easily could of had a much longer room of darkness. They could have also expanded on another room, but they didn't. They left empty rooms.
Room 7 - Fear of Heights
This room pulls off an at first amazing effect. It really is amazing; however, they need to tweak a few problems. Like people walking on the mirrors. It ruins the illusion and I am sure ruins the mirrors making the effect look very worn out. If they had like pristine clean and clear mirrors, the effect would be perfect. I really think they need to do something about seeing hands in the mirrors because that right there ruins the illusion and lets you know that hey this is a mirror. Definitely a great idea, and can really get to people with the actual fear; however small improvements can be made.
Room 8 - Fear of Dead Things
This is a good room. Plenty of dead things to really get to the people who have that phobia. It does lack in a few things like scares. There is a table with chains which does great for scares, and one other person in there as well they is in the corner but does a good job at getting scares. There is not much I can say that would make this room better or worse. It is right on par with what displaying the fear and scaring people at the same time should be.
Room 9 - Fear of Snakes
If there was one room that failed to properly display the fear this room would be it. It is nothing but cameo and some rubber lines that drag on you. Otherwise, there are no snakes hanging, no snakes on walls. Just nothing. The only scare in this room is a drop door which doesn't seem to be effective. It stands out way too much. They needed much more theming for this room
Room 10 - Fear of Insects
This was more of a two in one room, but it was done poorly. The insect portion was only playing on those with the phobia. Even then it was difficult to really know the room because of the heads on a rope which made no sense. There was a wondering actor who gets a few people now and then. They also tried to blend in spider into this room but they ended up making these two themes very different. You have two victims, with one actually getting scares. Keep in mind, a guy in a white tee with spiders all over him saying spiders over and over is not scaring, it just plays on the phobia and even then I don't think it works out well.
Room 11 - Fear of Darkness
This room is way too short and disappointing. It features five feet of total darkness with one real good scare, otherwise you are in bright light and see a scare actor coming at you. Totally disappointing and non effective use of the fear.
Room 12 - Fear of Thunder and Lighting
This room has lost all sense, You can't turn a strobe on and call it lighting. They are missing the thunder, no loud booming noises to startle those that don't have the phobia, and causes headaches because the flashing lighting is too constant. Something needs to be done. All the thunder, tone down the flashing and its all good.
Room 13 - Fear of Mirrors
This room is misleading. All it does is play on people who have a fear of superstitions and hate walking under ladders. They need to incorporate more broken mirrors all over the walls and take out the ladders if they want it to be truly mirrors. I will say there is one drop door at the end with a loud audio track which can catch you if you don't expect it.
All in all, this house has the potential, but mostly plays on the phobias and doesn't really provides scares per say. I think it really just needs a few tweaks and it can be great and play on phobias and do scares. However, in its current state, I am going to have to say this is the weakest house right now.
Due to a computer error my Readers Request section has been lost forever in cyberspace. That is my topic was why JLo belongs at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I will re-write my explanation at a later date. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
