By Hayley Miller
Halloween enthusiasts may be lured to the freaks and frights at the Spooky World haunted house.
Located at the Bayside Expo Center, Spooky World has potential to house one of the most horrifyingly spectacular Halloween-themed events in the area, but it does not fulfill its potential.
“There’s too much open space,” said freshman architecture major Andrew Ingalls. “It should either have a lot of fog machines or be outside.”
Walking in, you experience a sudden realization that your journey for a fun, new weekend adventure is a lost cause. The decorations are too childish and the place is too bare. There is an overwhelming amount of surplus room and an underwhelming amount of attractions.
The Spooky World website seems to have had more time and effort put into it than the actual event. It advertises attractions like the Zombie Dance Revue and Alien Escape in 3D. Although seemingly promising from the description provided by the website, these attractions are weak to say the least.
The Zombie Dance Revue is nothing more than a lone DJ pumping out Halloween-themed techno music for a few awkward teenagers and the Alien Escape in 3D, although promising with its 3D goggles, lasts no longer than 30 seconds.
The Vortex may be the best attraction at the event. It doesn’t involve staff members and instead allows visitors an unlimited amount of time in a disorienting rotating cylinder filled with flashing lights and trippy colors.
There is some light at the end of Spooky World’s tunnel, however. Its main purpose, to provide a both fun and scary event for children and adults alike, is achieved in some attractions. A few of the spooky mazes like Dracula’s Dungeon and the Catacombs are actually scary. The costumes and make-up are superb and some of the props are impressive.
These attractions will elicit a few shrieks and screams from excitable crowds, but relaxed audiences may not even notice the staff jumping out from the dark corners of the maze.
Many visitors did not think Spooky World was worth its price tag.
“There were definitely some scary parts, but looking back I’d rather have spent my 20 bucks elsewhere,” said freshman undecided major Neil Fitzgerald.
Former pro-wrestler Mankind will visit Spooky World Oct. 20, and Linda Blair of “The Exorcist” will stop by Oct. 12 to Oct. 14.
Spooky World is open every weekend night of October beginning Oct. 5 through Oct. 28. Tickets for Sunday night are $18.50 with a college ID and all other nights are $35. Take the Red Line to the JFK/UMass stop.
