[Haunt Review] Bloodview - Swallowing Souls and Using Your Bones for Toothpicks

Originally this was going to be our second stop while out in Ohio, but somehow became our fourth. Don't ask questions...these things just happen that way. Anyway, this haunt is something that neither of saw coming. I had a bit of an idea and was hopeful, but the reality of what we saw was completely insane. There was no way that we could've seen this one coming, not by a long shot.

Bloodview is simply a work of art and the artists are known as the Legion of Terror. Their canvas is your soul and their paint is made up of the stuff  lurking in the shadows that keeps you awake at night.

They've been doing improvisational haunted attractions and promoting excellence in the haunt industry for the past 34 years, 28 at Bloodview itself, and it really shows. This motley group, made up of volunteers, hones their craft all year long and what comes out of that is the stuff that nightmares are made of. Every inch of the place oozes with the passion and insanity that they conjure up from the darkness...this one is truly special.

Another thing to realize is that this a charity driven haunt that has raised over $2mil for various charities over the years as well. However, don't let that fool you for one minute. They'll completely spin you on your head and you'll never see them coming to do it either. That said, this one may not be for the kiddies...once you enter their world, you're part of it and anything goes.

To be honest, I could just write, "Just go" and be done with this one, but that's too easy. That said, this is one of the very few haunts that Carrie and I looked at each other and went "This is the kind of haunt we could work at, and can we move in?" Yes, it's that good people.

• Date Visited: 10/26/13
• Review Team: +Carrie H.C. and +Kitsune Hazard 
• Rating: Excellent
• Recommendation: Just go. No excuses, just do it!
• Likes: Everything
• Dislikes: Yeah, there aren't any. Seriously, not a damn thing. Though they probably will anyways...they never rest.
  
• Pro-Tip: For $20 you can get an unlimited wrist band for the night. All the fear ya want plus a hotdog, bag of chips and a drink. How 'bout them apples?
• WARNING: They can and will touch you, just expect and accept that before you go.

Disclaimer: We were invited out by the Legion of Terror to check out this year's Bloodview event along with a follow up trip the next day for pictures and the 2cent tour of the place. However, this in no way has influenced our opinions or views of this attraction. It never would, but I'll keep saying it until someone actually believes me! 

Let's get down to it then, shall we?

We arrived on a cold and rainy Saturday night and a small sign pointed the way down a now dark industrial complex. Drawing nearer, we spotted the entrance to the parking lot at the unassuming Lions Club building at the end. It was packed and the screams could be heard long before we even came to a stop.

There was good reason for that too. You see, before you even pass under the archway to this twisted nightmareland you're already fair game. Out of nowhere, three demented creatures were all over the car and even trying to get inside of it.

We were already having a great time and hadn't even turned the car off yet! This is how ya do it folks...seriously. Not only that but it was "Demon Weekend" and that meant fire, lots and lots of fire! Fire poi, fire breathing and all manner of other things happening during random shows next to the line. Can't go wrong with that at all in my book.

Toss in the delightfully monstrous creations wandering the line to keep everyone entertained, or scared out of their minds, and things were already looking up. For once, we didn't mind waiting at all. Fire and chaos mixed with the sounds of screams in the night, what more can ya want?

They were everywhere and nowhere you expected and reveled in the chaos that they were causing. Not one was afraid to mess with the rest of the foolish mortals who were waiting in the line either. These demons don't have a long leash though, they don't have any leash. They chewed it up and spat it back out...

The dial was already set to overload and we hadn't even entered the start of the attraction yet...how's that for ya? It's pretty rare that we're this entertained, amused and impressed before even getting into a place anymore. Many have forgotten the art of the line scare and it's awesome to see at least one place going all out with it still.

Now then, once you've made it through the insanity that is the parking lot and the line, the first area you must brave is the Gore House. You won't be going through here with tons of people though, oh no. Just the group you're with, and in our case that meant just the two of us were set into this shrine to gore and torture. It might not be overly populated in here, but what we did run into was nothing short of great and really set the tone for the rest of things with their nearly joyous thirst for carnage. Oh, before I forget, have to give a huge shout out to @SAIKOTIC, we loved ya!

After surviving that first part of the haunt proper, we found ourselves outside again and it was time for a little leisurely stroll through the Bloodview Badlands.

We made our way through the wooded and junk cluttered area and visited such lovely vacation spots like Baby Doll Island (the newest addition to the area), wandering through cemeteries, mausoleums, voodoo ritual grounds and all manner of other insanity. The entire time we were constantly dealing with the insane creations that had been let loose on the grounds. Every single one trying to outdo the last.

If they couldn't scare us (it's hard to do folks), they were making us laugh and playing with us. Somewhere along our journey through this insanity, we realized that we had stumbled upon something special with this place. There's just no questioning that, even at this early stage. Everything was dead on and there's no escaping the maniacal mayhem that they bring to the table. Just when you think you're done, they hit you with some new and demented vision around the next corner.

Once you've made it through that bit of chaos (if you've made it that is), you find yourself back in the paddock and once more at the mercy of whatever's lurking in it. Why? You're only halfway through this twisted nightmare and they've got no signs of slowing down either.

From here we entered into main house and were quick to notice that there is no constant theme. Inside these walls is a twisting hell that is not only claustrophobic in nature, but it will make you lose your senses. Even your mind if you're not careful. There's no way to figure out which direction you're going or how long you've been inside, as we found out making our way through.

The halls are tight, at times even I couldn't fit through them without turning sideways, and the whole place gives off a feeling of oppression and dread. There's no rhyme or reason to any of it, just pure chaos and terror around every corner. Just the way it should be.

As we made our way through, we encountered everything from crazed mental patients, Satan himself (who knew he was Jewish?), demented hillbillies, zombies, cannibals, and that's just the start. I won't tell you too much more since it's the surprise of it all that makes it but make no mistake, they are in complete control and you'll just have to come to grips with that. This is their world and no two walkthroughs will ever be the same as you never know what diabolical creatures are waiting for you or what they'll do or say next. Hell, sometimes you might even be re-routed back through the house if you're not careful. This really is a psychotic fun house built on a foundation of fear and terror and filled with the twisted visions of it's creators and actors, it's a glorious thing to behold.

I honestly can't find enough ways to describe this one. It's so completely mental on every level imaginable that I'm afraid that I haven't really done it justice. Flat out, you need to experience this place. There's just no way around it.

What the Legion of Terror puts together, and fosters through events all year round for it's members, comes shining through in the months of September and October. There's no arguing it at this point, it's simply the best and most explosive experience that I've had in years, let alone this season.

Overall, this place is an intense and in your face style haunt that's full of interactive, improvisational scares and it's all ever changing. You'll never see or experience quite the same thing twice, it's just part of their DNA not to do that. All of the actors are here for the "show", it's not a job, this is a way of life for this motley crew of volunteers. They have a love for everything horror and will stop at nothing until they've gone as far as they can or even further as the case may be at times.

The actors are set loose to play with things, invent characters and add their own part to the show. Each is encouraged to be creative and make something new and interesting as the mood strikes them. Everything you'll see is one of a kind, from costuming and make up to the sets themselves, nothing is off the shelf in the place and that's how they like it.

This is the main reason that nothing is ever the same, they're always pushing the boundaries of not only their own skills but what the public can handle as well. The fact that this is promoted and embraced fully from the top down is all the more impressive in this day and age.

In the end, Bloodview is hands down one of the very best haunts I've ever been to over 20 years. It's this unique blend of everything they have going which has earned the elusive and rarely given out rating of "Excellent", it all just falls into place and works. I loved it so much that their offer to work the following night (even the night we were there) was extremely tempting. Sadly, other engagements limited us to a late afternoon visit the next day. Next year though...oh yeah, definitely making plans to join in the madness for a bit of fun and carnage one weekend. In fact, I'm already thinking up my own twisted ideas to add the chaos...

You've still got a bit of time left to witness the insanity for yourself too! They're open for a couple more days in 2013 (Halloween night and Nov 1st). So, for directions, dates, hours, ticket prices and other info, head on over to the official Bloodview website!

Happy scaring out there and as always, keep it here or follow along with us on Twitter @KitsuneHazard and on Google+ for all the latest updates, news and more from haunts all over the US!