[Haunt Review] Castle Blood's 2014 Spooky Little Cryptmas - Have a Little Weird This Holiday

Well, here it is. The final haunt review of the 2014 season and once again it's the holiday show from Castle Blood, Spooky Little Cryptmas. This year marked the third year for this one, as in the past they couldn't do it because of being an outdoor haunt, and it just keeps getting better and better.

Typically done with a Saturday night show and a Sunday matinee, this one is different than their regular outing during Halloween season. The scares are gone and it's more of a visit to a wonderland of weird and bizarre interactivity. Just the way the holidays should be, right?

Our visit this year was of course with our usual Castle Blood review crew of +Carrie H.C., +Alexandra F and myself but we were joined by some of the folks from Hundred Acres Manor during our visit as well. That meant a full group of six weird and bizarre people...oh those poor denizens of the castle.

• Date Visited: 10/13/14
• Review Team: +Carrie H.C., +Alexandra F and +Kitsune Hazard 
• Rating: Extremely Good
• Recommendation: If you're looking for something different for the holidays, it's hard to top what they do here. You gotta see it to experience it.
• Likes:I don't even know where to start. So, here's a list; costuming, make up, set design, story, interactivity, the acting as a whole, and the overall concept. Yep, that's everything I think.
• Dislikes: Not many at all here, at least nothing worth noting.
  
• Pro-Tip: Take advantage of the "Nightmare Pass" options and definitely just relax and go with things. Don't be a moron! Have fun with the cast, you'll have a much better time and so will they!

Disclaimer: We were invited down for this event by the Castle Blood staff and we are extremely big fans of everything they do. However, that doesn't keep us from looking at things as objectively as possible, just like any other haunt we go to. That said, it has not and never will influence our opinions and we'll scratch every surface to see if there's any rust.

Now, let's get on with it!


Like any other trip to Castle Blood, you're given a little in line entertainment as you wait for the bells to signal that it's safe to enter. Our group this year was comprised of a motley crew of haunters and haunt reviewers. What could possibly go wrong?

Once inside, the traditional format is not lost and we're given a little history, along with the set up from Lady Die in the parlor. It's also here where we learn about the objects we'll be in search of our adventure. Before we could leave, and after adding 2 more reindeer to Santa's stable, +Alexandra F was named our leader and off we went. (She was rockin' that Rudolf nose though). Unlike previous years, we were not given the three talismans that we'd have to search out on our journey here, that was to come next.

Down the hall and into Gravely's office our little crew went and it's here that we ran into Frostbite, who gave us a little more information and told us that we had to pick a stocking, hung with care, over the fireplace. Like last year, the stockings were from castle residents that were unable to be with us this year and after our selection we had our items to go in search of. . For us, it was Hope, Holly and a Hat. Not too hard, right? Well...about that, but I'm getting sidetracked.

From here on out it was a merrily macabre affair and the denizens of the castle didn't disappoint throughout our journey. The castle was decked out to the nines in holiday decorations and the lights a little brighter than normal, but their take on things might not be what you expect. Christmas trees a glow in orange with a pumpkin on top? Elf on a shelf being eaten by a polar bear? And...that missle toe...a bit worrying. For the holidays Castle Blood has a little of everything; from sarcastic skulls on staffs, magic, mystery, and a bit of a twisted sense of humor awaited around every corner.

And that humor is one of the best things about the castle. Interacting and having fun with the cast is a huge part of things and it really adds a lot to the experience as a whole. At one point Ethan, from Hundred Acres Manor, got really excited over having "nothing", and the reaction from not only our group, but Belfry was hysterical to be part of. It's through all this interaction that you're truly immersed in the world of Castle Blood and that puts a step above any haunt experience, scares or not.You feel like you're part of things and that it's a living, breathing place. You just don't get that everywhere.

At some points we had to sing, answer trivia questions about the holiday (which we almost failed by the way) and ran into all manner of strange and weird encounters throughout the whole trip. Like our previous visit, and in line with their new Halloween show, there are no guides as you make your way through the winding corridors and interestingly themed rooms.  You're left to your own devices to get from scene to scene and it's really something that seems to work good for the location, not just from a logistical standpoint but overall it just feels right.

One of the things that I really love is that the attention to detail isn't lost at all. Every resident/cast member gets to decorate their room fully in character. What does that mean? Well, they get to throw their own spin on things and make the holiday "theirs". This just adds to the whole experience and just like everything else at Castle Blood, the devil is in the details. Sure, they might get it a bit wrong and some things might not be what you expect from holiday decorations, but what do you expect from a bunch of monsters?

That said, the traditional scare isn't anywhere to be seen, but that's not the kind of show this is for the holidays. It's a more light hearted affair and something the entire family can enjoy, assuming you're ready for the dose of strange that's coming your way, and it will be strange. I'm keeping this a bit shorter than usual, but that's because the show changes every year and you never know what to truly expect. Yes, the format is similar to their other events, but with an every changing cast of characters and monsters, it's always a fresh and new experience. 

Overall, if you're in the Pittsburgh area and looking for something different to celebrate the holidays, definitely check out Castle Blood for it's annual Spooky Little Cryptmas. I've said it a few times over the past year, but it really is like walking right onto the set of The Munsters or Addams Family holiday specials.

There were a few problems, but nothing really that big and a couple of times it was a little hard to hear or things started a little too fast for the whole group to hear them. These are minor in the grand scheme of things and being in a new building impacts that a little.

Really, what makes this so good is that it's not just a set and you're a part of things from start to finish. Not only is Castle Blood one of the most unique regular haunted attractions, it's holiday show is probably the most unique out there, period. There's a reason they're the best theatrical haunt after all.

That's not all for the winter for us though. Castle Blood is bringing their Valentine's Day show, Love and Death, back for 2015 and we'll be there to bring you all the details and our review of the event when we visit on February 13th and 14th. For more info on that, check out the official Castle Blood website!