Wow, where to even begin with this one? I'm not entirely sure to be honest, but since our visit last year, a good bit has changed. Not only did they replace Night Watch and The Experiment in 3D, but they've really upped the game as far as the "Opt In" interactivity goes. With this being Terror Behind the Walls's 25th year, they've certainly upped the ante on this year's show.
With the "Opt In" option, you'll be touched and even separated from your group randomly throughout your journey. Those that do choose this will have to endure all manner of oddness, some of which is physically challenging, and you'll never know when or where it's going to appear. If you want the full experience, this is the way to go for sure.
This was a first night of operation visit this year, but that didn't seem to matter one lick in most areas. Most of the actors were already in high gear and absolutely killing it within the walls of the 180+ year old prison complex. Let's be honest, there's not too much creepier than that, even when not filled with tons of monsters and other madness.
Quick Look
- Date Visited: 9/18/15
- Review Team: +Kitsune Hazard, +Carrie H.C., +Filip Muncan
- Rating: Extremely Good
- Recommendation: You need go to this one, put it on your bucket list and get there!
- Likes: Interactivity and new elements for those that "opt in" are awesome this year. The cast and crew do an amazing job of turning a 180+ year old prison into a demented nightmare in ways that are just mind boggling.
- Dislikes: A little thin on actors in some places, some seemed to be a little lack luster compared to last year in a few areas too. Quarantine feels too similar to The Experiment in a lot of ways, and Detritus is still a bit too short. Other than that? Maybe a little more to fill the dead spaces.
- Pro-Tip: Order online to save time, get a time slot and if your going late in the season? Definitely think about the front of the line pass! Or, go on a non-peak night during the week.
- Video Review: Quick Cut Review
Disclaimer: We were invited out to visit Terror Behind the Walls. As usual, this in no way influences our views or opinions. This visit was also during opening night, so take that as you will.
Now then, down to business!
We arrived at Eastern State Penitentiary a little after 10pm and there was already a massive line the went around the corner! However, don't let that dampen your spirits, there's plenty of scares going on long before you enter the gates.
It's here you're given the rundown of things, and information about the "opt in" choice that you'll have to make very soon. It ramps up the craziness to 11 without a doubt. What that means is that you can be touched, separated from your group, and who knows what else. After a surprising interruption from one of the guards, who's obviously seen better days, we're on our way out into the yard and towards making our choice; to opt in, or to not.
Of course, all three of us decided to go for it, just like last year.
Opting In for the full experience...
A short wait later, we stepped up onto the platform, got our ID devices along with our marks, and then we were set for our trip into the unknown.
If you don't want to, you don't have to either. That said, you can kind of test the waters a little with it too. Any point it becomes too much and you can't continue with the higher impact scaring, removing the glow necklace will make you off limits. You can do this at any time during our journey and it's really one of the best systems I've seen for this kind of thing. Just think of that wisely, as you can't go back once you've made that decision.
Marked, or not, you're lined up against the wall for a picture of your group, and you never know what will show up to join you!
Into the madness
Once we'd made it through all of that, taking a trip into the old prison bus and lined up at the intake point, it's onto Lock Down.
Not necessarily a long trip, but it doesn't need to be as the former cell block is crammed full, turning it into a nightmarish sensory overload.
It's an overwhelming experience to be thrust into, and if you're unlucky enough...you may be pulled aside for a little something extra, and make a new friend! No, I'm not going to spoil it but it was definitely a great way to start things off.
It's a kind of quiet unease, and while I think maybe a bit more could be going on with these areas, it's not a bad change of pace from the relentlessness of everything else before.. Just, don't let your guard down too much...
Next stop, the Machine Shop.
The cult that's taken over the place is hellbent on making everyone that comes through wet themselves, or worse.
Our group was split up three times through here, one of them familiar and the others not so much. After a couple of very close encounters with the inhabitants here (again, no spoilers), we managed to find each other in the strobe light filled hall that awaited us. In a bit of a daze, but laughing, we were still hounded by the cult members as they ushered us onward with instructions to spread the good word. I think I'll pass, but good luck to them!
Overgrown, cramped, and full of twists and turns, this is a gardener's worst nightmare come to life. Last year, Fil got chainsawed to death, but this year he managed to escape...jury's still out on if this us good or bad just yet.
It's a quick trip though, and then into a meat processing area that is a little confusing. At least I think that's what it was. They don't have a ton of room to work with for Detritus, but it seems like a little more can be done with the area to at least make it seem longer than it is. It was also one of the lowest populated areas creature wise during our visit, shame that.
Halfway through!
Next up on our whirlwind tour of the terrifying, The Infirmary.
This was yet another spot where I was pulled away from Fil and Carrie. What happened next, was completely unexpected.
I'm not going to give away anything, just in case you too are selected for the experience, but it was a very big WTF?! moment without a doubt.
Once I was released, it became apparent that I wasn't going to be rejoining Fil and Carrie anytime soon either, they were long gone. Reminds me of what happened last year in a few ways almost, but hey, that's the price you pay for opting in to experience everything!
This is one of the trouble spots though, it seemed as if a few actors weren't into the swing of things 100% yet, or were just tired. Both are possibilities, and again, it's only the first night so I have no doubt things will improve. Overall though, it seemed like everyone was having a blast and that moment I was pulled away? Damn, that was just killer.
Now that we're "cured", I wouldn't exactly trust this hospital staff to do such but we're still here at least, it's straight onto the first of the new additions for 2015, Quarantine 4D.
After getting our "safety glasses" (3D glasses), we found that we had to crawl our way into the schizophrenic nightmare world that awaited us. Evil clowns, warped illusions, and other horrors await you around every corner as you make your way, never knowing if you'll get diverted to another path or worse. Finally, before parting ways with your twisted acid trip, you'll have to survive Medusa and hopefully not be scared to pieces.
While I did have fun, I wasn't really jazzed about this one after going through. It seemed short and far too similar to previous attraction it replaces, The Experiment 3D. That was nearly identical, but also felt a bit longer for some reason. Yes, things have changed up, and there's new things in here that make it fun still, but it's an area that doesn't seem "new", since it follows it's predecessor so closely. I'm also rather confused on the 4D part of it, didn't really see anything that screamed that out to me.
The final stop, Break Out
Again, missed some of the interactions from last year, not really seeing much of any on our trip, but they could've picked other people too. Again, you never do know.
Break Out replaced the old Night Watch attraction, and I'm not sure if it's something that I think was an overall improvement. Fun and kind of crazy? Sure, but a few of the more interesting elements that they threw in for last year weren't there this year.
Also, things felt rushed without the break between attractions that was present last year too. That means no chance of the awesome interaction from the line guard before Night Watch that we witnessed last year, which is a bit sad. It's not bad, but was I expecting something...more? Yeah, I think so.
Once out, there's a courtyard where you can get your photo from way back at the beginning, grab a little something to eat, and also check out the gift shop for a ton of stuff from the event. The lemonade is pretty killer, so if ya got the change, try it! Speaking of the gift shop, was a little sad to see nothing with the 25th logo on it. Definitely would've picked something up if there was anything.
So, should go you?
A few of the issues that we experienced are, from what we feel, just opening night jitters and a few things that will inevitably be improved upon as the season goes on so we've been a little lenient on the scoring for this one. Though, if you were to ask me, "Is it as good last year?" I'd have to say almost. There's a few things holding it back and I'm just not sure those can be overcome when you boil it all down. In the end, it's still one of the most awesome and unreal haunted attraction experiences you can have out there.
However, towards the end, things felt a bit rushed and the retread of Quarantine was a bit underwhelming during our visit. It's because of that, we had to knock them down on the rating on scale. Even then, everything else really was up to another level and the improvements on the returning attractions were definitely worth a return trip. Overall, the team behind Terror Behind the Walls has done an awesome job with this year's show, and the event is worthy of their 25th Anniversary.
There's plenty of time to visit, and they'll be reopening on October 2nd, so head on over to the official Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary website to get tickets, directions and all that jazz!
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