Knott's Halloween Haunt is a living horror film?

[Athlonacon]

I previously had no interest in going to Knott's Scary Farm since I thought it was just some monsters jumping out at you and not having a lot of creativity, but the more I read the descriptions on MiceChat about it, the more it kept sounding like a horror film... and a GOOD horror film at that!

To me a horror film isn't some lame slasher film or a series of loud noises in a quiet dark room... to me a horror film is a slow, methodical and psychological experience that terrifies you so deeply that your capacity for rational thought disappears and you go into a state of 'survival mode'. If it takes a lot of blood and noise to do it that's fine, but those things should NEVER replace imagination, creativity or innovation in the genre. Some people are uncomfortable exploring the darker side of the mind and don't want to see blood and guts, but if it takes you to that place of sheer terror, I'm all for it. I honestly don't know why people getting torn apart and blood gushing everywhere is entertaining to me and everyone else, I guess it has to do with that "death instinct" Freud was always yapping about, but from a normal human being's perspective it doesn't make logical sense. Personally, I couldn't care less as long as it gets the adrenaline pumping.

Anyway, what I'm wondering is how much Knott's Scary Farm is like a well-done, imaginative horror film. Is it really some kind of fantasy world where you don't even realize you're at Knott's anymore? And what is the type of groups that attend this thing? Is it all rowdy teenagers or do people generally behave?

Even though I appreciate the goriest of horror films, I am a shy and introverted person and I usually hate giant, loud social gatherings like night clubs, parties and bar-hopping at night. I am just really reserved when it comes to being around people I don't know and I'm just wondering if this is the type of event for me. I think I like it because it seems to remind me of Disneyland Grad Nite in that the energy level was sky-high, it goes through the night, the atmosphere transforms the entire park's feeling, and it's a highly special event. I just don't know how much audience participation and interaction there is... I get nervous just being at a show that requires audience participation, I *hate* it. I always have, even as a little kid.

The imagination involved really has me interested, they seem to have some truly talented people behind the designs and themes. Horror by itself does absolutely nothing for me, but fantasy-based horror, the kind that the mind is completely defenseless against since it's not grounded in the comfort of familiarity of pure reality, that is the thing I'm after.

[elly]

Re: Knott's Halloween Haunt is a living horror film?

imho, Universal's HHN is more of a stepping into an already established horror franchise (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, My Bloody Valentine, Nightmare on Elm Street) and reliving scenes from those movies

Knott's Haunt is more of putting you into more original storylines, like Doll Factory and its Marionette Murderer who is turning people in living dolls, with a few grotesque mistakes along the way. From the photos knott's has posted showing the new mazes this year like Terror of London and Dia De Los Muertos: Day of the Dead, these look to have some of the most detailed sets and scenery that i've seen in the 12 years i've been attending Haunt

If you want to avoid "rowdy teenagers" dont' go on a Friday or Saturday night (unless you do in the first 2 weeks of the event). i would suggest either wednesday, thursday or sunday night...smaller and more well behaved crowds those night, of the 3 i think thursdays are the best as there are several monsters that take wednesday's off.

I think you should at least give it a try, never hurts to try something once...if you dont' like it, no one is going to force you to go back

just remember, Haunt is about the mazes/shows/street zones....dont' waste your night going on rides, they're there all year long.

and if you Twitter take a peek at my signature, my husband and i will be Tweeting our thoughts each of the 8 nights we're goign to Haunt this year

i hope you go, and i hope you have a fantastic time!

[tamasurvivor]

Re: Knott's Halloween Haunt is a living horror film?

Even though I appreciate the goriest of horror films, I am a shy and introverted person and I usually hate giant, loud social gatherings like night clubs, parties and bar-hopping at night. I am just really reserved when it comes to being around people I don't know and I'm just wondering if this is the type of event for me. I think I like it because it seems to remind me of Disneyland Grad Nite in that the energy level was sky-high, it goes through the night, the atmosphere transforms the entire park's feeling, and it's a highly special event. I just don't know how much audience participation and interaction there is... I get nervous just being at a show that requires audience participation, I *hate* it. I always have, even as a little kid.

Wow... just like me... I have to say that I went last year for my first time and had a blast! I am one of those people who is always never too comfortable in large social groups unless im warmed up and around everyone and comfortable with everything so for me its one of those things that my sister and I decided to go do and we had a great time.

I can say the mazes were very detailed and it wasnt like your typical Haunted House... there was music in certain parts, lots of interaction, and everything was scary... it was also fun to walk along the foggy streets of Ghost Town and while I knew I was in Knotts Berry Farm parts of Knotts just didnt feel like Knotts in the fact that the Fog in front of you through parts of ghost town along with he eerie music and lighting give it a different feel... although then you walk like a few steps out of the fog and see the coasters and realize you are still in Knotts Berry Farm... I tended to think of it as [Knotts Berry Farm Plus] because you had the theme park and then all these extra mazes and haunted attractions there along with people in each scare zone playing with your head and stuff!

And I recommend going with a few people because its always fun to see your friends reactions and likewise its fun for your friends to see and comment on your reactions.. not to mention in mazes or scare zones the monsters have a way of trying to break apart your group or separate you so they can terrorize you so thats always a fun thing and lots of awesome!

[Lane]

Re: Knott's Halloween Haunt is a living horror film?

Have to agree with Elly. If you want to feel like your in a horror movie but dont want to be "stalked" by monsters then HHN is the better choice.

At knotts the only maze that put you in the movie is Quarantine which is the only movie based maze at haunt. Unlike hhn, knotts has 13 mazes each with a different theme. Also, you encounter a variety of different scares thought the night whereas HHN has many of the same types of scares (chainsaw and water squirting).

The average age range is 14?-28ish. Friday and Saturday has many teens and the weekdays usually has many of the older crowd with a few teens thrown in. Also, Friday and Saturday nights are knotts "promotional nights" where power 106 or some other radio station is broadcasting from haunt or there's "scion" night where scion owners get in for free.