Time to be scared by spooky characters at Los Angeles Haunted Hayride

Review and photos by Jenny Alvarez

In a special and warmest opening night of the 7^th Annual Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, visitors enjoyed since the beginning and one of the best mazes with a cart pulled by a tractor. The cart is open, so monsters will get very close and your back is facing the outside and many of them were walking around the hayride.

2. Trick Or Treat: Within a tent, you walk past a series of 8 doors (all of them full of scary surprises), two of which give you candy.

3. The House of Shadows: Another walk through where visitors are pulsed through a series of the best haunted house sets ever conceived, populated by a cast with great performances.

4. The In-Between: Black walls, strobe lights, and clowns. A maze in which you will be sent through a maze that wears out its welcome just as its getting started, leading to lots of different emotions, with the exception of any positive ones.

People feel really haunted. In general all the characters were well organized with good make up, costumes of the characters and talented actors who really can scare you, this means extra fun for the rest of the night with really cool experience you got scared entertained and had a great time with friends on whoever you want to be.

Scary creatures and spooky characters were at the Queen Mary's Dark Harbor 2015 on opening night

By Jenny Alvarez

Photos Alfonso De Elias

The crew of Dark Harbor, led by production designer and art director J.J. Wickham have been at the Queen Mary, Long Beach since 2011. In a special and warmest opening night of The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor horror mazes.  The scary Mary, were looking for playmates in the new Lullaby maze at Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor annual Halloween event. Legend has it that Mary has haunted the ship since her drowning in the pool room in 1952. Dark Harbor runs from Oct. 1 thru Nov. 1.

Onto the mazes people will enjoy 6 different mazes such: Voodoo Village, Soulmate, B340, Deadrise, Lullaby, and Circus and other shrieking attractions.  They are all very creative and long especially for the main mazes that people are able to go to so people are really spread out much. Although Lullaby and Soulmate can be a little too long and take up a lot of time inside but the action is much better. The three mazes on the ship were the best because of the extra ambiance and people feel really haunted. In general all the characters were well organized with good make up, costumes of the characters and talented actors who really can scare you, this means extra fun for the rest of the night.

Spooky, dark, twisted, interactive and funny for the 43rd annual Knott’s Scary Farm

By GTVW Staff

Photos By Alfonso De Elias

The legendary Knott’s Scary Farm will have the sets more amazing and interactive than ever during the 43rd annual Knott’s Scary Farm. During the event visitors will investigate a haunted hospital in the groundbreaking new maze, PARANORMAL, INC. Attempt to escape the icy grasp of the chilling Snow Queen in The Dead of Winter, and more.

With 11 haunted attractions and 1,000 monsters lurking in the fog, the groundbreaking new maze, PARANORMAL, INC.  Escape the icy grasp of the chilling Snow Queen in The Dead of Winter. Select nights September 24 – October 31.

Haunted Attractions, Scare Zones and Show Information

Three new terrifying attractions will debut this year, with more astounding special effects and richer back stories than ever, including:

PARANORMAL, INC. – Case #1 – The Haunting of Hayden Hill (New for 2015): Featuring high flying aerial stunts and scares, in the groundbreaking new maze, guests investigate a haunted hospital where the patients were tortured for decades by deranged doctors and nurses. Demonic spirits of the murdered victims have been detected throughout the mysterious halls, while evil medical staff hunt for new patients to torture.

My Bloody Clementine (New for 2015): There is no tale more vicious and vengeful than that of My Bloody Clementine. Take a grim ride through the Calico Mine where Clementine and her father were brutally murdered centuries ago.

The Dead of Winter (New for 2015): Escape the icy grasp of the chilling Snow Queen in the all new maze. Backed by with a ravenous beastly army of resurrected Viking warriors, she is hell bent on avenging her beloved family’s murder, and preys upon any unsuspecting visitors who enter the borders of her icy domain. Guests with a Skeleton Key will have the opportunity to unlock a bone chilling surprise.

Returning Favorites

Back by overwhelming demand, guests can enlist to fight the zombie apocalypse in an all-out war against the undead in the interactive experience, Special Ops: Infected – Patient Zero. In 2014, the ambitious new attraction was the first of its kind in North America and in 2015 continues to be the largest infestation of zombies nationwide. In 2015, the highly sought-after attraction will include more blood thirsty zombies, new missions, brand new high-tech laser guns, and more.

Special Ops: Infected – Patient Zero seamlessly integrates interactive gaming technology with an immersive mountainous landscape, delivering a breakthrough interactive haunted experience that is as terrifying as it is challenging.  Missions lead by brave Squad Leaders will take guests through a variety of wilderness terrains, including the unpredictable barrel bridges across the rushing river, through the dark caverns, and through mysterious backwoods. Groups must work together to fend off zombies and complete various missions before time runs out.  Six acres of the theme park is now home to mutinous, scream-inducing zombies, and the time has come for a harrowing Special Ops survival mission (limited spaces available).

Elvira, the legendary Mistress of the Dark, returns to Knott’s Scary Farm in a spectacular all new show, Elvira’s Asylum, featuring insane dance and comedy performances.

Black Magic: Houdini’s vengeful spirit continues to wreak havoc on the Faux Theater, where the veil between the living and the dead is severed. Houdini’s ghost comes alive and ushers a host of demonic illusions to play tricks on anyone who intrudes, only to finally meet Houdini in a show-stopping finale.

Forevermore: Follow the destruction of the “Forevermore Killer,” one haunting tale after another, as the slayer makes his way through one of the longest mazes ever created in Knott’s Scary Farm’s history.  With a Skeleton Key, guests can witness the work of the Forevermore Killer firsthand.

The Gunslinger’s Grave: A Blood Moon Rises: Deadly howls and a full blood moon mark your impending doom as werewolves overrun the crime stricken old west town. Walk in the bloody footsteps of a betrayed and left for dead gunslinger on his path of retribution against the Skinwalkers.

Pinocchio Unstrung: Years have passed since the blue fairy denied him his final wish, but Pinocchio has returned with an army of murderous marionettes intent on killing his former masters.

The Tooth Fairy: This twisted tooth fairy steals more than just baby teeth as he drags his victims out their bedroom window and into a world of deranged dentistry.  Unbelievable special effects include a blackout room through which guests must feel their way out, a disorienting x-ray strobe light room, and new this year, an all-new Skeleton Key room.

Trick-or-Treat: Take a brave step forward and ring the witch’s doorbell…trick or treat, which will it be?  After surviving her grisly welcome, wander into the Green Witch’s never before seen potion room and bewitched attic.

Voodoo – Order of the Serpent: The haunting legend of Papa Legba continues as guests follow him on his foreboding journey to conjure the serpent demon goddess in the outskirts of New Orleans. Trudge cautiously through the cursed swamps of the Deep South, where creatures search the murky bogs for their next bloody sacrifice and demons curse the innocent with Voodoo hexes.

The Hanging®: A live stage show in Calico Square irreverently looks back at the year’s pop culture with killer comedy.  Notorious for its special effects, pyrotechnics and high-flying stunts, The Hanging is a no-holds-barred assault on pop culture’s most infamous moments of the past year.

160 Acres of Scare Zones

Knott’s Scary Farm is far more than a collection of haunted attractions.  Every night monsters spill out onto the streets and turn theme park midways into murderous scare zones.  From the world famous Ghost Town Streets to the Boardwalk area filled with evil clowns, there’s nowhere to hide in Knott’s Scary Farm.

Ghost Town Streets is the original and largest, most terrifying scare zone that started it all.   Bands of half-human, half-animal monsters prowl the streets and inhabit the fog, and beware the notoriously startling sliders, who lunge from in every fog-filled corner of the land.  Fiesta De Los Muertos fuses dance music, colorful costumes, and larger than life stilt walkers in a dance party scare zone.  It’s the ultimate late night celebration of Dia de los Muertos.  On the Boardwalk clowns crave your undying attention in the CarnEVIL scare zone.

October is one of the favorite months of crowd, and this year at Knott’s Scary Farm will have one of the best Halloween events.

You will have the scariest night ever at Knott’s Scary Farm

http://youtu.be/JiGIr7GbIXk

By Jenny Álvarez

Photos and video Alfonso De Elías

For all my readers I’m not a big fan of horror and haunted attractions, but I have to say, that with the exception of only one other haunt, I would say that Knott’s was my favorite thus far. This year was surprising because the organizers decided to have only two shows: The Mistress of the Dark herself, Elvira – she will headline her all new show Elvira’s Big Top, in the 1,800 seat Charles M. Schultz Theatre twice nightly for the entire run of Knott’s Scary Farm and The Hanging: Everything is Gruesome: a live stage show in Calico Square irreverently looks back at the year’s pop culture with killer comedy.  Notorious for its special effects, pyrotechnics and high-flying stunts, The Hanging is a no-holds-barred assault on pop culture’s most infamous moments of the past year.  A real and creepy parody. However in my opinion, Elvira becomes the “Ring Mistress of the Park” dazzling audiences with music, madness and mayhem in her Sinister Circus of the Macabre, full of jokes. My favorite of both was Elvira because has performances by Brett Loudermilk, a sword swallower, and Bonnie Morgan, a contortionist, both of whom were really the highlights of the show.

Other of the best attractions for 2014 was the interactive Zombie war, where groups of guests will be armed with specially designed laser guns to fend off the zombie infestation or named Special Ops: Infected seamlessly integrates interactive gaming technology with an immersive mountainous landscape, delivering a breakthrough interactive haunted experience that is as terrifying as it is challenging.  Missions will take guests through a variety of wilderness terrains, including unpredictable barrel bridges across a rushing river, through dark caverns, and  mysterious backwoods.  Six acres of the beloved theme park is now home to mutinous, scream-inducing zombies, and the time has come for a harrowing Special Ops survival mission.

 I also have to remark El Dia De Los Muertos (created in 2013) some monsters do not hide, but stand there waiting for people in plain sight. Towards the end, it gets a little better with the Aztec-type skeletons coming at you this was really wonderful and people with Hispanic heritage will  appreciate a small tribute to this attraction. I liked how detailed some of their costumes were and make up as well.

Here are more details of the new attractions of this year:

Voodoo: Trudge cautiously through the cursed swamps of the Deep South, where creatures search the murky bogs for their next bloody sacrifice and demons curse the innocent with Voodoo hexes. Guests must choose their path from a number of foreboding choices, resulting in a different terrifying outcome with each journey into the swamp.

The Tooth Fairy: The joy of hiding a lost tooth under the pillow becomes a nightmare of pain and blood in this new maze that will leave teeth chattering.  This twisted tooth fairy steals more than just baby teeth as he drags his victims out their bedroom window and into a world of deranged dentistry.  Unbelievable special effects include a blackout room through which guests must feel their way out, a disorienting x-ray strobe light room, and a final encounter with the massive tooth fairy, himself.  Say aahhh.

Trapped: Lock and Key: This year Trapped returns with more rooms, more intricate puzzles and a shocking finale more extreme than any experience ever.

I loved the fact that most of the actors still haunt in that area even though its deserted makes it even creepier so becomes this place in a magical experience.

More of the attractions

The Gunslinger’s Grave: Return to the Old West and walk in the bloody footsteps of a betrayed and left for dead gunslinger on his path to retribution against a corrupt township.

Black Magic The veil between the living and the dead is severed when Houdini’s ghost materializes during a séance and ushers a host of demonic illusions to play tricks on anyone who intrudes on his theater.

 Dominion of the Damned: The Blood Queen’s reign has ended, but the seductive vampires continue to lure unsuspecting guests into this gothic lair of terror.  Ancient vampire lore decrees there shall always be one to rule the damned… Long live the King!

 Forevermore: The twisted mind of Edgar Allen Poe comes alive as the “Forevermore Killer” works his way through one haunting tale after another.  All the victims unwittingly find themselves a part of “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Pit and the Pendulum,” The Masque of Red Death” among other horrific stories.

 Pinocchio Unstrung: Years have passed since the blue fairy denied him his final wish, and Pinocchio has returned with an army of murderous marionettes intent on killing his former masters.  The purpose of his killing spree – human flesh to cover his twisted wooden body.  Revenge comes with no strings attached.

Trick-Or-Treat: Trick or treat, will step forward and ring the witch’s doorbell.  Oh, she is home, but where?  You are not quite sure.  Don’t be afraid, her minions will guide you.

 Witch’s Keep: Many years ago, The Green Witch uncovered a wicked source of power in the depths of the Calico Mine, and now she’s hell-bent on using this mysterious energy to capture and corrupt all who dare enter.

Scare zones were fun with the occasional seasoned monster screaming and sliding by. The best part is watching people being chased by them. There were a lot of families with kids so while I wouldn’t recommend taking your kids here but in general I appreciate and love the effort put into it by the actors and organizers who do the event every year so made it more intense and definitely you will have a fun time!

“Halloween Horror Nights” will be full of fear

By GalaTView Staff

Photos Agency

The most twisted and gruesome character creations featured on Syfy’s hit competition series “Face Off” will be live and “In the Flesh” at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Halloween Horror Nights” events, beginning Friday, September 19.  Nightmarish creatures will surround guests on both coasts as the macabre visions of some of the most talented up-and-coming make-up artists’ from the show are brought to life.

Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights will feature an all new street experience with ten different character creations inspired by the acclaimed Syfy series, including a look designed by season 5 “Face Off” winner and Universal Orlando make-up artist, Laura Tyler. The hair-raising, horrifying characters will inhabit five unique and immersive environments within the scare zone, from eerie scarecrows that go to great lengths to protect a spine-chilling farmland to ghoulish brutes that haunt dilapidated castle ruins.

Universal Studios Hollywood’s all-new “Halloween Horror Nights” maze, “Face Off:  In the Flesh,” will recreate the morbidly disturbing inventions masterminded by visionary make-up special effects artists over the course of the show’s past six seasons.  Twenty-two original “Face Off” designs – from human-insect hybrids to horror villains, ancient mummies and zombies with a haunting mix of electronica-inspired dance music.

“Face Off” is a competition/elimination series exploring the world of special-effects make-up artists and the unlimited imagination that allows them to create amazing works of living art. As a member of the multi-generational family dynasty whose name is synonymous with the make-up effects field, actress McKenzie Westmore brings expertise to her role as host of the series.  Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” events have a more than 20-year history of creating incredibly entertaining, horrifying Halloween experiences that are consistently rated the nation’s best. The events on each coast feature highly-themed, disturbingly real, haunted mazes based on everything from films to nightmares – and streets filled with hundreds of specially trained “scareactors.” Other announced experiences include “From Dusk Till Dawn” and “The Walking Dead:  The End of the Line” haunted mazes.

Knott’s Scary Farm is back with tons of fun and scares

By Jenny Alvarez

Photos by Alfonso De Elias

Special Coverage for GalaTView.com

 Knott’s Scary Farm pulls back the curtain on wall to wall terror this Halloween season from September 26 until November 2, 2013.  Event hours are 7pm – 1am; Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm-2am.

Since 1973 Knott’s Scary Farm has been the benchmark by which all Halloween events are judged.  What started as a handful of monsters and sparse decorations has grown to be the largest, most creative and most attended Halloween attraction in the United States.

12 mazes and haunted attractions has six live shows, and four endless scare zones.

These are all the New Mazes:

Trapped:  The New Experiment*

Making its debut in 2012.  Trapped: The New Experiment returns bigger and more intense than its predecessor.  Trapped will offer a longer running time, more challenging puzzles, more mind-bending contraptions, and more in-your-face scares.

Black Magic

The veil between the living and the dead is severed when Houdini’s ghost materializes during a séance and ushers a host of demonic illusions to play tricks on anyone who intrudes on his theatre.   Will you be part of the disappearing act?

Forevermore

The twisted mind of Edgar Allen Poe comes alive as the “Forevermore Killer” works his way through one haunting tale after another.  All the victims unwittingly find themselves a part of “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Pit and the Pendulum,” The Masque of Red Death” among other horrific stories.  Guests will want to catch up on their reading to stay a chapter ahead of their demise.

The Gunslinger’s Grave

Return to the Old West and walk in the bloody footsteps of a betrayed and left for dead gunslinger on his path to retribution against a corrupt township.  This journey back in time takes guests on a trail of terror through abandoned gold mines, a treacherous corral, a seedy saloon and a final showdown at town hall.

Mirror, Mirror

Enter a world where madness is just a looking glass away.  What is real and what is an illusion?  A cursed mirror absorbs everyone into a mechanical wasteland of despair.  Hideous creatures of beauty and horror stalk the mirror world, hoping to draw another victim into a nightmarish labyrinth.

Dominion of the Damned

The Blood Queen’s reign has ended, but the seductive vampires continue to lure unsuspecting guests into this gothic lair of terror.  Ancient vampire lore decrees there shall always be one to rule the damned… Long live the King!

Returning Mazes

Pinocchio Unstrung

Years have passed since the blue fairy denied him his final wish, but Pinocchio has returned with an army of murderous marionettes intent on killing his former masters.  The purpose of his killing spree – human flesh to cover his twisted wooden body.

Delirium

In the deep recesses of the mind, on the clouded brink of insanity, lies the hellish wasteland of delirium; a place so gruesome that your imagination fails to comprehend the horrors.  Illusion and paranoia are your only anchors to reality.

Trick or Treat

Trick or treat, which will it be?  Step forward and ring the witch’s doorbell.  Oh, she is home, but where?  You are not quite sure.  Don’t be afraid, her minions will guide you.  I am sure that the tales of the many Hallows Eve victims are just that.  You can come away with a treat, but is it worth it?

Endgames: Warriors of the Apocalypse

The world as we know it has ended.  The survivors in this barren desert have scavenged to rebuild society.  The rich and the powerful have turned all others into slaves for sport.  Enter the post apocalyptic arena where gladiators are forced to battle to their deaths for entertainment.

Uncle Willy’s Slaughterhouse

Folks near and far come a-runnin’ for Farmer Willy’s world famous BBQ!  Guests are welcome to venture through the Slaughterhouse where Uncle Willy will feed them full of BBQ, slather them with special sauce, tenderize them with his chainsaw and grind them into a tasty treat.  Bone appetite!

The Witch’s Keep

Many years ago, The Green Witch uncovered a wicked source of power in the depths of the Calico Mine, and now she’s hell-bent on using this mysterious energy to capture and corrupt all who dare enter.  Could this be the origin of her wretched Tricksters?

Scare Zones

New for 2013, those brave enough to shake off the fear in “Fiesta De Los Muertos” will encounter the grim fusion of dance music, colorful costumes, and larger than life stilt walkers.  This scare zone is the ultimate late night celebration of Dia de los Muertos.

“Necropolis,” a vampire world of flesh and machine, of gears and steam offers a journey through the streets of a steam punk influenced city of the dead where blood is power.

There is no place quite like “Ghost Town,” home to a whole cast of night stalkers including the notorious Sliders who lurk in every fog-filled corner.  Guests attempt to navigate the winding streets that may just lead to the graveyard!

Knott’s Boardwalk is taken over by “CarnEVIL,” where the freak show is the main event and clowns crave your undying attention.

Shows

A trip to Knott’s Scary Farm would not be complete without the shows and you will have many choices.

A Knott’s Scary Farm legend returns to the Ghoul Time Theatre – Elvira, Mistress of the Dark – stars in her all-new stage show: ELVIRA’S SINEMA SÉANCE. Elvira is back in all her ghoulish glory bringing her own brand of sexy sass and comedy to a fast-paced, multi-media extravaganza featuring the unique hip-hop/freestyle dance team The Academy of Villains direct from America’s Got Talent. Appearing live 9/26 – 10/31.

Mystery Lodge will be the site of the new show, “Possessed” where guests experience a new kind of terror as ghosts of the past are released and possession is their goal.  “Possessed” is filled with evil spirits and ghastly special effects that will bring a new dimension to your nightmares.

At Necropolis Theatre guests can watch the ghoulishly great performance of Street Drum Corps “Blood Drums” show.  This high energy drumming quartet is known for their unique blend of amazing percussion skills.

In Knott’s historic Bird Cage Theatre, “Carny Trash” offers up Aye Jaye, a sideshow comedian and magician with impeccable comedic timing who is a master of the unexpected. The Gypsy Camp will present “Cursed” featuring the magical and hypnotic powers of the beautiful belly dancers.

The new horror and torture subgenre comes with The Collection

After a stint in prison, Arkin (Josh Stewart) finds employment as a handyman. But Arkin decides to rob his boss in order to repay his ex-wife (Daniella Alonso). Venturing to his employer’s remote country house to make the heist, he soon finds himself — as well as the boss’ family — at the mercy of “The Collector.” This masked menace turns the house into a maze of fiendish traps. Only Arkin’s wits offer any hope of escape from gruesome death. This bloody, visceral entry in the “torture porn” genre is the directorial debut of screenwriter Marcus Dunstan, whose previous credits include Feast and Saw IV.

6 Degrees of hell is stunningly horrible

By GalaTView Staff

Photos from Breaking Glass Pictures

Corey Feldman stars in the new indie horror film, “6 Degrees of Hell,” which was shot at the Hotel of Horror haunted house in Ross Township, Pa., a few miles north of the Slate Belt. “Uncle Jack’s Hotel of Horror” is besieged by a dark presence after two friends of “Uncle” Jack, Chris and Kellen, unwittingly release a deadly evil by transporting local psychic Mary Wilkins’ collection of haunted objects as props for the popular tourist attraction. At the same time, a local TV ghost hunter, confronts an evil that has haunted him all his life-one he believes is responsible for his sister’s death years ago. His search puts him in the path of a rogue police chief and June-a girl who seems to be the eye of this supernatural perfect storm. They all find themselves connected to the old hotel while the threads of their own personal horrors draw paranormal investigator Kyle Brenner (Feldman) to pull all the threads together.

This movie has turned into a total creep but is an excellent film in many takes especially in the hunter times. Two thumbs up!