House of Torment Chicago
Morton Grove, IL
Reviewed on: Sunday, October 11, 2015
One of the most talked about new attractions joining the haunt family here in Chicago for 2015 is the nationally recognized, House of Torment. Brought to you by 13th Floor Entertainment Group, we knew that we would be in for a real treat. Taking up residence at the former home of Fear City in Morton Grove, IL, the “Tormented” minds were definitely ready to show Chicago what they were made of.
As we waited to enter the attraction, the outside waiting line facade was incredibly detailed! It made us feel as if you were waiting in line at the real CTA stops throughout downtown Chicago. With much of the set design being re-used from Fear City, the designers of House of Torment harnessed many of the classic scenes, yet creating a new vision with a twist.
The first attraction this year was named “Contagium”. Based off of a character named Nemesis landing on Earth with the Contagium Virus, he starts to create his new army to take control over the streets.
Some of the most memorable scenes were the asylum, the hillbilly home and of course the L-train, which we got to see from a whole new angle! As we weaved in and out of intricately designed sets, actors attacked from all different angles, while the shadows masked them so you didn’t even know they were there. With some great misdirected turns, we definitely got a few good scares from the actors lurking deep within.
As we made our way to the 2nd attraction, “The Abandoned”, which is based off of an abandoned school from the 1600’s. Filled with many tormented and condemned souls, you weave in and out through different rooms throughout the school. One thing that is certain throughout it that all of the children want their revenge and are thirsty for your soul!
This second attraction definitely is up to par with the first one and makes it known that they aren’t just a small act. The actor attacks are relentless and the detail in this attraction is spot-on, and made us feel like we truly were roaming the halls of this school. Be careful in the library, you might take a wrong turn and be stuck in there for quite a while!
The Bottom Line: Welcome to Chicago House of Torment! While many of the familiar scenes from one of our area’s mainstays were still visible, we know that with another year under their belt, it will surely feel like home. This is certainly an attraction that must be watched, as we are expecting great things from you in the years ahead!
2015 Scores:
Entertainment: 16.5 out of 20
Scare Factor & Fright: 6 out of 10
Acting: 6 out of 10
Sets & Room Detail: 9 out of 10
Costumes: 5 out of 5
Make Up: 5 out of 5
Sound: 5 out of 5
Lights: 5 out of 5
Props & Special Effects: 9 out of 10
Originality & Story Concept: 7 out of 10
Management & Owner Presentation: 5 out of 5
Website: 5 out of 5
Total: 83.5 points out of 100 points possible
– Official Haunted House Chicago Review Team Review
