Twisted Crypt Haunted House 2022

Twisted Crypt Haunted House
5420 E State Street
Rockford, IL 61108
https://www.twistedcrypt.com/
Visited on: Sunday, October 2, 2022

Vital Signs:
Year Opened: 2013
Number of seasons to date: 9
Number of actors: 50
Number of attractions: 1
Size: 10,000 square feet
Setting: Indoor
Parking: Free, on-site

In the heart of Rockford, Illinois, sits an attraction that a few years ago was very unknown to us. However, over the last few seasons, we have become very acquainted with the team and facilities that comprise the artistic masterpiece known as “Twisted Crypt Haunted House.” Nestled inside a very unassuming mini-mall, Twisted Crypt is one of the most detailed and dedicated haunted attractions on the market!

Our journey began the moment we entered the building. Utilizing every square inch of the space, even the waiting room/queue was fully decorated and had multiple themed sections to keep guests entertained -and guessing- on what horrors awaited them inside. The waiting room included classic old horror movies, several actors and actresses for pictures and jumps, and even a dark thunderstorm that affected all areas! As we were given the lay of the land, rules, and invitation to join the family, we finally entered the front door of the manor.

For those that haven’t experienced the opening scene of the attraction, we won’t spoil anything. But it will set the expectations for the rest of the attraction. Rooms are fully interactive, playful, beautifully decorated, and technologically equipped! Paths wind and utilize each inch of available space to make sure guests are given maximum room for a show they won’t forget.

While there are plenty of details to talk about in the design, the true stars of the show are the actors and actresses. Each room was a mini-performance that stopped guests for discussion, to hear a story, play a game, and take part in the action. imagine a twisted theatrical performance that you get to be smack dab in the middle of! Running through with your head down doesn’t seem to be an option here, as each scene has its own plot and punchline! These actors and actresses continue their routines and don’t stop because the scene in their room is over, they just keep going! This takes amazing dedication, practice, and technique, and we highly applaud it!

Through the kitchen, bedroom, swamp, and operating room, we had the chance to meet multiple members of this frightful family. Some of our highlights include the doctor, Cletus, and Gerty the Baby. To expand, Gerty is actually a “dummy” that is powered by an amazing actress. (Who actually was awarded our Haunted House Chicago Jim Warfield Acting Award in 2019.) While we didn’t grab her character’s name this visit, she continued her routine, all while making sure Gerty (the dummy) had her own completely different routine! She fully entertained two humans at the same time!

The incredibly out-of-leftfield surprise for us was our encounter with Molly the Dolly. Some of the best fun we have as educated consumers is trying to figure out all the aspects of a character, without asking behind the scenes. To try and explain, Molly may be a human that is trapped inside a robot or computer simulation. Her routine consisted of skips, which we are lovingly calling “glitches” as she skips like a record through different phrases. Just as we thought it was a robot gone wrong, she begged us to help her escape as her program rebooted. Our team stopped in our tracks, jaws dropped open, and wanted to immerse ourselves in more of the experience. BRAVO!

The goal here is always entertainment. Laugh, cry, scream, play a game, or run, we did all of the above and loved every second of it!

Monsters of Note: Any character “Amanda” plays, Gerty, the Doctor, Cletus, and as you can guess, Molly the Dolly.

The Bottom Line: if you are considering the drive to Rockford, let this be the sign you are waiting for. This is a fun, interesting, and interactive haunted house experience that will leave you laughing and seeking a therapist at the same time! With amazing scenes and class-act actors/actresses, this is definitely a show that should be on your list this Halloween!

Don’t just take our word for it, check out these images from our visit: