Snap. Crackle. Pop! No, not like the cereal—instead, these are the sound effects you’ll hear when walking through the infamous Gargoyle Maze, built and created by the co-founders of Netherworld, Billy Messina and Ben Armstrong.
The dynamic duo definitely stepped up to the plate this year when it comes to storyline and costumes. The clearly qualified actors dressed as ghouls and goblins are also a huge contributing factor to the spook-house, making the evening experience literally one hell of a night.
Named the Best Haunted House in 2009 by Fangoria Magazine, Best Haunted House by USA Today and Hauntworld Magazine this year, Netherworld has lived up to its reputation once again when it comes to the creepy and downright scary things in life.
The roughly 20 to 30-minute walk is filled with hidden jungles and cemeteries, a mirror room and a vortex that will make you trip over your own feet. The monsters sport great outfits and makeup, and the attention to detail is far beyond what you’d imagine. Bugs appear out of nowhere and butchery like that in the brutal movie Saw makes all the girls scream and the boys shrill, leaving you to fend for yourself.
Gargoyles leap from the air and attack you from above, which undoubtedly adds to the realistic environment—they were seemingly flying. The machinery in the house is outstanding, too. Even knowing that these living creatures are robots does not assuage the fright or the influx of adrenaline rushing through your entire body.
And though the monsters themselves are not allowed to physically touch you, they sure do give everyone a very good jump.
“I liked it. It was really varied, and whatever you are scared of, it’s there. But it’s also really cohesive,” Freshman Samuel Evans said after enduring the Gargoyle Maze. “I also think the creativity of the monsters [was] good, it wasn’t just like ‘50s horror film recreations.”
Other newcomers stated that they were more than likely to attend every year.
And they should—every season, Netherworld changes up its theme or extends more frightful delights to continuously entertain its thrill-seeking patrons.
This year, Netherworld presented the Dead Salvage, a 5 to 10 minute walk through a mock junkyard and body shop.
Dead Salvage is a lot gorier than the Gargoyle Maze, with body pieces strewn about and chunks of meat hanging from the ceiling. A disemboweled body lies in a bathtub filled with blood, and intestines line the floor before you meet the Mangler, the freak behind the butchering. Obviously, this one’s not meant for the easily queasy. Inside Dead Salvage, there’s the Acid Room, the Drowning Tank and the Flesh Compactor; are all notably frightening attractions. The explicit, stomach-churning gore makes you feel like you’ve been transported into a Rob Zombie movie.
The secondary house costs $5 extra. The space itself is a lot smaller than the Gargoyle Maze and it only employs 23 actors total. For only a few extra bucks, Dead Salvage is a good start as an introductory taste to the main event.
But Halloween season is only about a month long. What do the Netherworld organizers do during the other 11 months?
“It takes the whole year to set up this place,” co-founder Ben Armstrong said.
And their hard work surely shows. The elaborate costuming, the seriousness of the actors and the various intricate, creepy environments all make for an unforgettable night of terror.
Tickets for Netherworld’s Gargoyle Maze are $22. Admission to both the Gargoyle Maze and Dead Salvage is $27. Guests can pay $50 for a speed pass, which allows them to skip the entry line. For more information about Netherworld, visit www.fearworld.com.
