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 This year the manor was real testing grounds for new
techniques, as we ventured into invoking the
 personal demons of the TOTs to work
against them in their passage through. We attempted to use mostly natural,
ambient light and lots of darkness combined with self-directed lighting in a
whole different way to not only aid but hamper sight as well to trigger the
images we had
 in store for our victims of 2002.
As the TOTs make their way to the top of
 haunted hill where our haunt has been
for the third season now, the first thing they notice from even blocks away is
the front of the house being washed in lightning while thunder rolls in an
awesome clasp every 15 seconds. The
 front of the house is blocked off so they
are routed down the lane along the side of the house and to the back
 where we
have our haunt setup. As they walk to the lane they pass in front of the hanging
vampire skeleton with a bloody stake in his heart. Illuminated by the flame of a
torch burning
 below him to warn all other vampires they are not wanted here.
This is werewolf territory.
It is about a block to the rear driveway and at the bottom stands our 14'
high vampire scarecrow king lashed to stakes with decayed rope. The tripod also
has two other skeletons of vampires who have met their fate here at Schock
Manor. All three are fully illuminated with the light from two flaming torches
lashed at the top of each stake. It is here where our entrance guard stood at
the ready to defend the manor
 from any menacing spirits and kept all TOTs out
except for a single person at a time. Each victim would have to walk to the top
 of the driveway alone with no other light than from the torches. As one person
came down the drive the next was allowed up.
As the next victim would begin his ascent he would notice the eyes watching
him from the side of the haunt. A vampire that was hiding from the guards. A
torch stood before him as well that was
 impaled into the chest of another
crucified vampire, casting a yellow light on this moonless night. All along both
sides of the driveway were more vampires who had met their fate here at the
manor and were impaled the same way through the heart with flaming torches. At
the top of the
 drive was the haunt. A man suspected of aiding the vampires in
their crusade against the inhabitants of the manor jerked and writhed against
the rope of
 the gallows while being rewarded for his sins while his live
executioner watched on.
Before going inside the
manor
, each TOT would be approached by the executioner and warned that one of the
monsters that was supposed to have been on display inside this year had broken
out of his cage earlier tonight and in his frenzy tore the wiring out of the
haunt, causing total blackness inside. The monster had then fled, but they would
need to carry a special light that would illuminate both their path as well as
their face so the security cameras would be able to follow them on their journey
and keep them
 safe from the roaming creature that did all this damage.
The lone TOT would be shown how to hold his light and enter the manor
on the right side of the entrance. The light beam is broken in two streams, one
out ahead to illuminate the way and the other directly in the holder's eyes.
Each moment the stream glares directly into the TOT's eyes, the retina dilates
and hampers the victim's ability to see. Since the retina is attached
 by the
optic nerve directly to the brain, the constant shift back and forth from dark
to light as the light is bobbed up and down or moved from side to side causes
more disorientation, sort of like what happens when you see a strobe light. And
that plays into the psychological nature of this haunt's predatory mission.
These light reflectors were made with 2 3/4" diameter discs of 1/4" Lexan and mirror tape. The center beam passes through a 1" hole drilled on
a 25 degree angle. Three aluminum brackets attach the
 discs to the light.
In the first half of the night the manor was void of all music or sounds
other than those from the props themselves. This was the same concept used by
Spooky FX in Darkwrath Keep in 1998,
 as was the use of flashlight beams (but not
the two-way light specially designed for the manor this year). Silent and pitch
dark. But in the environment created here it became obvious that this haunt
needed the added distraction of sounds and music in the background, however not
very prominent,
 to complete the atmosphere.
The entry to the very dark front of the haunt was a mixed emotion
 for
many, as there was always the menacing thought of the "loose monster"
that may not be what they were expecting. And the light they had to carry to see
seemed to not be as much help as they had hoped. Immediately inside each victim
was greeted by
 the remains of another vampire that had paid for his bloodletting
ways. Dry ivy vines crunch underfoot of the TOT as he makes his way through
cobwebs and vampire bats hanging head high in the narrow walk. The walls
are draped in rotted fabric that has a dark, earthy smell and there are ivy
vines hanging from the low ceiling and are growing throughout the entire
surrounding. Invisible spider
 webs drag across the guest's face while they avoid
the critters hanging in their way. Around the first corner a scene on the left
distracts him from
 the figure of the skeletal remains of another crucified one
hanging in the corner.
The
Crypt
Keeper begins telling stories of his lost love while he scans all who look
on.
 The TOT moves on down the gauntlet of more invisible spider webs and
vampire bats moving to the next corner. It is here in the middle of the gauntlet
where our new air cannon will be
 placed at shin level next year and tripped by a
motion sensor. Immediately around the next turn there are smoldering green eyes
watching from over ten feet away. Naturally the TOT illuminates the figure with
the light, revealing the
Exorcist,
hovering in the air.
 The second the beam of light hits her face, Regan is instantly washed in
green light and begins
 screaming and flying directly toward the unsuspecting
victim, her arms reach out in a lunge as she
 stops at 9' high and above their
head staring down.
 Rattled, the TOT turns to the left and passes through a shredded wall of
rotted fabric
 and into the
Lacerated
Larry scene. The light flashes on the image in the next boarded up room to
reveal a man holding his own head. Suddenly he asks for help getting his head
back on
 his body. His heart beating red through his shredded clothing. At his
feet
rats
violently rip and tear at a
 bloody leg surrounded by all sizes of static rats
and a giant attacking cat.
Passing through a second shredded wall he faces the Death Lord's image, which
last year was the
Aerial
Executioner, flanked by two gargoyles standing
 guard. As the TOTs light
flashes across his body his head instantly shoots to over 8 feet in height while
his ax takes a swipe toward the TOT. His other hand lashes out with a mace at
the same moment, all the while letting out his scream of terror. Turning to the
left the victim comes face to face with the Executioner, who
this year is dressed as a static
dummy, holding a huge knife pointed
to the floor and a rattle can in
his other hand. He is dressed to be
convincingly an actor waiting for
the TOT to pass
  very
close by to get into the next area
of the haunt, the catacombs
The TOT passes through 2 more shredded walls and enters a small area that
has a vampire skeleton hanging in the corner and everywhere creepy, heavy twine
hangs from the ceiling. As he enters this
 room and embarks upon passing to the
exit, immediately to his left very loud snarls unleash from a werewolf who comes
to life by the strobing light that is synchronized to his growl. His enclosure
has been broken down and he has been waiting to pounce on the next unsuspecting
victim.
 The journey is over as the next stop is back outside. Moving toward the last
turn the TOT trains his light on what is in the next corner, a simple
trash
can. Strobe light clearly
illuminates his arms and face while
he screams and leaps up out of his
resting place, the ghoul's arm
reaching clear outside the trash
can grabbing at the victim. Quickly
our guest turns to his left to make
his way out of this
 place
and there in the short 4 feet
between him and escape is the big
event of the evening. The live
actor werewolf (no picture this
year!) that had escaped and tore
out the lights in the haunt earlier
snarls and pierces the night with
the sharp crash of a rattle can!
Not one patron either young or
adult in both nights went away from
this final scare without a melt
down. Success!
Rest In Pieces.
Death Lord
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