Review: 13th Floor haunted house

October 8, 11:39 AMDenver Theater ExaminerDeb Flomberg

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Denver Theater Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Welcome to the 13th Floor

I’ve mentioned before that I’ve worked in haunted houses, and I’ve certainly had some experience working with scary-themed plays, but nothing has really prepared me for walking through a truly terrifying haunted house attraction. Denver is very lucky to have so many haunted houses to choose from this year, including The Asylum and 13th Floor – by the same team that was listed in the top 25 haunted houses in the country by the Travel Channel. So why is a Theatre Examiner reviewing a haunted house? Today, more so than ever before, haunted houses are truly interactive horror-themed plays. The actors have to be 100% committed to their respective roles, they have to be very skilled with improvisation, makeup artists and set designers work their magic, and even lighting and sound designers are an integral part of the haunted house set up.  Clearly, theatrical skills play a huge part of the haunted house experience.

Presented by Screamworks Entertainment, 13th Floor is now open every night through Halloween, and it really is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. The story revolves around the legend of the 13th floor and why it is absent in so many buildings. You are first taken into an elevator that will take you to the mysterious 13th floor, you are then treated to room after terrifying room where you will run into all of the current “occupants” of the missing floor. You will wind your way through narrow hallways filled with eerie lighting, fog,  sound effects, and more as the actors jump out at you and involve you in the plot.

It is clear that the masterminds behind 13th Floor are experts at what they do. Designed by Chris Stafford and Warren Conard, this was a no-expenses-spared event that had so many eye-popping effects and movie-style magic that even the most jaded haunted house attendee would be impressed. There are over 40 years of combined experience between Stafford and Conard, and their training has helped them to incorporate such impressive props as a 13 foot tall, multi-motion, animatronic monster.  I hesitate to share too much about all of the effects, as surprise is critical to the enjoyment of a haunt such as this.

The acting in 13th Floor is impressive as well. The actors must be very skilled to pull this off – and they succeeded admirably. Unfortunately, I do not have the names of the actors, but special mention must go to the man that runs the elevator. He is one of the first people you encounter and he is responsible for setting the mood and making sure the attendees are in just the right frame of mind to be terrified. This is not an easy task – and he performed his role brilliantly – as did all of the actors involved.

Enter the Blood Shed at your own risk

As an extra bonus, this year Screamworks has added a 2nd smaller haunted house that is in the same complex (and included in the price of admission.) The 2nd haunt is Blood Shed, which is a high-gore attraction that is billed as a “hillbilly horror” theme in the same line as movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes, and House of 1000 Corpses. This haunt is noticeably smaller than 13th floor, and the strobe effects did go on a bit too much for my tastes, as strobe effects make it difficult to see any of the set dressing effects in the room – but the acting in this one is strong too. Particularly the first person you encounter at the entrance. A tall, imposing man that guards the hillbilly horror house and sets the mood perfectly.

You have a lot of choices for your Halloween entertainment this year – and you only get one month to enjoy Haunted Houses. The 13th Floor should absolutely be added to your list, it is a must see. You will leave the 13th Floor filled with adrenaline, laughing with your friends, and looking to get back in line to do it all again. Happy Halloween!