Link to this photo

Hey everyone! My name is Rianne Coale, and I'm the Assistant Web Producer for Metromix/RedEye with the Chicago Tribune.

Why am I qualified to review a haunted house?

Well for starters, I LOVE haunted houses. I've got a super nifty camera. If I stand long enough in the dark my eyes adjust really well. I've been watching rated R horror movies since I was 5 years old. I was IN a rated R horror movie when I was 10 years old (Ghost Child #3...what, what?!?). I have self diagnosed myself with "Fainting Goat Syndrome," (I drop to the ground whenever I'm startled) which means I'll see the haunted house from a different perspective than most people...Oh! And my childhood house is haunted.

So yeah, I'd say I was born to do this.

Link to this photo

Scream Scale

Line Length: 2 slashes Cost: 3 slashes Length of Haunt: 5 slashes Fear Factor: 5 slashes Overall: 5 slashes

Statesville Haunted Prison is located in Crest Hill, Illinois, and having traveled from Rogers Park, it was WELL worth the drive. My general admission ticket ($30) admitted me into Statesville Haunted Prison and City of the Dead (COD), and it took about 35-45 minutes to complete both haunts. The production started as soon as I arrived on site, with characters walking and winding through the lines, scaring and entertaining anyone and everyone they could sneak up behind. After being herded into a cage with several other individuals, we were ordered to line up and it really felt like we were about to enter a real prison. Statesville Haunted Prison played with my mind a bit as it became a full sensory experience, and I was constantly trying to figure out what was a prop and what was about to jump out at me. It took me on an entertaining (but frightening) journey that left me panting, adrenaline ridden and excited to see what the next house contained. City of the Dead took me through the caves and depths of the earth where some of the darkest and most evil Statesville prisoners are kept. Besides the fact that the props were nothing less than extraordinary, the level changes and character work were awesome, and I never knew what was lurking just beyond my reach. Although I do feel the finale of COD could have been a bit more intense to leave patrons on a scare high after exiting, I don't have any qualms with this fantastic fright! I also made the half mile ride on an Army Troop Carrier Truck with a gun loaded full of paintballs during Statesville's added attraction, Zombie Paintball Ride. It was a unique and fun interactive experience that was well worth the mula. Overall, Statesville Haunted Prison and COD kept me screaming and sprinting from the moment I arrived until the very end. It's a must see if you've got a hankering for an admirable haunted attraction! — Rianne Coale/Metromix

Link to this photo

Scream Scale

Line Length: 2 slashes Cost: 4 slashes Length of Haunt: 5 slashes Fear Factor: 5 slashes Overall: 5 slashes

Fear City Haunted House is located just north of Chicago in Morton Grove, Illinois in a 40,000 square foot brick storage space that gives the haunt a modern and urban feel. I have to give Fear City kudos because they are able to leave their haunt up all year round, which makes their props and attention to detail something that is truly special and unique to them. Grouped into a party of six, we were thrust into what looked like the haunted underground tunnels of Chicago. The realistic nature of the layout (which included a CTA train car that moved and was comparable to the cleanliness of an actual one) and the time it took to walk through the crumbling city tunnels was truly amazing. At one point, my partner and I got separated from the rest of the group in the blood-drenched butcher shop and were forced to explore the mind bending horrors to follow on our own. Never underestimate the unwavering panic power of a well timed strobe light in a white room (terrifying). After winding our way through the maze of malevolent mischief, we were greeted at the end by a monster on stilts that kept me pressed up against the wall as I tried to find the exit. Our Lady of the Cursed was a new addition this year, and I got the chance to face the haunts that roam the halls of this Catholic school for girls. The characters and story line were spot on as my group was continually stopped to watch scenes from, what seemed like a horror movie, play out in front of us. Although I felt the fright factor wasn't all there, I did find Our Lady of the Cursed to be quite entertaining. Fear City was a truly spectacular spook and a must see for the Halloween season! — Rianne Coale/Metromix

Link to this photo

Scream Scale

Line Length: 3 slashes Cost: 3 slashes Length of Haunt: 4 slashes Fear Factor: 4 slashes Overall: 4 slashes

13th Floor Haunted House is a haunted house lover's delight. Tucked away in Melrose Park, Illinois, this 30,000 square foot attraction definitely tickled my fancy. Upon entering the house, a giant tesla coil could be heard generating a loud buzzing of electricity that traveled through the air and chilled my bones. Characters jumped out from every angle, making me scream with fright on multiple occasions, and the variety of rooms in which I walked through was incredibly intriguing. After talking with one of the owners, he explained that the attraction was meant to explore what may be found on the notorious 13th floor, a theme that allowed my imagination to run wild as I progressed through the haunt. It was opening night, and I could tell that is was more of a dress rehearsal for the performers because everything wasn't as fine tuned as I'm sure it will be in weeks to come. Be prepared for a few surprises, because you never know when someone might start chasing you with a chainsaw. Overall, it kept me clinging to the shirt in front of me and left me in awe at some of the killer props (pun intended). — Rianne Coale/Metromix

Link to this photo

Scream Scale

Line Length: 3 slashes Cost: 3 slashes Length of Haunt: 2 slashes Fear Factor: 1 slash Overall: 2 slashes

Rob Zombie's Great American Nightmare is located in Villa Park, Illinois in the Odeum Expo Center. Upon arrival, the hype over the attraction (selling shirts and memorabilia) got me pumped as I waited in line to enter the 3 part haunt, inspired by three of Zombie's twisted movies. The first house, The Lords of Salem, was a disappointment to say the least. My guest and I were grouped with people we didn't know, and the girl kept using her cell phone to light the way. Nothing really popped out in the pitch blackness which made it an easy walk to make. Equipped with 3D glasses, the second house, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto, reminded me of a fun house on psychedelics. Black lit killer clowns made the 5 minute walk through trippy but far from frightening. The third house, Haunt of 1,000 Corpes, definitely stayed true to Rob Zombie's style. Greeted by an actor made up to look like Captain Spaulding from Zombie's movies, "House of 1,000 Corpses" and "The Devil's Rejects," I then began my walk through the serial-killer themed house which included rooms dedicated to killers like Charles Manson, Ed Gein and John Wayne Gacy. Be cautioned that this house is for a more adult crowd, and I wouldn't advise taking children through because of the nature of some of the props (nudity). I thought the John Wayne Gacy inspired room, which included a man dressed as a clown blowing up balloons between his legs while two boy scout dolls sat holding each other on the couch watching, was anything but tasteful. Honestly besides a few loud motion censored noises, this haunted attraction was missing the haunt. Besides the fact that I think it was overpriced, I would visit for a laugh and not a scream. — Rianne Coale/Metromix

Link to this photo

Scream Scale

Line Length: 4 slashes Cost: 4 slashes Length of Haunt: 3 slashes Fear Factor: 2 slashes Overall: 3 slashes

The Fear Haunted House at Navy Pier presents Zombie Containment is located on Navy Pier in downtown Chicago. Being that I went on a wet and chilly Thursday night, I was extremely impressed by the zombie characters that roamed around the pier and never broke character despite only wearing hospital gowns. I was escorted into the zombie containment research facility and given the rundown of Merikorp Industries, a government agency that is essential in containing the zombie outbreak in what is a futuristic zombie apocalypse ridden America. I thought it was a funny homage to government cover-up conspiracy's and the effort to be "fully transparent." The acting was over-the-top in the best way possible, but I did feel that I was being led through just a little too much, which could have something to do with the amount of space available and the attraction's location (floating in Navy Pier's harbor). As I walked through the different containment stations, I particularly like the canning room because of all the fog and the numerous barrels that zombies could be hiding in, waiting to jump out at you. The decontamination room at the end was filled from floor to ceiling with bubbles which was a great and unique touch to such a fun attraction. Overall, I found The Fear Haunted House at Navy Pier to be extremely fun and humorous. The fear factor may not have been the most prevalent, but it is the perfect haunted attraction for the whole family. It is in a prime location for tourists who are looking for something fun to do on a weekend during the month of October, and it's definitely worth checking out! — Rianne Coale/Metromix