The scariest in the Valley?

Kiyomi Kikuchi

The haunted house in the annual Pierce College Halloween Festival is “the scariest in the Valley,” a rumor says, but it is more fun than scary.

Waiting in line outside, you can hear the terrified screams and the occasional laughs of those already inside.

The house has three different themes: traditional style, maze style and eccentric style. It is 15 minutes of frightful fun, which costs 12 dollars by itself.

Visitors start with a traditional spooky-house theme including a graveyard and an old jail with monsters. They have to walk through dark, silent corridors, where various ghouls surprise them when least expected.

“Just amazing and fun,” said Ophir Benton, 13, who fell down on the floor frightened when creatures scared him from behind. After that, visitors are led to an outdoor maze, where they have to choose their path by themselves. Screaming and banging sounds from the creatures disorient visitors and stir up anxiety in the darkness. However, a scary looking creature guides them if they need it.

The outdoor air is a refreshing contrast. The idea of a maze in the haunted house is exciting because visitors get a chance to explore the different possibilities and sometimes run into monsters. An eccentric clown beckons visitors to follow him to the final room. The room is painted with DayGlo paints, like a Picasso nightmare. Colorful and psychedelic patterns cover the walls by luminous paints. Strobe lights make visitors feel dizzy and disoriented. What is strangely absent is any sound effects. It is almost as if you are watching a horror movie with no soundtrack. Sound effects make everything more intense.

However, every visitor doesn’t want to wet their pants at the house, especially if they are there with a date. Hence, it is just a good balance of scary and entertaining.

Overall? They did a great job making the place look authentic inside. It is fun for young children as well as “young-at-heart” adults.