Dent Schoolhouse: Class is in session
You know you are in for something special when the line is better designed than some houses. Once you have entered the Dent Fall festival section of the queue, it becomes a unique area filled with actors wandering through the stalls, spots for photo opportunities, and some small scenes put up to set the mood. It goes a long way towards upping the expectations of what the house will bring, and make no mistakes about it, Dent crushes them. This is an absurdly good haunted house built upon a solid foundation of great acting, set design, and variety rarely seen.
From the moment you step through the front door, this house builds tension. The first thing that draws attention is the wall filled with photos of victims of the horrors that have populated the school. This tension is kept up throughout the house with a design that constantly keeps you off-guard. Every room has its own vibe, leaving you guessing what could be possibly coming soon. Maybe it’s a classroom that looks like it hasn’t been touched in centuries. Maybe the school auditorium where the school dance is happening, and one of these dancing ghosts just might be real. Might just be a room filled with bubbles, with a creature lurking within. Every room feels fresh and keeps you on your toes. This sense of dread is only heightened by details that make everything feel more alive and realistic. This ranges from going around a stairway, only to find a hanging teacher if you look up, to a bloody workshop with the smell of pumpkins lingering in the air, and severed heads being used as jack-o-lanterns hanging right in front of you.
The house is lucky to have the quality of actors it does. Everyone has a level of vigor that is hard to find. A disgusting lunch lady offers you her “treats” in the cafeteria. Ghosts of victims past reach out from the walls in a desperate plea for help. The actors all seem to understand their character and do a good job sticking to the role. They might adlib a bit, but in a fashion that makes sense. For instance, actors will only attempt humor if it makes sense, or will be deranged only if it feels correct. You won’t find someone who is acting like a victim attempting to be a funny guy. The true highlight acting of the house comes from the basement, which is a maze around low walls and machinery. The actors in this scene relish moving through the maze-like corridors, rushing around seemingly every corner garnering scare after scare.
Another aspect that makes this house incredible is the length. It feels like you spend the better part of a half house making your way through the interior and exterior of the school, and by the time you make your way out the back a sense of relief hits that you have made it through. That is when you realize you are nowhere close to being done, as an entire outdoor cannibal section is awaiting you. It really helps to add onto the house making it feel like it is absolutely worth the cost to get inside.
Dent is an unbelievable experience. We have done many haunted attractions over the years, ranging from incredible to horrific. The Dent Schoolhouse is easily the best attraction we have done. It is beautifully designed, with sets that feel like they are straight out of a movie. Actors that are as good as any house could ever hope to have, and a length and overall design that truly is worth the cost and the drive to travel to. If you get the chance, this is an absolute must to do.
5 / 5
