Erebus 2022
Erebus is a haunted house that has been covered multiple times on this website in the past. The single most recognizable house in Michigan, appearing on many lists as one of the best houses in the nation. However, for those who have been around on here for awhile, you will know we have had our issues with Erebus in the past. Our last visit left us feeling that things were moving in a positive direction, but they needed better actors to really propel the house back into the greatness it used to have. Well, in 2022, Erebus followed through and brought in a great crop of actors that made it the best year for the haunt in a long time.
The set design for Erebus was off the charts this year. What was impressive was the way things seemed to flow through the different eras that guests travel in. Establishing scenes for the different eras easily let guests know how the focus has shifted in the house, and do a great job showing what is to be expected in the next few rooms. This range from the entryway of a decrepit cemetery, to a large laboratory with out of control machinery, as well as a bakery that seems off, with a disturbing secret in the back. These establishing facades are impressive in size and most importantly, are typically the only rooms that don't contain actors, fixing a major issue from years past. There used to be giant scenes filled with impressive animatronics, with an unfortunate lack of actors, leading to no payoff. That issues is corrected this year, as animatronics are used to set up misdirection or as a way to trap or attack guests. It is such a relief to see an amazing combination of animatronics and actors finally be reached in this house, after multiple visits to this house dealing with this issue.
Talking about actors, it is great to see such a great group roaming the halls of Erebus. Actors have this timing down, getting great scares, coming from all directions. Nowhere is safe, and it leads to great use of the environment. An example is a portion where guests are on a ramp downwards to lower levels, left in near total darkness, with small, dull lights being the only guide every once in awhile. While your focus is on following the path, an actor is positioned to reach through the ceiling, grabbing out at guests. Simple but incredibly effective as it got us both to jump, and more importantly, let it be known that nowhere would be safe. The actors were also hold great conversations, helping to make the scenes more alive. The woman running the bakery was sweet and could easily round up victims, while clowns were funny but had a creepy undertone that makes you uneasy. Every actor seems eager to perform well at their job and they are positioned all over the place. Maybe most impressive is the fact that despite there being a decent amount of people in the house that night, never once did our group run into another group in the house, something that has happened at almost every other house we visited this season, and honestly, most seasons. I chalk up not running into anyone at Erebus due to the actors having a good sense on the speed to move guests throughout the house. This trait is not easy to learn and shows how good of a job the house is doing teaching this group of actors.
The house is many ways still does feel similar to previous years, with the same storyline and some repeated set pieces. However, scenes are changed enough to even make older scenes like The Swamp feel revived. There is no time to relax in Erebus this year, as it was an assault on all front, and easily the best performing year we have seen in a long time, and is deserving of being recognized as a leading house in the nation.
9 / 10
