Your Guide to Haunted Houses in the Chicago Area

Picture - Chicago Tribune / Disturbia Screams in the Park

Well, are you ready for this season of Horror? Buckle up kiddies. Here's all you need to know about local haunted houses in this area. For more information click on the attraction's name - will take

Hellsgate

Big year for this Zombie Army's newest adventure. Expanding on structure and location they've added quite the bit of surprises for us visitors this season - that is...if you can survive the zombie infested woods and haunted cemetery and find your way to the house

Tickets $28-60 with fast pass and instant entry options available

Park at the Metra lot - 1300 S State Street Lockport IL

http://hellsgate.com

Statesville Haunted Prison

Travel through this intense haunt. New Manic Ward, and 7 newly opened rooms in Ward 7. City of the Dead features LIVE snakes, rats, cockroaches as you travel through the depths of underground caverns. Zombie Paintball is another option at this location - featuring over 100 targets, animatronics and live zombies

$30-$50 Fast pass option available

http://www.statesvillehauntedprison.com

Fables Warehouse X

Not recommended for children under 13!

In a top-secret government facility, an ancient evil has been awakened. Terrifying monsters from across time and space have flooded into our reality. It’s up to you to send them back in Chicago’s only haunted attraction that combines the terrifying thrills of a haunted house with the adrenaline-pumping action of laser combat

$25-$35 for VIP option. Opens October 6th

601 Dundee Avenue East Dundee IL

http://www.fablesfrightnights.com

MASSACRE HAUNTED HOUSE

Adult Themes. NOT recommended for Children under 15

Waiting area now features a 2nd Floor DJ Booth and Photo Ops that include used sets from the movie Saw. All new abandoned hospital

tickets $25-$40 including fast pass options

299 Montgomery Road Montgomery Road

www.fearthemassacre.com

Basement of the Dead

Basement is located at an old Laundry Company build in the late 1920s. Scenes newly remodeled for this season - Shattered 3D is the world's first and only 3D Flashlight Haunt. Known for intense characters and great props.

$25-$45 fast pass option

42 W New York Aurora IL

www.basementofthedead.com

DOA Room Escape

heart-pumping, adrenaline-laced, interactive experience you'll get hooked on from the minute you hear that door close behind you. You are locked in a room with friends, family and possibly even strangers. Don't be alarmed. You are all there for one reason...to escape the room. Once the door is locked, you have 60 minutes on the clock to put your brains together to find clues, solve puzzles, crack lock combinations and decipher riddles in order to find the "key" to your escape before your time is up!

$30 special matinee $22 - see site for details

717 N Iowa Street Villa Park IL

www.doaroomescape.com

EXTREME HAUNT - LaCasa De Satanas

New Extreme Haunt in Pilsen. Open October 26th - 31st

Must Sign a waiver to enter. 18 and over. Interactive Performance Art Based Haunted House. Violence, nudity, Sexual Context and Gore.

$25

2058 W 21st Chicago

http://lacasadesatanas.wixsite.com/satanas/tour

D.E.A.D. RISING

Dead Rising Haunted House is an old school in your face haunt.

We build all of our own props and sets for a uniquely terrifying experience.

Tickets $15 - $20 VIP Opens Saturday Sept. 30th

13624 S Cicero Crestwood IL

http://www.deadrisinghauntedhouse.com/

FRIGHTMARE HAUNTED HOUSE

Family Friendly. Frightmare is Back! October dates only

$12 admission

Haunted Trails - 7759 S Harlem Burbank IL

http://hauntedtrailsburbank.com/frightmare

Of course there are many more in and around the City. Check out my calendar at www.halloweenjeans.com for more haunts, events and adventures!

J

Review of Jeepers Creepers 3

Yesterday was the long awaited return of the Creeper in Jeepers Creepers 3. If you're a fan of the franchise, you know already both the controversy and the 15 year span waiting for this movie But was it worth the wait? I went last night to the premier to see

This movie takes place between Part 1 and 2. Going back in time for an "inbetween" movie wasn't what fans wanted to hear - Ideally, we wanted to see the exploration of where the creature came from and his beginnings. This was promised in Cathedral - which is said to have been filmed and completed at the same time as Part 3. That was a little disappointing.

Being a devoted fan of both Part 1 and 2 - I've never fully enjoyed the story. It never made sense to me why Darry would want to keep checking out the tunnel in Part 1 - even after both he and his sister were being chased by the creature. It's like a bad slasher film where there is no reason except to keep the movie going - but the kills were good, so were the effects - and it made an enjoyable movie.

The 2nd installment was fantastic. The Creeper was stealthy, scary and blended into the cornfield. He picked those kids off the bus without any problems.

In this installment, we see a much larger Creeper - with bad makeup and clothing. He looks old and tattered rather then scary.

The story centers around a farm - Meg Foster plays Addison's Grandmother, Gaylen Brandon who lost her son - Kenny - 23 years earlier to the Creature. He reappears to her in visions showing her the creatures hand - that fell out of the sky prior to his death. He was in a truck when his buddy got snatched up, this happens in the beginning - his friend had a machete - which falls and cuts through the hood of the tow truck and then the hand after. Kenny hides - and then later buries the Creature's hand at their farm. To hold hands - with this hand - will show the person where the Creature is from. And again we are just told that he is an ancient being.

The deaths in this movie are all over the town rather then contained to the Farm. We also see the creatures truck in action - complete with boobie traps to help capture and then later contain his prey. I enjoyed when the Creature fell victim to one of his traps later in the movie - would not be a Jeepers Creepers without him getting banged up while he's hunting.

The beginning of the movie is dark - but so was Part 1. In this age of better prosthetics and makeup - I would have expected this movie to shine in this area. If you wait until the end of the movie to watch the interview with Jonathan Breck - who plays the Creature - he looks better in the chair then on screen. One of the shinning parts for this franchise was in Part 2 - when we finally got to see the Creature in all his ugly and profound glory. We do get an eye-ball and a gill - which he smells fear through - but later in the film, his mask looks loose and sloppy.

Part 3 does retain some of the same humor. Aside from the Creeper getting beat up - we have a misfit team of Officers who add humor to the story, along with a dragged out "WTH" scene where the Creature is getting shot while he is slowly jumping through the air. First impression - terrible scene - but the premise is to be cheesy.

This, for me was not a serious horror movie - which is what many expected, and I expect very disappointed because of this reason.

If we get Cathedral - I would hope they save these scares for later.

Controversy - I don't understand why it was waited until the 3rd installment for this to really become an issue with Director Victor Salva. If you're not familiar, he was convicted - and served time - for Child molestation. Which is terrible. I do not blame the victim - who was only 12 years old at the time - Salva was in his 20s. This was in 1988.

I do however, think protest would have had a bigger punch done at the time of the 1st and esp 2nd installment - when Salva made most of his money. No matter what 3 brings in at the box office - it will be small in comparison to these movies - both on their own or combining.

Part 3 is really to be enjoyed at home with a few friends and drinks

If you do want to see it in Theaters, Jeepers Creepers 3 will play again October 4th in select areas. Otherwise DVD/Steaming is slotted for December 26th of this year.