Arx Mortis, located in Killen, Alabama, is considered to be one of the best haunted attractions in Alabama. USA Today also considered it to be one of the best in the nation in 2014. As someone who never had any inclination to actually seek out haunted attractions, I never found the need to go. I’ve been a few in the area where I grew up, including the popular Lester Hospital that resides in the former D.E. Jackson Memorial Hospital.
I am also the type of person how enjoys horror films, but does not get scared in “spook houses”. I know that nothing I encounter is real. This mind set made for an interesting time.
I was presented with an opportunity to attend for free, curtesy of my university. Without hesitation, I immediately signed up. The somewhat high price turned me away in the past, so free was definitely something I could do.
Arx Mortis had many highlights.
1. The waiting line.
For us, the wait was short, but they have a system in place where you do not have to wait in a line till the color on your ticket is called. My friend who had been before told me that the line is always long and the wait even longer. We were lucky that we only had to wait fifteen minutes before our group started the tour. However, the closer to Halloween, the longer you will have to wait.
2. The layout.
From the road, you can see most of the attraction. However, once you actually start, there is no indication to where you actually are. When we waited by the first door, the hallway had water pouring over it to give the illusion of rain, distorting your perception. Arx Mortis also makes use of the outside area, making the experience more surreal. For me, it was creepier to encounter the actors outside than it was inside. I know what to expect on the inside: people in corners, waiting behind doors, and underneath tables. However, when you are outside, all bets seem to be off, especially if there are not enough props for them to reasonably hide behind.
The environment of the place doesn’t stay the same throughout. It returns to the original clinical setting often, but there are also clowns, cannibalistic settlers, and even an inflated tunnel.
3. Professional quality
One of the most astounding and important parts of the experience was the quality. The animatronics were used to great effect, going so far as to be one of the more thrilling aspects. I know what to expect from most performers within a haunted house, however, I cannot account for what a machine will do. Most of the time, I never paid attention to the animatronics till they actually sprung. One of the more unique thrills was getting hit with animatronic sausage shortly after going through the meat locker section.
The actors deserve all the praise possible. While I did not find them terrifying (this goes back to the fact that I am not usually scared in a haunted house), I did find them insanely creepy. Their makeup was stellar and their costumes only added to the experience. For those of you who are frightened by well-done makeup, you will get a good spook. The same goes for their acting. They are able to improvise on the spot, even going so far as to learn the names of the guests in order to deliver some good frights.
4. Plays to many fears
This attraction plays to many popular phobias: clowns, doctors, enclosed spaces, and the dark. This works for the goal of scaring as many people as possible, but for me, it seems to detract from the original premise. The website gives story of a wayward doctor. Hospitals are already scary, and sticking with that as a theme would make it more worthwhile.
However, I also realize that I do not share in most of the popular phobias. To scare me you would need to combine both the terror of wasps and a bunch of cars backing up (I was backed over by a car when I was young). Once you suffer an accident like that, not much else can really freak you out.
5. No guides
This both a good thing and a bad thing. This is a bad thing mostly because the group sets the pace, so groups that go too slow can ruin the experience for others, but the same can be said for groups that go too fast.
The best part of having no guides means that you have no indication of what you are about to walk into. I’ve been through attractions where you are led around and it demystifies the experience. With no guide, it makes the experience feel more real, which makes it more thrilling.
Conclusion:
While I did not get truly scared witless, I did have many good scares. I enjoy the thrill more than everything. I recommend Arx Mortis wholeheartedly for people who can let go of reality and immerse themselves in the world created. Despite the very few flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent there. Everything was top notch and well done.
