Delusion: Valley of Hollows

Every year I tell people that Delusion is my favorite Halloween event. This year, they have done two things for the first time in their history (that I’m aware of). First, the story is a direct sequel to last year’s Reaper’s Remorse. Second, they are re-using a previous location. Which makes sense for the story, but how will it affect the experience? Read on to find out!

Wish You Were Here

To set the scene, guests check in upon arrival and then are free to browse the grounds. Inside the mansion is a hazy, 70’s inspired living room, with period music and disco ball lighting. Ephemera is scattered on every shelf and surface, but unlike last year, there is no interactive element, no puzzle to solve or backstory to glean. It’s just scenery. There is also no bonus room outside, although they have kept the food and merchandise shops. With little to do while waiting, I was glad they were able to get me into an earlier group!

After being ushered into a side room, we…waited again. This room included pages from last year, which were no longer relevant to the current story, so there was again not much to do. Finally an actor brought us into the staging area and gave us the plot’s background. This story feels different from past Delusions. The 4 I’ve attended all had aspects of supernatural underpinnings. Technically this one does too, but the emphasis is all about a Charles Manson, cult-type of “family” that gathers at the estate of one Esther Phillips. Esther, as you may remember, was the main character of Reaper’s Remorse. She may be gone…but then again, she may not! Either way, she’s got lots of followers coming to stay on her property, hoping for a gift from beyond.

Last year I raved about the historic Phillips Mansion in Pomona as the ideal location. It’s worth the distance for the isolated setting, perfectly creepy vibe, and of course: the guest house. As a reminder, I called this “possibly the single best haunted house locale I’ve ever visited.” So it’s no surprise they have repurposed it this year. Despite using the same structure, they’ve completely redone the layout and sets inside. It was so different that I only recognized about 3 of the rooms from last year.

Riders on the Storm

The play begins outside and almost immediately adds a new element to the show. I won’t give it away, but it’s in keeping with Delusion’s tradition of intense immersion that elevates it above regular haunted houses. After that was the first big “action scene,” another hallmark of Delusion and Jon Braver’s expertise in stunts. This early stage included a lot of hurrying, which was a recurring theme. There’s always an element of time pressure, but I can’t remember past shows rushing quite as much. It adds to the tension, but it’s also a bummer to scurry through a door before you really get to register your environs, or even what you’re running away from.

The journey through the house is up to Delusion’s high level of quality. Surprisingly, this year I only saw one opportunity for a story split. There might have been one more, but it was minor. A character pulled one person away for a different scene, but otherwise, nearly the whole group gets the same story. I like this as a way to cut down on FOMO, as you get to see the entire thing this way.

There are a couple more big surprises in Valley of Hollows. Some are things Delusion hasn’t done before; others are things they’ve done in different ways. Perhaps most impressively, they’ve done some actual earth-moving. Beyond building sets and decorating an existing mansion…they actually dug into the ground to create exactly what they needed to add extra oomph to the finale. It’s just the kind of big thinking I expect, and love, from Delusion!

Purple Haze

Along with the highs this year, regrettably, came some lows. First is the story and background world. There’s no real issue about needing to see last year’s show to understand the sequel. Rather, the world of Valley of Hollows seems to be quite ill-defined. The rules as we understand them don’t make sense and are inconsistently applied from scene to scene. It’s no spoiler to say this cult involves death. Yet the deaths here give wildly different results, which make me question what this cult actually believes in. And based on what we see happen, their motivations no longer make sense either. The “core” story, of rescuing someone from a cult, is A-OK. But the supernatural elements (my favorite part of Delusion) just don’t tie together well this year.

Second is the aforementioned rushing from room to room. Although there’s always an in-story reason for it, I still wished for a few moments to catch my breath to look around and take in the gorgeous scenery. There are some truly scary moments and monsters, but if you’re running away, you definitely can’t see them, and that’s a shame. Delusion should want to show off their work. Maybe the actors could say something like “Nobody move!” at first, as if trying to not be noticed. Then, after a few seconds, everyone could run away, having gotten a good eyeful. I noticed that shows this year start every 10 minutes, instead of every 15. This is a likely reason for the hurry–they need to make sure you’re gone before the next group arrives!

Bad Moon Rising

The third strike is the peripherals. I mentioned before that the waiting lounges were lackluster compared to the past. There is also a VIP area upstairs. Last year the mini-haunt was pretty impressive! It had a high-quality maze and an exclusive scene with an important character. This year, the upstairs maze is fun, but definitely a step down from last year. Plus there’s no lore or bonus scene. The website mentions an old projector playing horror classics, but either it wasn’t running or I missed it. There was also the bar from last year, but your VIP ticket doesn’t come with a drink. The close-up magician was nice, but overall, the VIP area is a step down from last year and not worth the extra price.

Ultimately, none of that should be the deciding factor. The main event, Valley of Hollows, is another Delusion winner. It does suffer by comparison to years’ past…but then again, its only real competition is itself. Nothing else is quite in the same league for immersive haunts. The story was a step back, but that’s likely a symptom of making this year’s production fit into last year’s location and groundwork. I think Delusion works best when it’s completely fresh, and I hope they go somewhere new next year. If you’ve never been to Delusion, you will love this. If you’re a fervent Delusional like me, you’ll enjoy it…but maybe temper your expectations.

Valley of Hollows runs Thursday to Sunday (with some Wednesdays in October) through November 20, with shows at 7:00 and every 10 minutes after that. Tickets start at $89.99, with VIP passes going for an extra $30. More information, including ticket purchases, is available on their website here.