horror tourers chainsaw ratings

Over the years that we have been visiting haunts, we have seen a lot of things. Things we liked, things we didn't like, and things that were common to both good and bad haunts. Since not all haunts are created equal, it's not fair to judge them as though they are. In other words, a yard display is not the same as a home haunt, just as a pay haunt is not the same as either of the former types.

Additionally, haunts vary by region, with haunts and yard displays in the suburbs, for example, tend to be larger and more elaborate than in the city areas, where space may be at a premium. Also, expectations for home haunts and yard displays should not be the same as for pay haunts, which are usually out on by either not-for-profit or professional entities, as opposed to individuals.
Even pay haunts can vary, both by region and also by the entities that operate them. For example, pay haunts that are done professionally year after year by entities whose sole function is to put on professional haunted displays are naturally in different category than pay haunts that are run by civic or fraternal organizations as simply one event out of many that they may hold each year.

Thus, the Horror Tourers came up with a series of five criteria (plus and additional sixth that applies only to pay haunts) that we use when judging the quality of a haunt. Each of these helps us give an objective rating to the haunts we visit, regardless of location and type. The chart to the right shows the various criteria we use. For our detailed explanations of each of these criteria, check out the videos below. You can check out our lists of haunts by rating here:
Chainsaw Rating Criteria Chart

rating categories in detail

amount of decorations

effective use of space

scare factor

actor enthusiasm

originality

VALUE for the money