Nassau Coliseum to become haunted site of ‘Crypts’ Halloween attraction

The newly renovated NYCB Live at Nassau Coliseum is already haunted — Blood Manor from New York City debuts a new Halloween attraction, “Crypts of the Coliseum,” in Uniondale this week.

“We wanted to branch out because we don’t get enough people coming into the city from Long Island, so we figured we’d bring it to them,” says Mike Rodriguez, the haunted house company’s president. “The Coliseum is the perfect place.”

ENTER THE CRYPT

Descend into the Exhibition Hall, where 10,000 square feet of horror — including more than 30 live actors — await.

“Once you are inside those doors, it’s overwhelming,” says Louis B. Branchinelli, Blood Manor’s local marketing consultant. “It’s a massive installation that is heavily detailed and hand-painted. Every inch had a brush on it.”

The first character encounter is the Angel of Death, who moves and talks at the entrance of the haunt, while ghouls creep about the line.

“It’s all skulls and bones, like you are going underground into the crypts,” Rodriguez says. “You will see everything from a graveyard to a morgue.”

ROOMS OF DOOM

The rooms patrons encounter have been specifically designed as if each is its own haunt.

“When we go into a room, we put so much into it,” says Jim Lorenzo, Blood Manor’s vice president. “There’s a lot of little details beyond the actors and the animatronics. Each room has special lighting, sound and props.”

But not physical scares — “Crypts of the Coliseum” has a no-touch policy.

“The actors will get as close to you as possible,” Lorenzo says. “They will breathe on you, you can get their scent, but they will never touch you.”

Those who enter will find themselves in a pitch-black maze, hearing whispers as they pass through.

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“Things are going to be coming at you from all sorts of angles,” Rodriguez says.

Make it through the smoke in Laser Alley and the dancing zombies room before ending up in Thunderdome, where willing souls will be disoriented by blinding light and crackling thunder. But it’s Room X that might test stomachs — that’s where a mad scientist puts body parts together.

“We want people to be entertained,” Lorenzo says. “They’ll jump, get scared and scream but also laugh and have a fun experience.”

CLOWN PHOBIA

People’s fear of clowns will be fully exploited in a freak show with 3-D effects leading up to an explosive conclusion.

“Clowns really freak people out, which is why we are going after it,” Rodriguez says. “You’ll walk out saying, ‘What just happened?’ ”

Although put on by the same company that runs Blood Manor, don’t expect the same “blood, guts and gore,” Rodriguez says. “It has a whole different vibe to it. This is a little creepier and more in-depth.”

Lines at haunts can be long, so “Crypts” will offer timed tickets accommodating guests within the hour. To speed up the process, purchase an express pass to secure a spot at the front of the line.

For those who get too freaked out, a safe word can be uttered to vacate the haunt through a “chicken exit” (no refunds, though). But for horror fans, it’s a feast of fear.

“When leaving, they are going to want more,” Rodriguez says. “It’s pure excitement and an adrenaline rush all the way.”

By David J. Criblez

david.criblez@newsday.comDavidJCriblez

David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.