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[2023] The Curse at Alton Manor

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RIPCorky said:
Can't believe people prefer the Duel portraits over the original ones
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I mean it's only 2 people, and they just look better to me. Theyre less ghost trainy paintings and more aged authentic. Have always thought them very creepy and memorable since I was young.

Theyre actually both knock offs, it doesnt really matter.

It's only a small part but if something is genuinly better, then it's better. Almost nothing else about Duel had any taste or quality put into it.
 
NoSmoking said:
I mean it's only 2 people, and they just look better to me. Theyre less ghost trainy paintings and more aged authentic. Have always thought them very creepy and memorable since I was young.

Theyre actually both knock offs, it doesnt really matter.

It's only a small part but if something is genuinly better, then it's better. Almost nothing else about Duel had any taste or quality put into it.
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What are the Duel paintings knock offs of? Haven't heard of this before.
 
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Skyscraper said:
It's explained in the book Smoke and Mirrors. The Haunted House paintings were inspired by works from various artists, and some had to be removed when some of those artists realised and requested so.
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I think there is a misunderstanding. I know that the original HH paintings were knockoffs thanks to Smoke and Mirrors, but I didn't know that the paintings that were in Duel were knockoffs too, according to @NoSmoking.
 
zeock said:
I think there is a misunderstanding. I know that the original HH paintings were knockoffs thanks to Smoke and Mirrors, but I didn't know that the paintings that were in Duel were knockoffs too, according to @NoSmoking.
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They were stock paintings bought from the same Halloween catalogue as the other Duel props. To be fair they were aged really nicely that the finished result looked great I think. But theyre no more 'original' than the originals werent, they just look better I think.
 
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NoSmoking said:

From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qb7zaYmAOw

Here's the shop that sold them. You can see they were pretty much completely repainted and aged. It makes no difference really when the finished look was better than the originals and neither were custom.
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Still think the originals were better fitting with the art style of the ride. In the ride none of the scenes were realistic as such. I've never been offered a cup of tea by a monster :D
 
RIPCorky said:
In the ride none of the scenes were realistic as such. I've never been offered a cup of tea by a monster :D
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If you prefer either fine but I think that's wildly overthinking it when the original portraits also had no relation to the ride ahead at all. The preshow scenes the portraits were in were "realistic" style

So yeah no for me the crypt was just a dumb addition not because Duel = bad (although it 99% happened to be so)
 
NoSmoking said:
If you prefer either fine but I think that's wildly overthinking it when the original portraits also had no relation to the ride ahead at all. The preshow scenes the portraits were in were "realistic" style

So yeah no for me the crypt was just a dumb addition not because Duel = bad (although it 99% happened to be so)
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I guess the original ride didn't really have a story anyway, it was just a haunted house and they were probably just stuck there so it looked like they may have "lived there"
 
NoSmoking said:
If you prefer either fine but I think that's wildly overthinking it when the original portraits also had no relation to the ride ahead at all. The preshow scenes the portraits were in were "realistic" style

So yeah no for me the crypt was just a dumb addition not because Duel = bad (although it 99% happened to be so)
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I think the original ones were much more appropriate for the HH as the people inside the paintings looked very evil and sinister and Weren't just some monsters wearing victoriana clothing. To me the original paintings scream "We're watching you!" And looked very sadistic. I think the portraits for Duel were a lot more appropriate when it was redone in 2003, and loved the aged look on them, but with the next ride having a theme and style like the original, I think they should replace them with similar paintings like the original, but not ripoff paintings, preferably something realistic and original with that Hammer Horror and pure evil look the individual had in those old paintings.
 
Matt.GC said:
Why does everyone hate the Crypt? I can think of a million more things to criticise about Duel before menting the crypt. I thought it actually added to the area myself. It was additional theming and took nothing away. Bearing in mind I've actually physically been in Gloomy Wood before and after its addition.
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The crypt itself is okay, for me it’s the zombie armed with a laser gun - it’s a bit resident evil.
 
Apologies if I’ve not read far enough back into this topic, but since Duel closed back in September my understanding is that is that the rides name will be changed back to something along the lines of the Haunted House. Having seen this post on Facebook by Theme Park Insanity today, I’m now confused as to whether it will stay with the Duel name or not.

Personally, I’d like it to keep the name. It was the second ride I went on when I first ever visited Towers in 2005, and I loved it. I can’t really comment on the Haunted House. Heck, I even like the Gloomy Wood and Duel theme tunes (got high quality downloads of those saved 👌🏻).

Danscott22 said:
On the latest Squadding Quads video (which was on Duel), it looks like, but is quite hard to tell so I'm not sure, but it looks like the Duel entrance sign has been removed finally.
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It’s hard to tell. If it does go though, shame. I like how it stands freely and leans to one side slightly.
Matt.GC said:
Why does everyone hate the Crypt? I can think of a million more things to criticise about Duel before menting the crypt. I thought it actually added to the area myself. It was additional theming and took nothing away. Bearing in mind I've actually physically been in Gloomy Wood before and after its addition.
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For the Crypt haters, how’s this for a transformation? 😂😂 This I when I went to Lightopia last year.

9E776AF3-AD3B-4320-86A7-8B12C1B0ED70.jpeg

Personally, I don’t mind the Crypt. For Duel and the laser guns it’s been great, but without the laser guns, remove matey and keep the Crypt.
 
Yeah the Duel name is 100% finished now. Wouldn't fit the Haunted House-style they are seemingly returning to. That's why, as @George W said above, the poster in the exit corridor stated "the duel is over". Plus the recent Squadding Quads video seemingly shows that the large Duel entrance sign has gone.
 
In terms of announcements, it is possible that we might have something before February Half Term. With it being open to day guests, there would be a good chance to advertise down Towers Street as they usually do when there's a new ride coming (subjective I know). I also know not loads of people will probably be going, but it might catch the attention of a few.
 
Danscott22 said:
In terms of announcements, it is possible that we might have something before February Half Term. With it being open to day guests, there would be a good chance to advertise down Towers Street as they usually do when there's a new ride coming (subjective I know). I also know not loads of people will probably be going, but it might catch the attention of a few.
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They will announce it when they announce it… it takes time for marketing to make a naff paint shop graphic without spell checking it beforehand…
 
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