Alton Towers Scarefest 2016 Review

It’s that time again! With Sub-species returning for a second year, plus an intriguing new attraction in the lineup, I couldn’t have been more excited for Scarefest 2016. We had an amazing time as always, but unfortunately, Hex and Sub-Terra (two of my favourite rides) remain closed. I’ve never found Air to be particularly enjoyable, so the transformation to Galactica has been the final nail in the coffin. And as much as I enjoy the other coasters, I hope to see a fuller lineup of rides at Scarefest next year. It’s the combination of rides and scares which make the day so special.

Fortunately, the Scarefest attractions didn’t disappoint…

House of Monsters

A brand new addition to the Scarefest event, House of Monsters was a nifty little attraction designed to give younger kids a thrill whilst keeping adults entertained. It slotted perfectly into the gap between attractions for the little ones, such as Skelvin’s Spooky Storytime, and Terror of the Towers, a lower-level scare maze.

Speaking as an adult (who went in with another adult), I could definitely see the appeal. The attraction followed a Dungeons-style format of room-to-room set pieces and audience participation, with a short maze at the end.

House of Monsters presented a great mixture of cute comedy and mild jump scares with beatifully designed interiors. The opening room was my favourite in terms of performance; the green house scene outstayed its welcome. Worth the extra fiver? Just about.

Terror of the Towers: What Lies Within

This iconic maze has always felt somewhat central to the Scarefest experience. It’s also a favourite of mine; the combination of content and setting makes me feel like I’m in own personal horror film. This year was no exception, for the most part.

Terror of the Towers is still hitting all the right notes in terms of layout, lighting, soundtrack, and actor positioning. This enduring quality is why I never tire of it, although it has become rather predictable.

Unfortunately the finale was lacking this year compared to previous visits; the movement of the demons in the strobe wasn’t as nightmarish or alarming. That being said, it’s still very disorienting. Damned if I know how the group leader ever manages to get us out. I’m yet to try.

Altonville Mine Tours: Uncover the Legend of the Skin Snatchers

THIS IS IT. A dream come true for any horror fan, outside of HHN! Silence of the Lambs meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets The Hills Have Eyes – smelling/seeing/feeling it. LIVING it. This was immersive, scary, and impeccably themed to cinematic standards.

The scareactors’ accents were all fantastic and they set the scene perfectly.

Once inside, I was stunned by the intricacy of the various setpieces. My eyes deceived me in a moment of absolute horror, where clever make-up and flawless timing created a devastating jump scare which I’ll never forget. I was a screaming idiot, no doubt about it. I didn’t get a Haunted Lantern hardhat, but from closely accompanying someone who did, I think it added an extra layer of interest.

My most memorable moments of the season were all inside this maze, and the use of music in one particular scene really elevated the whole experience for me. I think we got lucky with the finale; it was extremely hard to see anything and just the two of us wandered in, so we really got a good jump.

Sub Species: The End Games

Sub-species the second time around was, unfortunately, nothing compared to last year. Aside from the first scene, where the guest dispatch was just as thrilling as before, there was a striking difference in tone. Energy levels were down once I got going.

I didn’t encounter many scareactors on my walk through. There were a couple of characters who redirected me on my way, but it felt oddly perfunctory, as if I were simply being given directions. I considered heading backwards or into different areas just to try and find some excitement myself. In retrospect, I wish I had. But on the other hand, shouldn’t there have been enough on the table already?

Perhaps the nature of Sub-species will always be problematic in terms of inconsistencies. I have heard a great many positives from this year; maybe it’s worth the roll of the dice for the chance of a terrifying walkthrough. I do like to live dangerously after all.

Scare zones

Sadly, as a result of our maze slot and my need to ride Thirteen in the dark, we missed the Freak Show scare zone. However, from walking though prior to opening & post closing, it looked extremely promising! Dark Apocalypse was pretty solid and I was pleased to see a crying child near the exit. The actors were fantastic and so patient with people wanting selfies, us included!