Recently I was asked to recommend a scream park that has a carnival vibe, with plenty to do and see alongside the standard scare mazes. Screamfest has always delivered on this front, and so, despite not having visited their 2025 event at the time of making the recommendation, I still felt confident in doing so. As it turned out, I could have hyped it up tenfold and it still wouldn’t have been a strong enough endorsement. Screamfest 2025 was magic. Starting with the mazes: Freak Out Guarded by a formidable inflatable clown head, the façade of this reimagined classic signposts exactly what type of experience lies within. Brash, exaggerated, colourful and crazed, the clowns are running riot once more, gleefully toying with disoriented guests who are trying (and failing) to navigate confusing corridors, doors with cryptic messages, and a bewildering mirror-maze segment. All of this is compounded by flashing strobe and pounding music (provided this year as a collaboration between themed entertainment stalwart Nick Hutson and metal musician Serena Cherry), creating a raucously fun experience that does exactly what it says on the tin. I had a blast - special shout out to the sinister ringmaster who set the tone perfectly! Hellcatraz Not new for 2025, but new for me, I had high hopes for this. Screamfest mazes often have very strong intro scenes (I’m looking at you Slasher) and this was no exception; total darkness, isolation and a dramatic voiceover all added to the mounting tension. The guidelines for this maze specified that the scareactors can and will touch guests (a rarity at Screamfest), which turned out to be the sole focus of the whole experience. Lighting conditions in the maze offered a clear view of what was happening, hindering any opportunity to scare guests. The grabbing and pushing in the absence of darkness amounted to a one-note walkthrough, as there was nothing to build upon once the scareactors got going. However, their intense energy created a chaotic experience, which was thrilling throughout despite feeling a little predictable. Hillbilly Joe’s Zombee Zoo It may be time to bid farewell to this beloved and hilariously unhinged attraction. It has served us well, but the high-energy hijinks of the moonshine-swigging hillbilly zookeepers has dissipated a little, leaving behind a solidly themed walkthrough which is good for a giggle. The empty scenes and missed effects from 2021 were prevalent again, possibly as a result of groups navigating the maze at wildly inconsistent speeds (it’s always the way!), but the experience is still a memorable one, enhanced by its zany soundtrack and fun scareactor performances.    Insomnia I’ve had my ups and downs with Insomnia, but through it all, I’ve never considered this to be anything less than an absolute jewel in the crown of the UK scene. Ambitious yet understated, often misunderstood and wildly underrated, it asserts that there is nothing more terrifying than a nightmare from the perspective of a child - it seeming so real, so impossible to wake from, and from feeling so alone and helpless when a parent is dismissive. The attraction is made up of multiple layers, mixing theatricality and scares, fragments of fiction and memories of real life trauma bleeding into a nightmare realm, where everything is twisted and distorted. Navigating the maze in a larger group can result in missed moments; you really have to take your time with this, and that isn’t always logistically possible. Despite this, Insomnia stands out as a confident piece of storytelling, from the pre-show right through to the finale. Mutation Damnation At last, a theme that fits the corn maze! A scientific research facility known as Atheria Life Sciences, where scientists push the boundaries of genetically modified food, promising a healthier future for life on earth. We arrived at the facility and were met with the most eerily polite robotic tour guide, who was as engaging as he was unnerving, and did a brilliant job of setting the tone, subtly indicating that they’re hiding something. From there, we entered the corn maze, where we discovered that these experiments have brought about some horrifying changes in those undertaking them. As with Hellcatraz, this was similarly lacking in scares; we encountered characters as we wandered through, which was enjoyable on the clear and starry night that we visited. Throw in a big squeeze and double chainsaw finish, and that’s enough to keep me smiling.   The atmosphere at Screamfest has now reached the level of a full on Halloween festival. There are multiple bars (including a dedicated spooky cocktail bar!) and food options, fairground rides and horror-themed sideshow activities, and even a mini scare zone featuring a horrifying anthropomorphic bat. Pops of creepy streetmosphere were happening in every corner of the site, with roaming scareactors landing scares on unsuspecting guests, and a miniature theatrical setpiece featuring a witch burning slowly upon a pyre. This is everything a scream park should be. In addition to this, the entertainment on stage was an absolute riot, with live music, circus performers, and a stomach-churning freakshow featuring some extreme feats of physical endurance. As the evening progressed, fan favorite Nurse Babs took to the stage for a wildly unhinged cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train, and insisted we all join together in a conga line around the main hub. Seeing everyone laughing and celebrating the spooky season together - some wearing costumes and others just enjoying the vibe – it was genuinely heartwarming. As I downed my last prosecco and stood up to leave, stuffing my freezing cold hands into my coat pockets, a performer came up to me and wished me a happy Halloween. Events like this are what make October so special; the passion of everyone involved is evident. It's a true celebration of spooky season, and I can’t wait to return next year.

Doncaster Fear Factory is back for 2025, with a whopping seven attractions in total – five scare mazes (of which two are new) and two scare zones (of which one is new). The atmosphere feels considerably amped up this year; fairground rides, roaming actors, a stage for live performances, a bar, music, and spooky lighting all combine to create a buzzing environment, rife with the sound of roaring chainsaws and terrified screams. The two scare zones served as good pops of adrenaline in between the mazes. The vibrant and chaotic Uncle Donk's Scare Zone was a fun contrast to the shadowy and dingy Crimson Harvest. Whereas the darkness brings anticipation and tension in the latter, the colourful lights in the former place the scareactors front and centre, setting the stage for some crazed interactions. And so, onto the mazes! Beware of spoilers… Quinlens & Co Bring out your dead! These renowned piemakers would ordinarily be serving up their finest pies for hungry guests, were it not for the small matter of The Great Plague. This maze is an utterly foul experience in the best possible way. Rotting food in a decrepit kitchen, crazed cooks driven mad by their sickness, the air thick with pestilence and the stench of death; all of the theming and the sensory elements in this maze convey a stomach-churning sense of decay and despair. Add to this an environment primed for some intense jump scares and some plague doctor imagery, and you’ve got unique attraction that is both memorable and something you’d rather forget! With scares on all sides and merciless splitting of the group, this was an absolute blast from start to finish. Now where did I put my hand sanitiser… Crackle Hill: The Summoning Nestled amongst the trees and looking bewitchingly realistic underneath a dark October sky, this creepy old house is packed with ancient spirits and haunted tales, all of which are presented via well executed mini setpieces and good old fashioned storytelling, with fantastic theming throughout. As was the case with a prior iteration of Crackle Hill, the storytelling aspect created a bit of confusion as we moved through the scenes. We lingered to hear the actors speak, but from a practical standpoint, the maze can’t accommodate an entire group standing in each scene (and to be fair, nor should it; the spiels aren’t particularly self-contained). Continuous movement maintained flow, but always left me feeling like I might be missing something. Nevertheless, there’s something irresistibly spooky about Crackle Hill, brought to life with amazing scareactor performances. Shellton Motel This bold and ambitious addition for 2025 is an absolute riot; the imposing façade alone is enough to indicate what kind of experience lies within. Brash, loud, and highly cinematic with a touch of camp, this scare maze delivers gore and shocks, mixed with storytelling and some decent scares. We loved the reception scene; the breaking news segment was a great touch, and the actor behind the check-in desk was nothing short of legendary. This memorable intro gave way to a decently themed and well-paced experience. The build up to the finale was perhaps a tad overcooked in our case, as our encounter with the killer was a bit anticlimactic, but everything that preceded it was intensely chaotic fun (the police raid being a particularly memorable flourish!)   DIABOLUS: VISUM MORTIS I’m a follow-the-rope naysayer, but only when it’s utilised in a hooded maze, which is usually the case with this format. I was pleasantly surprised that in this instance, blackout conditions were used instead of hoods, with torchlit pops of one-on-one scareactor interactions building great tension as we fumbled through. Shout out to the fantastic makeup in this maze – the scareactors looked great and it really enhanced the scares they delivered. As for the finale… well, I think about it constantly and I’m not even joking. Total darkness gave way to a breathtakingly themed setpiece, with multi-level scares and wickedly executed misdirection, all lit with intense and disorienting strobe. Strangely understated yet wildly effective old school scares; this is what October nights are all about.   Friargate Foundry Friargate Foundry is back, and the concept still feels like catnip to scare fans. Bringing multiple concepts together into a formidable fusion maze at the hands of the overarching creator; a sinister figure presiding over the entire Doncaster Fear Factory operation. It sets the stage for completely unrestrained creativity, which I love, but it also has its drawbacks. The constant switching-up of different environments makes it hard to buy into any given scene, but likewise, it keeps you guessing; you truly never know what’s around the corner! Despite the stylistic differences across the scenes, the team’s enduring commitment to immersing guests in detailed theming and stories is evident throughout, and this goes for the park as a whole too.     We had a fantastic night at Doncaster Fear Factory. Even without the mazes, the location and layout of the park add so much to the experience as a whole. Weaving along dark woodland paths to reach the attractions, with the surrounding trees lit in eerie purples and greens – it’s truly an embodiment of proper Halloween fun, enhanced by the roaming scareactors, one of whom I need to give a special shoutout to. Loitering by Shellton Motel and linked to its story, this guy was outrageously funny and quick off the bat with his banter, carrying a hilarious back-and forth with ease. Great physical characterisation, unhinged mannerisms and a convincing accent all combined to make this a memorable interaction. For the 2025 season, Doncaster Fear Factory is open on select nights in October and on 1st November. For more information and tickets, visit their website .

In 2022, a major UK-wide film and events season called ‘In Dreams Are Monsters’ was launched by the British Film Institute (BFI). It was an exploration how the monsters of horror have evolved, and made physical the anxieties and social issues of their times. It was structured around five key archetypes: beast, ghost, vampire, witch and zombie. As part of the season, cinemas and festivals could apply for funding for events and special screenings that tied in with the ‘In Dreams Are Monsters’ criteria.  We at team Celluloid Screams set about brainstorming ideas for an event, as this opportunity was too good to pass up. I’d always wanted to put on an immersive event, given my love of themed immersive experiences, so I used that as a starting point. Reading through the information provided by BFI on the season, I saw ‘Ghostwatch’ on the list of suggested titles, and my stomach did a huge flip. What if we could create an immersive screening of Ghostwatch, in which the paranormal events that took place inside the BBC studio in 1992 are re-triggered by screening Ghostwatch to an audience in the present day. An ostensibly normal cinema event, with a cast and crew Q&A, but it all goes to hell at the hands of Pipes, who is revamped for the digital age. I nervously pitched the idea to the rest of the team, and thankfully, they were on board. We enlisted the help of the amazing Live Cinema UK, who helped us with the BFI application and set about working with us to design and create the immersive elements of the screening once our application had been approved. Things moved quickly from there, and every step of the process was more surreal than the last. I vividly remember being on a Zoom call with director Lesley Manning and writer Stephen Volk, unveiling our grand plans and silently praying they’d be on board with our shenanigans (fortunately, they were). The technical aspects of the experience evolved as we worked to shape the event into something that was achievable in the space and on budget (my original notes call for electrical equipment “exploding in showers of sparks”). We landed on Peddler Warehouse for the event, an ideal venue with a lovey team behind it. We ran rehearsals for the segment where everything starts to go wrong, which is after the screening and at the tail end of my Q&A with Lesley, Stephen, and Gillian Bevan who played Dr Lin Pascoe. The idea was to do allow some genuine questions from myself and the audience, which would be plagued by minor tech faults, followed by a fake question to trigger the large scale unravelling and the [hopefully terrifying] on-screen Pipes takeover. It ran smoothly, but my nerves were setting in. On the night, I vividly remember walking into the warehouse (which was lit in an eerie blue light with a hazy fog effect) and I was completely overwhelmed. It looked incredible, I couldn’t believe it. The dream event was out of my head and happening for real. We had our Ghostwatch T-shirts on, there was a replica van with the Ghostwatch logo parked outside for photo ops, and the audience were steadily filing in. Other than some carefully rehearsed timings and code words, this wasn’t all that different to a regular screening and Q&A (which I’ve facilitated many times), but I was horrendously nervous. I wanted everything to be perfect (and I really wanted the audience to be scared!) The event flew by - I don’t remember much of the film being on, but I remember kicking off the Q&A and proceedings that followed. Much to my delight, our microphones began cutting out for real  at one point in the Q&A. Ordinarily I’d be irritated by this, but it elicited genuine reactions from us, which blended well with our ‘fake’ reactions and added verisimilitude. One audience member who was asking a question seemed like she was onto us, but then doubted herself immediately – I loved that. Before we knew it, it was time to run off stage and let Pipes haunt the warehouse in our grand finale.   Within days of the event being over, we learned that the BFI wanted us to bring our Ghostwatch event to their Southbank cinema in London, and show it in NFT1, their largest screen which seated 450 people. I was gob smacked. Before I knew it, we were booking our hotels and hitting the road. If I thought I was nervous in Sheffield, that would be nothing compared to what my stomach was doing in the BFI green room (the free bar helped a lot though!). We had to scale back some elements of the show for it to suit the venue, so London wasn’t quite the same as the warehouse event, but it was still an incredible experience that I’ll never forget. When saying our goodbyes to Stephen and Lesley, they said our event would forever be part of the Ghostwatch legacy. While this is obviously a huge honour, their words didn’t fully hit me until 3 months later, when I was at a horror exhibition at Somerset House that featured a section on Ghostwatch. I promptly burst into tears in the middle of the gallery. It’s a strange feeling to have a new and significant connection to a film I adore so much, and I feel immensely lucky to have had this opportunity, bolstered by the support and input from so many talented people. Maybe one day, team Celluloid Screams will bring you another immersive event. Hopefully Pipes won't haunt that one too!

I’m writing this 2 years too late. In 2022, I took myself on a trip. This wasn’t just any trip; it was a really important one. It was a solo trip to Boston Massachusetts, incorporating day trips to Salem, the Halloween capital of the world. A secular pilgrimage of sorts. This was an amalgamation of all the self-knowledge I had amassed in my life until then; I knew exactly I wanted to see, experience, taste, feel - and all of this has been carefully considered and incorporated. The trip itself was incredible, but when I returned, it never crossed my mind to write anything about it. Perplexing, really. I’ve given this a lot of thought, and I think my problem was feeling discouraged by having nowhere to post it. In February 2020, I closed down my scare attraction/horror review website, HorrorBox. It was a solemn acceptance of just how time-poor I had become. Post closure, I didn’t continue writing in any real or significant way, which was stupid of me. I didn't need to carve out an online space to house my words. Instead, the simple act of documenting the things that matter most to me, in the medium that matters most to me, should have been enough. Funnily enough, if you're reading this now, it means I've found a new online home. But at the time of writing this, I’m writing it just for me, which feels like a long overdue act of self-love. So here we go - let’s scrape together those [now] rose-tinted memories and bash out a Boston blog. When I was booking my trip, a lot of people asked me why I chose accommodation in Boston as opposed to Salem. It was a hard one to answer at the time, because my reasoning was based entirely on an assumption that Boston would be more suitable for a solo traveller. Actually scrap that - it would be more suitable for me as a solo traveller. One of the great benefits of self-knowledge is knowing how to push yourself out of your comfort zone without pushing too far. Salem appeared to me - albeit someone who had never visited - as a smaller location lacking in the big city conveniences that compliment my solo travelling habits. For example, dining alone in a restaurant doesn’t bother me, but when I’m feeling jetlagged and anxious, I want multiple delicious to-go options (all within a few minutes’ walk of my hotel), which I can messily devour in the cosy solitude of my room, lit by the glow of the TV. On reflection, I definitely made the right decision. Boston was an ideal base for the trip. Things didn’t get off to the best start; a gnarly 6 hour delay ate away at both my spirits and the first day of the holiday. Public transport from the airport to the Seaport district, where I was staying, looked very straightforward; I promised myself I’d use it rather than splashing cash on a rideshare straightaway. However, when a 3pm arrival became a 9pm arrival, my exhausted body and mind had other ideas. After being dropped at my hotel and receiving no less than seven welcomes at the front desk (I counted), I flopped onto the bed and descended into a jetlagged haze that cruelly resembled sleep, but with none of the benefits. Adrenaline jabbed away at my fractured circadian rhythm as I tossed and turned, I sensing the onset of a sore throat. Nevertheless, I was very happy. My room was cute as fuck, with fully customisable ambient lighting (I immediately chose purple) which made me feel cocooned. It was outrageously small, but that added to the vibe. I don’t remember what activities I did on what days, but I vividly remember the morning of day one. I’d set it aside for getting my bearings; I wanted to familiarise myself with the subway system and explore my immediate surroundings. Breakfast that first morning was a knockout. I went to an Italian deli which was a short walk from my hotel, and ordered what turned out to be the greatest breakfast sandwich I’ve ever eaten. The self-serve coffee was hot, delicious, and irresistibly strong. I sat listening to the conversations of local construction workers who’d come in on a morning break, becoming more obsessed with the Bostonian accent with every word uttered. Afterwards I wandered over to Fan Pier Park, the smell of the harbour stirring a sense of nostalgia from bygone seaside holidays. The skyline rising from the water’s edge looked unequvioocally cool. I sat gazing at it while I munched my snacks from Trader Joe’s, contemplating my excellent decision-making skills in relation to choosing this trip. On my first visit to Salem, I could barely contain my excitement. I took the subway to North Station where I promptly ordered seasonal treats from Dunkin and snaffled them while waiting for my train. I noticed a number of people arriving on the platform in Halloween/witchy/gothic garb - predictably (and much to my delight), we all boarded the train to Salem (the Commuter Rail, which took about 25 minutes). Upon arrival, the sun was shining and the streets were relatively quiet. I assumed this was the calm before the storm; an assumption that turned out to be largely correct. I made my way to the Bewitched statue and along Essex street to begin my exploration of the town. I visited Salem a total of three times during my trip, and I don’t remember precisely which activities I did on which days, so I’ll describe each activity in no particular order: The Satanic Temple HQ I had just ordered my 100th maple bourbon iced latte from an adorable coffee shop called Brew Box on Essex, and I was feeling rather fragile. The town had started to fill up with fellow Halloween enthusiasts, and I was seriously tired. As I walked down Howard Street on my way to The Satanic Temple HQ, the hustle and bustle of the crowds began to quieten, and I was able to gather my thoughts. By the time I reached the cemetery, I promptly burst into tears. I was overwhelmed by the sight of the gorgeous little houses, each adorned with spooky fall decorations. It was everything I was hoping for. I reflected on how proud of myself I was for making the trip happen, and simultaneously how self-indulgent it was to even be there at all. It popped into my head that self-indulgence is a hallmark of LaVeyan Satanism, and even though The Satanic Temple (TST) stands alone from the LaVeyan school of thought, I couldn’t help but make the connection. After about a 20 minute walk, I arrived at The Satanic Temple HQ. It’s a small building housing art pieces and exhibits pertaining to witch-hunts, Satanism, and moral panics. I mostly had the place to myself, so I took my time enjoying the beautiful interior design, and trying to snap the perfect selfie with the remarkable Baphomet Monument. The Satanic Panic room was my favourite, and of course I hit the gift shop pretty hard. Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery I LOVED this place. It’s a monster museum honouring the greatest actors, characters, FX artists, and directors in the history of horror cinema. Life-sized figures lurk in every corner and the themed sets are gorgeously detailed. As a genre film fan, it was an amazing experience. I was glad to have booked ahead as there seemed to be a constant queue of walk-ins. The gift shop was also a delight, with loads of unique horror merch and some real bargains to be had. Witch Mansion The Witch Mansion claims to be Salem's scariest haunted attraction, but I didn’t require any convincing as this was one of the first things on my itinerary. It’s a charming walkthrough haunt filled with creepy characters (all animatronic) and special FX. I absolutely loved it. I already knew not to expect scareactors (perhaps I’d have been disappointed had I not known) so I appreciated it for what it was. I remember having butterflies in my stomach as I lifted the curtain to enter, as this was my very first USA haunted house, and therefore an important moment for me despite how small it was. Halloween Museum of Salem An absolute must for any Halloween fan in Salem (and surely everyone in Salem is a Halloween fan!) This place is filled with adorable exhibits celebrating the history of Halloween, as well as nostalgic memorabilia and spooky dioramas. I loved the whimsical vibe and colourful aesthetic; it exuded that special Halloween magic that makes my heart happy. Lighthouse and foliage cruise (Mahi Cruises) I discovered Mahi Cruises on the Haunted Happenings online listings (Haunted Happenings being the umbrella event name for all offerings in Salem during the spooky season). The company was running two cruise options during Haunted Happenings: the lighthouse and foliage cruise, and the haunted happenings harbour cruise. I chose the former as it seemingly offered more opportunities for sightseeing. The boat, named the Hannah Glover, was an impressive a double decker with an open air top deck and heated main cabin. Much to my delight, there was a bar on our top deck, serving local craft beers, cocktails and spiked hot apple cider (though of course, to us in the UK, alcoholic cider is just called cider). There was also food available, including New England’s favourite: clam chowder (sorry, chowda). The boat also had a resident dog. The cruise itself was perfect. We explored 14-miles of beautiful coastlines and islands, including the shorelines of Salem, Beverly, Marblehead, Manchester-by-the-Sea and the Misery Islands. The scenery was stunning, and although the foliage was unseasonably late that year, there was still a good amount of colour. Everyone was super friendly, we chatted away while drinking our hot cider and peacefully taking in the views. It was everything I wanted it to be. And yes, I cried then too – couldn’t even blame the jet lag at that point. Shopping, shopping, and more shopping Ah yes, that feeling when you’ve saved up for months so you can really splurge, then Liz Truss’ mini budget sends the pound tumbling as soon as you’re on American soil. My money didn’t go particularly far, but I didn’t let that hold me back. After a bit of light reconnaissance, I already knew which shops I wanted to hit. Blackcraft and Die With Your Boots On left my bank account sufficiently drained, and the smaller touristy gift shops yielded some super cute trinkets and affordable souvenirs. The candles at Witch City Wicks were some of best things I bought on the whole trip, and my favourite shop overall was Black Veil Shoppe of Drear & Wonder. My jaw hit the floor when I saw the décor in there; it was like stepping into an autumnal gothic fairytale. The Witch House Salem 101: get a photo in front of The Witch House. It’s one of Salem’s most recognisable historic structures, and one of the few remaining properties with direct ties to the witch trials. I didn’t visit the museum inside, but many were visiting the day I went. I know this because the front door seemingly serves as the exit, so anyone who poses for a photo in front of the house must awkwardly contend with random people periodically appearing in shot. There was a small queue for photos when I arrived mid-morning; this may just be an October thing. Being a solo visitor, I had to put my faith in complete strangers to take a decent photo for me. This didn’t happen on my first attempt, but rather than hold up the line, I scuttled off for a short walk and returned later for another try, which fortunately came out great. Thank you to the person who took it! Frankenstein's Castle at Salem Wax Museum In October, the street where Salem Wax Museum is located transforms into ‘The Haunted Neighbourhood’, with up to seven attractions on offer depending on which day you visit. I only managed one: Frankenstein's Castle. Housed in the wax museum’s ‘dungeon’, this haunt featured both live scareactors and animatronics, so I was eager to experience it. It was fine. Theming was pretty scant and I don’t recall getting many good scares, but it’s a fond memory nonetheless. Gallows Hill Gallows Hill Museum & Theatre is a multi-attraction space that offers a variety of experiences. I went for what they call their ‘main show’, which is an immersive theatrical experience centred around the Salem Witch Trials. Somewhat adorably, the website describes the main show as having “Disney style special effects”. I do recall the effects being quite good, but that’s not my biggest takeaway from this. I just loved the vibe of it. A tiny little theatre with bench-style seating and atmospheric lighting, and that cosy tingly feeling of settling in for a chilling ghost story. Witch Trials Memorial A simple green space with trees and a stone wall, I found the memorial to be a quiet, contemplative environment. Inscribed in the stone at the entrance to the memorial are the victims’ protests of innocence, and benches around the perimeter bear their names and the execution dates. A walking tour was passing through here so I lingered nearby to hear some of the information, but was soon distracted and lost in my own thoughts. As I approached the benches, I saw that they had small items laid on them – mostly flowers, coins, notes and candles. A poignant reminder of the past, and a chance to reflect on the part we can all play in fighting present-day injustice. The rest of my time in Boston was spent exploring while periodically stopping for lobster rolls. It was wonderful. Beacon Hill was a highlight, and as far as autumnal vibes go, it was off the charts. I loved the cobblestoned, gas-lamp lined streets, with leaves dancing in the wind and bright orange pumpkins piled on stoops. From there I wandered down to Boston Common and took photos of the trees like every other tourist. I explored The North End, Boston’s Little Italy, where I devoured delicious cannoli. I bought tat in Quincy Market and wandered for hours until I stumbled on the Greenway Carousel, the only carousel of its kind, featuring beautiful hand-carved animals. I wandered around Boston Public Library. I cosied up in my bed with bags of fast food and watched appallingly bad TV. I drank a lot of coffee. I became insufferably attached to the area, absorbing every aspect of it into my personality, and vowed to return. By the end of the trip, I had the usual mix of emotions- sad to be leaving, excited to get home, anxious about fitting all my new purchases inside my second suitcase. I also had one more treat to look forward to. My travel agent had managed to bag me a premium economy seat at a bargain price. I’d never travelling in anything other than economy at the time, so I was beyond thrilled. The seat was super comfortable - I quickly cosied up and began excitedly pouring over the menu and amenity kit. After dinner, I commenced my bedtime routine, giddy over the lingering possibility that I might actually get some sleep on the plane (a first for me). After exasperatedly arranging and rearranging my blanket & pillow, I was thrilled to discover that Good Will Hunting was available on to watch on the in-flight entertainment system. The comforting hues and Bostonian accents were the perfect way to say goodbye to Massachusetts, and I slowly drifted into waves of sleep, emotion, and nausea from the gentle but persistent turbulence. After returning home, I reflected on the trip and how proud I was for creating a meaningful experience for myself. Self-knowledge, and taking the time to cultivate it, had enabled me to shape that experience in a way that maximised joy. I'd always viewed self-knowledge as a tool of empowerment, but I think that amounts to taking myself a little too seriously. After all, analysing oneself in perpetuity is a kind of narcissism. There’s strength to having an unknowable self, to thinking about ourselves less. But there's a valuable asset that I sometimes conflate with self-knowledge, and that's self-love, and while I’ll proudly declare to have mostly conquered the former, I shy away from even contemplating the latter. I think this trip has proven to myself that I’m further along in that journey than I thought ❤︎

For the uninitiated, DARKFIELD are creators of 360 degree audio experiences, which utilise immersive sets, binaural sound, blackout conditions and sensory effects to take guests on an intense theatrical journey. I experienced their latest creation, EULOGY, at Edinburgh Fringe 2025. As is usually the case with DARKFIELD, EULOGY takes place inside a shipping container. The hotel theme was evident immediately, as we were each given a room card detailing the name of our individual suites. The suites were actually storage cages, such as those you might see being wheeled down a hotel corridor stacked with linen. We sat down inside our suites, donned our headphones, and were plunged into total darkness. In the absence of light, the pin-sharp clarity and verisimilarity of the binaural sounds were deeply disorientating and disconcerting. The story began to unfold. The premise of EULOGY is deeply esoteric; as you journey through a mysterious ‘hotel’, your guide promises to look after you, and transport you from place to place, implying that you are static yet still conscious. The script conjures an unsettling sense of liminality in the spaces you move through: the inside of a hotel room, a conference room, a pool. Is your consciousness safe here? Unclear. Cryptic lines of dialogue make reference to bizarre concepts. Have you read the pamphlet? Is your speech ready? It’s all delightfully yet frustratingly obscure. As the experience progresses, and you are moved down to the lower levels, a darker feeling encroaches. There’s something else that could be wheeled down a corridor in the basement of a building; something unmoving. Your fate is sealed, solidified by the presence of a tell-tale smell. As the story draws to a conclusion, your lingering consciousness bears auditory and sensory witness to a grim ending, tinged with some irresistibly dark comedy via a callback to a gimmick deployed earlier in the show. DARKFIELD deliver some of the most realistic audio simulations you’ll ever experience, and as such, any DARKFIELD experience is sure to be an intense one. EULOGY combines this intensity with a thought-provoking and darkly poetic story, encouraging us to question how an embodied human experience differs from the version of our consciousness that exists solely in the imagination. It’s a challenging and intangible concept, heightened by the vivid storytelling and the unique nature of DARKFIELD’s modus operandi. I can’t wait to see what they do next.

Brother and sister Wilson (Evan Dumouchel) and Daphne (Libby Ewing) had a difficult childhood. Their battles growing up have shaped their lives and personalities in very different ways; Wilson has remained almost childlike, struggling under the burden of adult life and responsibility, whereas Daphne is tough and fiercely protective of him, despite the mental strain this causes her as a recovering addict with ongoing issues of her own. When Daphne finds herself in grave danger at the hands of a mysterious supernatural entity, Wilson is forced to step up to face off against forces he does not fully understand. Under the guidance of his beloved sister, Wilson must summon all his strength, and fight for a future where the siblings shall no longer endure the torment and pain that has plagued their entire lives. Perry Blackshear’s WHEN I CONSUME YOU is a poignant and heartfelt examination of what it means to truly confront your inner demons, rendered in striking visual metaphors which draw on familiar horror tropes to imbue this gripping story with further tension and dread. Blackshear presents Wilson’s heart-wrenching vulnerability in unflinching, empathetic detail, zoning in on the physicality of Dumouchel’s performance to convey the raw emotional intensity of the character. The tender portrayal of Wilson and Daphne’s relationship is all the more powerful when combined with elements of supernatural horror, and we as an audience must grapple with the weighty realisation that the film’s title is ‘when’, not ‘if’…

Following my first Cannes experience last year, I was really excited (and way less nervous) about going. I knew what to expect this time; from the terrible films to the midday heat, I was more than prepared for the ups and downs that the 68th Festival de Cannes would bring. The first major difference was my lack of patience compared to last year. Whilst navigating the crammed Croisette with 5 minutes to get to a screening, in searing sunshine with remnants of a hangover, a group of tourists posing for a selfie seems like an unforgivable act, rather than what it actually is: a perfectly reasonable thing to do whilst enjoying your holiday in a beautiful location. They received passive aggressive sighs, which didn't get me to the screenings any quicker. Last year, my floor-length gown returned home in the same bag I purchased it in, despondent and disappointed with its tags still attached. However, this year we were lucky enough to obtain invites to two evening screenings. Even more exciting was the fact that one of them was Mad Max: Fury Road, which I desperately wanted to see. The red carpet for Mad Max was extremely busy, and whilst the atmosphere was amazing, I didn’t really get a chance to take it all in. I absolutely loved the film though. As soon as it finished, we headed straight back to the front of the Palais for Tale of Tales. It was dark by that time, so the red carpet was much more exciting. The bright lights and flashing cameras really added to the moment, and there were fewer people on the carpet with us. The view from the top of the steps was magical, and something I’ll never ever forget. Unfortunately I didn’t really enjoy Tale of Tales, but the evening as a whole was amazing. This year there were many more opportunities to meet new people, as well as catching up with all the awesome people I met last year. Our first night dinner for festival organisers was one such opportunity. It was a great crowd, the wine was flowing, and it was great to finally sit and sample some tasty French cuisine (last year was more a case of grabbing whatever, whenever). The European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation cocktail party was an afternoon well spent, and as with last year, the Fantastic Mixer party was over way too quickly. Funny how time flies when you’re sipping champagne and stuffing your face with savoury treats. Sadly I didn’t make it to the Cinema de la Plage this time. The one film I was interested in seeing just happened to coincide with a party on a yacht, to celebrate the launch of ‘Flix Premiere’. Unsurprisingly, the yacht won. On our way to the party, we decided to set the tone by stopping at the Carlton International for a cocktail on the sun terrace. That was something I’d always wanted to do, because the Carlton definitely feels like the centre of the A-list universe in Cannes, with fans gravitating towards its entrance in the hopes of spotting a star. And last year I was only in there briefly to use the toilets. With horror stories of 20 euro coffees, I was well prepared for an extortionate bill. Thank goodness I was prepared. It was a gorgeous martini though… By the final day I was pretty exhausted and desperate to get back to my own bed, after having camped out in the apartment’s living room (the bunk beds provided were a disaster waiting to happen). I looked tired from the late nights, and heavier from the endless consumption of bread. I had run out of Berocca and euros. My search for Jake Gyllenhaal had failed. But saddest of all, I was leaving beautiful Cannes, and normal life was about to resume. Fortunately, normal life is a hell of a lot cheaper.

When we visit new places and create happy memories there, we often want to return to those places, sometimes repeatedly. Eventually these places become special to us. This year was my first ever visit to the Cannes Film Festival, and even though my time there passed very quickly, it’s already a special place to me. I was there as part of the Celluloid Screams programming team, attending the market screenings of new horror films to find potential films for our festival. We were extremely busy each day; there were loads of films to get through. Many of these screenings took place in the Palais (the main building) which was one of the best places to be, due to the free Wi-fi and Nespresso bar. I loved the Nespresso bar. Other screenings took place in various cinemas around the town, which was good as they do have comfier seats, and walking to and from them gave me a chance to see a bit more of the area. And I’m glad I did, because Cannes is so beautiful! The coastline stretches out for miles, with hills and mountains fading into the distance and dividing the blue sea and sky. The Château de la Castre overlooks Cannes harbour, with rows of boats and yachts which increase in size and grandeur the closer you get to the Palais. The yachts which line the water’s edge beside the Palais are like nothing I’d ever seen before. One of them even had a gym on the top level. Each day the sea was littered with these yachts, gently floating on the glittering water, their owners no doubt soaking up the sunshine while being waited on by their private staff. It was weird getting a glimpse into that kind of lifestyle. In terms of the films I watched while I was there, there were a few highlights. One of these was Jemaine Clement’s What We Do in the Shadows, a comedy about a group of vampire flatmates. The humour in this was spot on for me; a good mix of character comedy and visual gags (some of the best I’ve ever seen in fact). It had me laughing all the way through. Scare wise, It Follows was stunning; a brilliantly simple yet terrifying concept and great performances being the winning combination here. My favourite film of the festival is tied between Adam Wingard’s The Guest, and a horror/comedy from New Zealand called Housebound. The Guest is not strictly a horror film, but tonally, Adam Wingard’s stamp on this is evident, and I even preferred it to You’re Next. It’s impossibly cool. Housebound was right up my street too; the story had some great twists and turns, it was immensely watchable and funny throughout. There were a few highlights of the trip overall. We were lucky enough to see the cast of The Expendables 3 rolling through Cannes atop tanks on their way to a press conference. That was certainly memorable! Due to my spot in the crowd, I only got a teeny glimpse of Stallone. Wesley Snipes seemed to be loving it, as did Arnie & Antonio Banderas, but Harrison Ford looked significantly less enthused. It was over quickly but it was fun, and completely surreal. I also managed to get a ticket to see one of the competition films- David Cronenberg’s Maps to the Stars, screened in the beautiful Grand Théâtre Lumière. I think I enjoyed the experience of going to see it more than I enjoyed the actual film, mainly because... a) The film wasn’t amazing, and b) We got to walk the red carpet steps to get in, which was awesome. The Cinema de la Plage was also a lovely experience. It’s open to the public so we had to get there early to ensure we got a deckchair. For a Few Dollars More was on the night we went, and we managed to smuggle in some bread, cheese and wine. They give you these soft & snuggly blankets to keep you warm, and it was a clear night so the stars were out. All of that plus Clint Eastwood on the big screen; need I say more? Magical. Walking around Cannes at night was amazing; it gave me a chance to soak up some of the atmosphere, which was always present and always infectious. Activity continues late into the night, everybody is dressed to impress, mixing and mingling and schmoozing. There are bars along the beach and down the Croisette, and enormous hotels with brightly lit film billboards; it’s like the whole town sparkles. I could have spent hours wandering around, just watching the night unfold. And I could have spent my bank balance drinking there. Sadly, I hadn’t that much time or money to spend, but we did have a couple of fun evenings out. Attending Cannes Film Festival made me feel like I was part of something special, and I hope to go again next year. I’ve made some lovely new friends and some really great memories. Au revoir Cannes, till next time!

After skipping Cannes in 2016 in favour of the chillier delights of Berlinale, I was so excited to be back on the Croisette. The beautiful weather, sparkling blue ocean and glamorous milieu are an enduring joy for me, no matter how busy my Marché schedule. Nevertheless, attending as a horror film festival programmer, there were many violent and dark films to be watched amidst the glitz. The aim of the game, as always, was to bag some gems to screen at Celluloid Screams, and no amount of Jake Gyllenhaal or delicious pizza was going to change that. As with last year, dinner on our arrival night was a tasty, hearty and relaxed 4 course meal at La Brouette de Grand Mère, enjoyed in the excellent company of the genre festival crowd. A great chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones. I was thrilled to discover that the gravlax (served with a shot of iced vodka) was still on the set menu, and the terrine was just as divine as I remembered it to be. The perfect start to the festival. Screenings wise, it was a packed week with some strong contenders. You'll have to keep an eye on our programme announcement later in the year to see what we end up with, but I'm already very excited about the possibilities. I didn't see many films outside of the Marché, but I did go to the Cinéma de la Plage this year to watch one of my favourite films: All About My Mother, by Pedro Almodóvar, who came onto the beach to introduce it. There were no English subtitles (the film is Spanish), but my experience watching it was no different. I know the film by heart, but dialogue is only a small part of it; the screening made me realise the significance of other elements, such as the music and mise en scène, in the connection I feel with the sum of its parts. The Fantastic Fanatics Mixer party is always a highlight for me, and this year was no exception. It's designed to bring together directors, sales companies, buyers & festival programmers of the genre industry. I met some really lovely people. Events took an interesting turn after the party, when, in an advanced state of refreshment, our group took off in the direction of an unknown hotel in search of an Iron Sky party we'd heard about. After a bit of stumbling around, we found ourselves in a sizeable hotel suite (or, the 'Iron Sky Lounge'). The event, held in association with the Finnish Film Foundation, was designed to generate some buzz around the next release in the Iron Sky Universe. The atmosphere was fantastic, aided in no small part by free booze aplenty. Our last day looked set to be pretty uneventful, with a hint of a hangover from the karaoke party the previous night. But as it turns out, we were lucky to be among the few who saw the past & present jury members leaving the Palais following their 70th anniversary photo shoot, including Uma Thurman, Will Smith and Guillermo del Toro to name a few. I do enjoy a bit of celebrity spotting, so it was a great end to the festival. Unfortunately though, as with last year, I didn't manage to see Jake Gyllenhaal. You can't have everything, and I hope one day he can understand that.

Scare Kingdom, the unique Lancashire scream park, has returned for its sixth year. Open on selected nights between October 4th and November 8th 2014, the park houses six different attractions; ideal for a full evening of scare entertainment. But are the attractions any good? Read on and find out… The Oubliette Our journey to Scare Kingdom wasn’t great (I blame the M62) so I wasn’t feeling all that enthusiastic when we arrived. That changed the second we sat down at the entrance to The Oubliette. I could hear thumping music, a booming voiceover, and lots of screaming. Smoke was seeping out from beneath the entrance curtain. It would be impossible not to get excited at this point; this got me in the mood before anything had even happened. Part scare attraction, part dispatch zone into Scare Kingdom; The Oubliette was a sensational start to the evening. It functions as a way of ‘welcoming’ the guests and getting them acquainted with the Minister of Fear. The format of this attraction is devastatingly effective, although it wasn’t until halfway through that I realised we were being given some information amidst the chaos. I couldn’t really hear much over the screaming! I caught ‘asthmatic’ and ‘latex allergy’, so I assume this was the safety information, also available on the website. The Oubliette set the tone perfectly; upon exit, our adrenaline was pumping and we were grinning from ear to ear. From this experience, I knew the standard was going to be high. Later in the evening I caught up with Jason Karl, Chief Creative Executive at AtmosFEAR! Scare Entertainment, who pointed out that The Oubliette also functions as sort of warm-up, from which guests can gauge whether or not they’ll be able to proceed. Some don’t make it any further. The Clonefields You can’t beat a good corn maze! None of this new-fangled technological nonsense (she said disparagingly, with a blindly romanticised fondness for ‘the good old days’). Joking aside, this maze really is hugely enjoyable, largely due to its simplicity and uncomplicated format. Wandering along a path through the dense vegetation, in complete darkness, The Clonefields recalls classic horror movies where helpless victims are chased through fields and woodland. The moon was bright during our visit and I felt that little spark of Halloween magic (a bit like Christmas magic, but more macabre). I was really tense throughout this maze; even the leaves were making me jump! The Slenderman’s faceless minions were lurking, and we knew it. At one point I saw one disappear off into the leaves, which was really scary because I had no idea when or where he might reappear…. Unfortunately I didn’t get a big scare in the maze, just scares I saw coming, or that were targeted at someone else. But it was still very good fun. I particularly liked the minions’ masks and costumes, they were really unsettling. Hellcatraz Probably my favourite attraction in the park, Hellcatraz looked promising even from the exterior. We were met by the prison warden- a superb actor who heightened our anticipation and made us feel really on edge. Sirens were blasting out of the building and we were hit by intense strobe lighting as we entered. The theming of this attraction is excellent; all the separate elements work alongside each other to create a believable and frightening prison environment. The stacks of lockers, the inmates’ costumes, the bloody rags; everything is in chaos and disarray, adding to the sense that the wardens have indeed lost control, and we are at the mercy of the escaped criminals. They came at us from different directions and different levels, working with the strobe to make us feel disoriented. Ordinarily I would knock off a point for heavy strobe use; it’s a very easy way to make an environment look good, but it’s difficult to walk around in for more than a few minutes, I get tired of it quickly. However, this attraction offers a brief interlude, which was a good change of pace before heading back into the action. With cries of ‘don’t drop the soap’ and crazed inmates charging at us relentlessly, Hellcatraz was completely insane. Loved every minute. Manormortis Covenstead Manormortis- it’s the house that should never have been built, and it won’t stay dead! The storyline for Manormortis Covenstead is centred around a coven of witches… I think. The actor who greeted us explained who he was and what was happening in the house, but unfortunately the music was too loud for us to all hear him properly. The scares in this attraction are really good fun. I completely missed some of the actors who were already in the rooms, so their scares came out of nowhere! This was down to the lighting, clever costumes/positioning, absolute precision and perfect timing. The lighting did have its downside though- it was so dark that couldn’t see very much. It felt like I could have been anywhere, so there was no real sense of an environment to engage with. This is a shame considering the level of detail and quality of theming within Manormortis. Nevertheless, there were some good scary moments in here. Human Zoo Our experience nearing an end, we made our way to the Human Zoo; a sickening concept brought to life with originality and flair. This is the attraction I was most curious about, and as it turns out, it’s a very strong addition to the line-up. This attraction has a bold personality. It’s crude, dirty, and really quite smelly. It made me want to shower immediately afterwards. There is a little bit of humour to it, but the human experimentation theme is profoundly dark, and successfully echoes the suffering of the dreadful caged beings within. These nightmarish creations are curious about us humans, and they won’t hold back with it comes to inspecting you. An excellent level of interaction pushed this to the next level for me, and there were some great changes of pace thrown in. Plenty to catch you off guard. One particular element of this attraction made us feel extremely vulnerable; a bit of a role reversal which was really quite unpleasant! Faultless theming and execution of this dark concept made this one stand out. Well done all. Psychomanteum IV Some say that Dr Killian Goodkind’s therapy is extreme. What would I say? I’d say I’m all better now. Thank you, Dr Goodkind. Get ready for deeper treatment. The doctor will see you now. As an overall experience, Scare Kingdom Scream Park delivers shocks, fear, and most importantly- fun. If you’re looking for a scary evening out this Halloween season, you cannot go wrong with this event. It was terror from start to finish. Forget tacky animatronics and constant ‘boo’ scares; Scare Kingdom presents you with theatrical & psychological scare entertainment at its very best, spread over multiple attractions and filled with talented scare actors. Quite frankly they’re spoiling you. Don’t miss out on this one.

This was my first ever visit to Screamfest, a scare event at the National Forest Adventure Park in Burton upon Trent. It featured 4 attractions this year, plus some spooky entertainment on the side, including zombie paintball! The order in which we could experience the attractions was up to us. This format is certainly more relaxed than scare events with a set running order, however I do prefer the latter, because of the sense that you’re working up to the ‘worst’ bit. It adds a lot of tension. In this case, we wandered around leisurely and took little breaks between attractions; probably a more suitable format for the newbies in our group! Children of the Corn The 'school' theme baffled me a bit with this one, being a corn maze and all, but I tried to keep an open mind. After a moderate queue time, we were taken on a little trailer ride to the main field. There were no scares on the ride but I still really enjoyed it, mainly because of the view; in the distance I could see the flashing lights and rising smoke effects of the other attractions, and I could hear people screaming. More of that Halloween magic I love so much! An actor accompanied us for this segment, and there was also a recorded voiceover playing, but sadly I could hear neither due to the sound of the engine and the other guests chatting. I may have missed something at this stage. Upon arrival, we were divided into 2 groups, then into pairs, then into another 4 groups. Maybe this was intended to echo our days lining up in the schoolyard, but I did find it a bit tedious, mainly because we were several minutes in by this point and nothing had happened. Once things got going, tension gave way to confusion as the attraction collapsed into a mad spiral of nonsensical, disconnected imagery and themes. We were a bit unsure as to what was going on. Aside from the school uniforms, there wasn't much to connect the separate features to the school theme. One of the actors could have fed us a story while we were waiting, maybe about how we were lured on false pretences and the school was just a cover. That being said, the separate components were quite enjoyable (the spider made no sense, but we loved it!) and we got some good scares in there. It featured indoor environments which facilitated more impact scares, which mixed well with the open spaces. But as a whole this didn't work for me; there was just too much crammed in. Slasher I was really impressed by the exterior theming of this attraction. There was nice attention to detail with the posters and the blood splatters, and the sound was very effective. It all looked very promising, and as soon as we walked into the first scene, I knew we were in for something special. The attraction kicked off with a superb execution scene. It was simple but so effective; the timing of the scare was spot on and the actor didn't hold back. I’d have to say that this scene alone gave me my best scare of 2014! The rest of the attraction was a great mix of impact scares and general intimidation from the scareactors. It was quite short from beginning to end, but I find that preferable to becoming desensitised and having my adrenaline levels drop. It had a little bit of a story to it with the dangerous criminal on the loose, and this worked well as a basic, self-contained concept. Slasher was a great length, it looked fantastic, and was probably my favourite attraction of the evening. Nocturnal I’d heard great things about this one. I was already aware of the concept; Nocturnal is, from the outside, what appears to be an exclusive nightclub. Its impressive façade implies grandeur and revelry within, and I particularly liked that the entrance door was marked VIP. I was a bit disappointed at the lack of actors on the outside; I thought there might be a few to help liven things up, like a club bouncer or some dancers. Once inside, it became clear that the nightclub was indeed fake and we had actually been lured into a nest of hungry vampires. The theming was superb; the whole thing looked like a giant meat processing plant. It had a bleak, cold, industrial feel to it, and was certainly very immersive. The layout of this attraction would have facilitated some brilliant target and/or impact scares, but we didn’t get that many. There a few good jumps and some creepy lingering actors. The highlight for me was actually the chainsaw finish, and no, I’m not joking! I do grow weary of chainsaws but this one was perfect. It tied in well with the theming, we had a clear shot at the door so we weren't stumbling around to get out, and the sound of the chainsaw echoed around the exit corridor so it was super loud. Bravo. Soul Seekers Soul Seekers had a bit of a disappointing start. The initial dispatch into the attraction was a bit confusing as we couldn't work out whether the lady speaking to us was meant to be in character! This led into the first room, which had a really effective way of introducing some of the residents. As an intro/first scene was quite lengthy but still enjoyable. This attraction had great theming inside; it was really elaborate, thorough, and fun to explore. I loved the individual setpieces, such as the bedroom and the bathtub. There were a few moments of total darkness which left us fumbling around, and at one point we seemed to get lost (not sure if that was part of it!) which threw us out of our comfort zones. The actors interacted with us, which made this feel like more of a narrative driven attraction, but there wasn’t much of a story to explore so they tended to say the same things repeatedly. Scareactors do need to be able to improvise and interact with the guests (if the attraction calls for it), but a big part of that is being able to gauge what kind of interaction is appropriate for both their character and the environment they inhabit. One actor seemed to slip into some dialogue that seemed a bit out-of-place, but other than that they did a fantastic job. We were fortunate in that we only had to queue for one attraction (we visited the park quite late in the evening). However, as we weren’t given time slots on the booking, I can imagine that queues could easily get out of hand. I’d be interested to see how this is handled during busier periods. Screamfest was a very strong addition to our Halloween line-up this year. It had all the excitement and tension of a scare event, but not without the sense of fun that makes Halloween events so enjoyable. We loved the relaxed atmosphere; it was nice to have to opportunity to sit down with some hot food and enjoy some of the additional entertainment on offer. Overall, Screamfest is was a fantastic evening out. We’ll definitely be back!

It’s no secret that everything is ‘the best part’ according to me. It doesn’t matter what I’m up to, whether I’m recalling something from the past or if I’m in the moment, there are always multiple ‘best parts’. Watching films is the best part of Christmas, but then again, so are the presents. The best bit of a Sunday dinner is definitely the roast potatoes, and also the stuffing, the Yorkshire puds, and oh yes, everything on the plate. I can’t help but get excited over anything and everything. And that multiplies by a thousand in the month of October. “This is the best bit – the journey to the attraction, with all the anticipation.” I've uttered those words many a time en route to an event. Likewise, upon arrival, the final moments before entering are definitely the best bit. Adrenaline and tensions abound as you wonder what might be behind the first door. I was pondering this as I sat in my seat, patiently waiting to enter the first act of Scare Kingdom Scream Park, when all of a sudden a girl sprang from beneath the curtain and made a beeline for a member of staff. She was jittery and distressed, nervously running her hands through her hair, glancing around and shifting her weight from foot to foot. The staff member was speaking calmly. I made no effort to conceal the fact that I was listening in, but the waiting area was loud so I only caught snippets. “I don’t think I can” she said, shaking her head. The staff member appeared to be explaining her options to her, and she had a pained look on her face as she tried to make a decision. She then left hurriedly. Read on to find out why…. The Sanctum Very similar to The Oubliette last year, the first attraction at Scare Kingdom functions as a warm-up, from which guests can gauge whether or not they’ll be able to proceed. There are always some who realise they’ve bitten off more than they can chew (such as the aforementioned girl). Eschaton, the Minister of Fear, definitely treated us to a Scare Kingdom style welcome. A very simple combination of factors to made us feel extremely vulnerable (especially the layout of the room and the position we had to stand in). Tensions ran high in moments of total darkness and I could hardly bear to look ahead for fear of what I might see. The team have done it again- as an opening act, I didn’t think The Oubliette could be topped, but The Sanctum is extremely effective. Maybe too effective.... The Hole An interesting attraction and shrewd move in terms of theming; The Hole actually links in with last year’s Hellcatraz. What was once a prison filled with inmates is now a creepy derelict building, and urban explorers have broken in to discover its secrets. String-lights and webbing gave The Hole a very convincing look; a kind of overgrown, claustrophobic aesthetic which worked well. The opening scareactor delivered an energetic performance as he explained our situation. I don’t think he ever stopped moving! He was pacing and shuddering manically, it was really unnerving. The downside to this theme is that it felt very similar to what we saw last year; more specifically, some of the scares came from the same spots as before. Nevertheless they were still very impressive, with the break-out section adding a nice change of pace (the additional characters in this segment were excellent, linking back to the narrative as outlined at the beginning, which I liked). Manormortis – Monastery Wow. Any gripes I had last year about lighting and not making full use of the glorious sets… well I definitely can’t say the same this year. This was nothing short of spectacular (and I could hear the actors this time!) Manormortis itself is a thing of beauty, so of course it’s great to see everything inside, but it’s not just the rooms. This was scene after scene of brilliant acting and top notch scares, one of the best being a particularly jumpy moment where the actor used misdirection to throw us off. The music was fantastic; it tied in with theme, thus making me feel more immersed in the environment. I loved the religious imagery (going into the chapel was amazing, plus the stained glass window visual which I couldn’t take my eyes off). Bar one setpiece that left me scratching my head, I enjoyed every minute of this. From the creepy hooded figures to the horror movie references (you had me at “cunting daughter”) this was classic Halloween haunted house fare, with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. One of the highlights of the evening. Arcanum This seemed to offer us a little respite, although I’m not sure if that was intentional. It almost functioned as something to keep us entertained on our journey to the next big thing. The attraction was small, but full of intrigue and bizarre characters. It had a really fun climax which had something I haven’t seen before, but the build up to it involved a lot of standing around. That being said, I really enjoyed the steampunk vibe in the first room, and the actor was really intense. Arcanum was more of a sideshow attraction and an entertaining addition to the line-up; equally, I could have gone without it and my evening wouldn’t have been worse off. Hell I desperately wanted to film the exit door of this attraction, because of the sheer number of people who were running out, shrieking their heads off as though they were in the midst of hell itself. I was so excited to see what was going on. The theming inside this attraction was relatively simple. Demonic symbols adorned the walls (to be fair, there were symbols dotted all around the park, but they seemed to be more prominent here) and rooms were bathed in shadows from which anything might emerge. A couple of solo scareactor scenes lead me to believe that Hell was perhaps a purely theatrical attraction, but I couldn’t have been more wrong as we entered the last segment. The ending was totally unexpected and completely terrifying, with a number of things throwing me off guard. My brain barely had chance to register what I was seeing (and feeling!) before it was all over. It was a searing climax, made all the more compelling by the music, which lifted this attraction to the next level. Panic Chambers Panic Chambers….Or confusion chambers? This attraction had a very promising start. But honestly, the second you give anyone a task to complete, all hell breaks loose. At one point I didn’t really know what was going on, but it sort of added to the experience. The weird thing about this one was how it linked to the ‘seven deadly sins’ theme. The other attractions hinted at the sins with great subtlety. For example, in Arcanum, the Captain was fuelled by his greed to acquire more and more additions to his collection. In no other attraction had the sin been so awkwardly shoe-horned in (what the hell is Gluttony Corp?) This was, however, enormously improved by the actor at the beginning. She was absolutely brilliant, playing around with vocal, facial, and physical mannerisms to freak us all out. She improvised well too, and got the attraction off to a great start. Psychomanteum – FULL CONFESSION Someone vomited (that’s all you’re getting). And so, after a scream-filled evening, we retreated to the bar for some welcome refreshments. As we said our goodbyes, I remarked that ‘the best bit’ is actually yet to come: getting the coffee on, and writing this review. Then I realised that I’d said it again. So maybe I’ll just leave it at this- the best bit is the scare season in its entirety. Throughout the month of October we are spoiled with numerous attractions such as this, where people can head out into the night enjoy a spooky, scary, or completely terrifying evening in a safe and controlled environment. So if you're looking to make the most of this special season and all the entertainment it has to offer, Scare Kingdom Scream Park is an essential addition to your list.