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.

Spoiler level: One or two specific details of what happens in an attraction, and lots of general description about all of them. My first ever visit to Screamfest, the annual Halloween event at the National Forest Adventure Farm in Burton-on-Trent, was in 2014. We had a terrific fear-filled evening, and the now-departed Slasher attraction gave me my biggest scare of the year. Two years later we returned to Screamfest to catch up on what we missed from 2015, and experience the highly anticipated ‘Love Hurts’, which is new for 2016 and designed as a permanent installation for the park. Children of the Corn The feral schoolchildren are back in Children of the Corn, a crazed descent into a darkened corn maze, where eerie surprises lurk in every corner. The corn maze itself adds a decent atmospheric layer of Halloweeny goodness to this experience, which counts a lot towards my enjoyment. What remains underneath still feels somewhat disconnected; a collection of setpieces awkwardly strung together by the over-arching theme of childhood nightmares, which still doesn’t quite work for me. Once again, I enjoyed the mix of indoor environments and open spaces. The contrast between the two really does intensify the effect of the narrow indoor passageways. Unfortunately, I found my mind wandering a lot during this attraction, which isn’t a good sign. Largely, it was more akin to taking a stroll on Halloween night; creepy yet casual. Soul Seekers An oversized group in the first room was a bit of an atmosphere-killer; actors had appeared but I never saw one, our group was just too dense. Last year, that scene was an exciting and strong start, so it was a shame to lose it. The theming of this attraction is so impressive, especially the creepy corridors and hallways, and the sense that we were venturing deeper into a portal to hell. As fun as it was to explore the beautiful environment, the attraction felt light on the scares, focusing more on theatrical presentation. I won't forget the bedroom scene in a hurry! Towards the end we looped back around, however I’m unsure as to whether that was intentional like last time (where we felt genuinely helpless!) or whether it was a fluke. There was no finale to speak of, just someone in a mask near the exit. This feature was so lacklustre that even now I’m genuinely unsure as to whether this was part of it, or a just member of the public trying to get in on the action. Freak Out I suspect I may be unknowingly battling the early onset of a cold, because I was told this attraction smelled like sweets, but I didn’t get that. If it did smell like sweets, then I’m not surprised. That’s just the kind of extra detail I’d expect in an attraction of this standard. The non-linear nature of this experience meant I could have been wandering around in there for hours, and I wish I had been, because I really was loving it. Bright colours, disorienting effects and amazing performances all created a sensory overload, packed with jump scares. The ambiguously marked doors were absolute genius as they forced guests to choose their own path through the maze. I ran into one group who begged me to help get them out! The only downside is the final scare in the form of a scareactor with a mask, which I’m told was quite startling, but sadly I didn’t encounter it. Love Hurts There was absolutely no doubt as to what this was supposed to smell like; even the worst cold imaginable wouldn’t have shielded me from it. The ‘Diced Heart Pub’, built on an old sewage works, is in fact a gateway to a foul underworld filled with horrific creatures, accessible via its rancid toilet cubicles. The grimy, grungy rock bar aesthetic was absolutely on point in the theming of this attraction. The attention to detail is stunning and at times I felt like I was in my own personal horror film, and those are the moments that make this season so special for me. That being said, the speed dating aspect didn’t really come through. My guess is that the speed dating was a ruse to lure unattached people into the pub and therefore into the mouths of the hungry sewer creatures, but the basic concept held up just fine without this. Besides, why would speed dating start off in the toilets…? Night Bringer This attraction got off to a strong start, with excellent theming on the exterior, and an engaging and entertaining scareactor. As we entered the first room, I was reminded of Slasher, my old favourite. Sadly this couldn’t have been further from it. Performances quickly trailed off, and the opening scene was fun, but not overly scary. The rope was an unusual choice because this wasn’t a hooded maze, although the corridors were quite dark. Ultimately, the rope worked to a disadvantage; it ended up acting as a barrier between us and the action, which ate away at the tension. Overall this maze had a strong concept with great potential, but unfortunately I felt more like an observer rather than someone in the middle of the action. That being said, I loved the various hiding places from which the spirits would emerge. It was getting late as we exited our final attraction, but the atmosphere in the park was still charged. Screamfest is special in this respect; it’s a perfect self-contained Halloween night out, with food stalls, sideshows, roaming entertainment and music. Events like this are what make the season for me, but don’t take my word for it!

Hosted at the National Forest Adventure Farm in Burton-on-Trent, Screamfest is a multi-attraction Halloween scare event, which in all the years I've visited has never failed to deliver a fun night out. It's exciting, scary, and showcases original concepts, which is probably the thing I love most about Screamfest. It's refreshing, especially considering how a modest farm-based event could easily play it safe. On arrival, the central area was bustling with activity. Music and roaming characters added to the atmosphere, and people were snapping spooky selfies on the entertainment stage. At the risk of sounding overly sentimental - Halloween was in the air...or the smell of burgers and the sound of petrified screams. The mazes can be experienced in any order you wish at Screamfest. We wanted to save the new attractions for later in the evening, so we kicked off the night with some clown-based shenanigans. Freakout The psychotic clowns are back, with a dash of pop culture relevancy! As with last year, Freakout delivered plenty of jump scares amidst the sickeningly bright colours, disorienting light effects and loud circus music. The scareactors toyed mercilessly with their victims, whilst trying their best to regain control over what unfortunately became a very large group; corridors were backed up on more than one occasion, but they attempted to break up the crowds by stalling certain individuals. The maze got off to a slow start, with several rooms bereft of clowns, but it soon picked up pace, and developed a darker tone as we progressed. As before, the labelled doors added plenty of chaos to the mix, as guests attempted to navigate a safe path for themselves, only to discover it made very little difference! A fun, spooky, headache-inducing experience from start to finish. Dia de los Muertos The much anticipated (by me) removal of Children of the Corn has finally happened, and a new attraction has been installed amongst the winding passageways of the corn field. That attraction is Dia de los Muertos, an interesting theme for a scare maze, and one which I had a few reservations about. As it turned out, I think it was an ill-judged theme. The maze got off to a fantastic start, as the trailer ride to the entrance was cleverly themed-up to serve as an introduction. A radio station was playing, warning us of an escaped serial killer who may make an appearance at the Dia de los Muertos celebrations. Sadly, the killer never seemed to materialise; instead, we were taken on a journey though a series of setpieces portraying negative stereotypes, including a what appeared to be a chop-shop, and a gang shooting at us with guns. The layout of the attraction was brilliant (multiple chainsaws for the win), and the actors were energetic and engaging, but sadly the theming soured the experience a little. Soul Seekers I was itching to throw myself back into this beautiful, elaborately themed attraction; the creepy corridors of the crumbling Helton Grand are a dark delight to behold. The decaying rooms were filled with lively scareactors who portrayed their torment with intensity and emotion. The opening scene was a big improvement on last year, with the scareactors making their way around the entire group, ensuring everyone could catch a glimpse whilst still retaining the mystery of what awaited us in the haunted hotel. The lighting in this attraction is absolute perfection - we saw just enough at key moments to build a sense of dread, whilst ensuring the delivery of the scare had the right impact. The finale was far better than last year - we weren't running for our lives, but there was a decent payoff to the scenes that preceded it. Love Hurts As with Soul Seekers, I could not wait to dive back into the pure cinematic horror that is Love Hurts. Another maze with stunning sets, great attention to detail, and lots of dramatic mini-performance setpieces. The grungy Diced Heart Pub, built on an old sewage works, once again welcomed us to a night of speed dating. But as we passed through the repugnant toilets, we were enveloped in the dark, grimy underworld, were hellish creatures were all too eager to 'meat' us. There was great energy from the scareactors, who worked the sets from multiple levels, and amazing practical gore & makeup effects really elevated the experience. The finale played out perfectly this year as we were treated to a meeting with Professor Heart, including a dramatic reveal. I absolutely adored his costume, and I think he exerted a terrifying presence, and would have even without a chainsaw. Demoncia The stunning facade of this maze caught my eye immediately - flame effects, water effects, coffin shaped doors, red lighting - all very impressive, and the combined effect set my expectations quite high. This carried through into the pre-show, which for me, was one of the most exciting since Slasher. We were lead through one of the numbered doors into a wooden room, which had a door at the other side, adorned with a mysterious symbol which glowed under UV light. Additional lighting effects under the floorboards really got my pulse racing. The whole pre-show was sublime in its simplicity; just enough time elapsed to significantly heighten my sense of dread. The door slowly opened to reveal the entrance to the maze, and unfortunately, this is where excitement levels dropped off (I would have loved to see a hooded figure in the doorway, or maybe some more smoke effects). The maze itself was a strobe/cage configuration, which has its place, but it lacked energy and variation. A steady stream of actors came at me as I ambled through, who never deviated in their tactics, in terms of space and interaction. A change in environment, such as a sudden low ceiling or tight space, would also have held my interest for a little longer. The crowds at Screamfest are some of the most diverse I've seen at such events, with young children braving the horrors alongside older groups of friends, families and couples. This is a testament to the organisation of the event. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, including street theatre and a DJ, and the staff running the event are all extremely friendly. Screamfest even offer a ‘ScaredyCat Ticket’, which gives access to the park, but not the mazes. This is a great way to enjoy the atmosphere & entertainment. However, I would strongly recommend giving the mazes a go. What is Halloween without a good scare?

“We're telling Ghost Stories... just the thing for Christmas Eve!” From television programming of ghostly M.R. James adaptations to Dickensian storytelling of yuletide apparitions, the British tradition of ghost stories at Christmas time is truly ingrained in our cultural heritage. It seems fitting, therefore, that not only has Scare Kingdom Scream Park thrown open its gates this December for two nights of festive fear, but that the team are presenting their two most gothic & ghostly scare attractions from the Halloween season as part of their Christmas offering this year. The living house, Manormortis, returns with a new show called 'The House of Living Toys', and my favourite from October - Brimstone & Black’s funeral parlour, Body Snatchers - is back, housing a supernatural séance called 'The Christmas Presence'. Psychomanteum has also returned, for those who like their spooks served with a side of shocks. So, in honour of that most creepy Christmas tradition, we ventured out on a freezing cold December night to experience an evening of Scare Kingdom style scares...while wearing Santa hats. Manormortis - The House of Living Toys The Christmas storyline for Manormortis this year - The House of Living Toys - is a dark delight indeed. We were greeted by sinister toymaker Mildred Grim, who invited us to venture into an eerie world of unloved and unwanted toys, many of which had taken on a life of their own. These toys populated the gorgeously gothic spaces within Manormortis, and each had their own tale to tell, communicated in nursery rhyme-esque, playful poetic prose. The actors all handled their recitations with confidence and flair, bringing the script and their characters to life. Mr Punch and the toy soldier in particular had mesmerising energy and exuberance in their movement and characterisation; their scenes were outrageously entertaining to watch. Less vocal were the terrifying toy monkey and toy bunny, both of which had great physical command of the space, and moved in a deeply disturbing manner. Certain setpieces were a festive feast for the senses, with Christmas decorations blending beautifully with the haunting, decaying grandeur of the house, and the Christmas toy motif tied everything together theme-wise. In terms of scares, the theatrical scenes were peppered with well delivered jump scares, which broke up the story and shifted the levels of tension at various points. Overall, this adventure into Manormortis was one of my most memorable, with only one scene in the library outstaying its welcome a little. Body Snatchers - The Christmas Presence The opening scenes of Body Snatchers wowed me in October, and things were no different this time around. The show got off to a hilarious start, with the two intro actors bouncing off each other with pitch-perfect chemistry and great comic timing. I could have watched them ad-lib for hours. We were then shown into the dingy Victorian funeral parlour, where the atmospheric scene was set for a séance to conjure the spirits of Christmastide. We were then introduced to medium Florence Cook, who reminded me so much of the character 'Madam Talbot' from my favourite episode of Inside Number 9. Once again, the scene featured two actors with spot-on chemistry, who effortlessly injected lashings of dark humour into the proceedings. Laughter is a powerful tool in any kind of horror; laughing one minute then screaming the next makes it very hard to mentally prepare for what might follow, and this attraction seriously delivered in that respect. Whereas Manormortis blended theatrical scenes with impact scares, Body Snatchers functioned more as an attraction of two halves, with theatrical scenes giving way to torch-lit impact scares as we made our way through the fireplace. Things got a whole lot scarier from there, although I felt the attraction somewhat lacked an ending. Psychomanteum BloodMASS Review by Zoe Richardson This year brought the return of Psychomanteum to Scare Kingdom as part of its Christmas FestEVIL. After a break for the torturous Snuffhouse I was excited to hear that “the UK’s sickest attraction” was making a comeback. Psychomanteum BloodMASS was the 11th incarnation of the attraction and you’d be forgiven for wondering if the well of inspiration had begun to run dry; the answer is a resounding NO! The attraction featured strong theming and a host of sick and twisted characters to shock and terrify the people brave enough to venture inside. It was with great trepidation and a bit of liquid courage that I entered the queue for Psychomanteum. Having heard of Polly’s experiences in the past I was understandably nervous as I approached the entrance to the attraction. Lengthy and unnerving disclaimer signed, I took my place at the front of the queue. An appropriately costumed gatekeeper was on hand to both put me at ease and heighten my anticipation before the hatch was opened and a sinister figure beckoned me inside. What greeted me were a set of Christmas characters that you definitely wouldn't want visiting your house on Christmas Eve. Wonderfully acted and appropriately disgusting, the next five minutes were an assault on all five of the senses (yes I do mean ALL five) and a series of rooms featuring shocking and depraved scenes. The Christmas theme wasn't only continued here but used to great effect as an integral part of the storyline. Not for the squeamish or faint hearted, this was a thrilling and hilarious experience that definitely pushed the boundaries of common decency. An experience that I’d love to repeat in future and with Psychomanteum HeartLESS confirmed for Valenterror in February, I know when my next appointment with its sickening inhabitants will be. We’d like to say a special thank you to Jason Karl, Creative Director of AtmosFEAR Scare Entertainment, for a fascinating behind the scenes tour of Manormortis, while the show inside the attraction was still live. The creative detail and conceptual theming within Manormortis are astonishing enough, without taking into account the clever backstage design and layout, which allow the actors to deliver their scares so efficiently. These details reflect real dedication to the guests’ experience, and it was a treat to watch the show unfold from the other side of the curtain.

Scare Kingdom Scream Park is now open for the 2018 Halloween season, yet this is a season like no other. This year, Scare Kingdom is celebrating its tenth year of chainsaw-wielding, scream-inducing, fear fuelled entertainment. This event has continued to grow over the years, and to a Halloween lover such as myself, it is now the epitome of what makes this season special - an outrageously fun celebration of all things spooky and ghoulish; a chance to explore dark environments saturated in the aesthetics of Halloween, and to exist briefly in a real life horror film. And with that celebration of turning ten, Scare Kingdom presented us with all the usual trappings of a tenth birthday. There were clowns! Oh yes, there were clowns. And a tea party. And a night of unforgettable entertainment from a whole host of creepy characters. Let the party begin… Death Chamber To kick things off, we were ushered into a dark, ominous-looking room by one of the best scareactors of the evening – a warden, who explained to us that our execution via electric chair was imminent. The theming in this room was much more comprehensive than I was expecting, and it really added to the atmosphere. With the dimming of the lights, the tension became unbearable, eventually broken by what I’d call a mini-scare. The real joy of this piece was the build-up, conducted (har har) expertly by the warden. The addition of some light wrist restraints would have really elevated this, but would have been tricky from an operational perspective. Overall, this was a delightfully unexpected opening oct. The Sickness 3: Zombiegeddon Trudging through the darkness towards the infamous High Hopes Hospital, I felt tinge of unease. I’ve always found the previous versions of The Sickness to be balls-to-the-wall terrifying, largely because anything with a medical or clinical theme tends to scare me the most, as many of you know! We were greeted by the doctor, who explained to us that his patients have been dying off following their mysterious illness, but they won’t stay dead… cue an entrance from an astonishingly convincing and energetic scareactor who delivered my best scare of the night. The scares continued thick and fast, aided by disorienting lighting and detailed theming - the ward segment was even more merciless than last year. Aside from some light flesh-feasting, there wasn’t much different between the zombies and the patients from previous years; the overall feel of the attraction was much the same, but the zombies added a nice narrative twist. Manormortis: Carnivale The route towards Manormortis now has some nice touches of theming, and the new sheltered façade also features some props and a character to set the scene. Upon entering, we were met by macabre showman Voodini - a ghoulish ringmaster who was eager for us to experience his supernatural sideshow. As we sat before him, he delivered a fiendish scare which landed perfectly on one member of our group; his reaction had me in stitches. The gorgeous gothic grandeur of Manormortis is as breath-taking as ever, but the first few scenes were light on scares for those at the front of the group. The scareactor in the chapel room waved us through, which was a shame, and the bedroom scene featured one scareactor who, despite being really unnerving, seemed to again serve the purpose of waving us through. Multiple scares usually land well in this room, so this was disappointing. The finale was strange and lacking in tension; we took a seat, a scareactor briefly baited us, a chainsaw appeared, we stood - a little unsure of whether there was more to come. The chainsaw was turned on; we left in a steady stream. It felt at odds with what had preceded it. Black Mass With trepidation, we then entered the chapel of All Hallows Haven, where the secretive Order of Crimson Wax were preparing for their annual ceremony. The scares in this attraction were pointed, uncluttered and unwavering. There is little variation here - the attraction itself is a simple one, but these factors aren’t to its detriment. Ordinarily they probably would be, but the combination of claustrophobia, complete darkness and proximity to the scares creates a unique foundation for the scareactors to do their thing. Jump scares abounded with no respite, and it wasn’t over quickly; my nerves were shredded by the end of it. Body Snatchers: The House that Jack Built A Jack the Ripper theme has been injected into Body Snatchers this year, which works well with the existing theming: ‘old London’ style setpieces with a stunning townhouse façade. As we made our way through the musty ‘upstairs’ rooms, the girls at the front of our group darted off as soon as a scareactor in a coffin made her presence known. Not wanting her to cut her short, I lingered, but she waved us through; I’m not sure whether she’d intended to introduce herself or not. Eventually we were met by Ripper victim Mary Kelly, who ushered us into the cellar with frenzied fervour. The cellar sequence didn’t frighten me as much as last year; it was a little dark at times. I could make out the moving shapes, which were unsettling, but I could have done with a few more impact scares. A stand-out moment came from observing a target scare on the person behind me – a little misdirection in front of us gave the scareactor the opportunity to creep up next to her, and silently wait until she noticed. It definitely paid off! Meat Market Very few hooded mazes have impressed me, and sadly this wasn’t one of them. I tend to switch off as soon as the hood covers my face. If I find the theme interesting, I tend to engage more with what I can hear going on around me; if not, I just patiently make my way through. Unfortunately, on this occasion, it was the latter. The occasional hollering about what my organs might be worth felt as perfunctory as the poking and prodding. It is worth mentioning that others in our group were shrieking with fear, so this is clearly enjoyable to some, and the scareactor who greeted us deserves serious props for staying in character when he must have been freezing cold! Scare Kingdom’s final maze exits into the bar area, which was buzzing with activity as we made our way in. The queue for Psychomanteum, Scare Kingdom’s extreme attraction (which we didn’t partake in) was the longest we’ve ever seen it! This section of the park is a great area to relax, grab a drink or some hot food, and even interact with some of the roaming actors who are still in character. Speaking of these – we wanted to acknowledge their efforts on what was sadly a very wet evening. Standing around in the cold for hours on end, they soldiered on, and in doing so they ensured that the guests’ spirits weren’t dampened by the weather. It can’t be easy, and we genuinely applaud that.

Screamfest Burton has been one of my favourite seasonal treats for many years now. Alongside its series of scare mazes, Screamfest boasts an enticing array of sideshow thrills, including rides, music, and live entertainment. The mazes can be experienced in any order and at any pace, and as such, I've often cited this park as being ideal for newcomers to the world of the scare. Not feeling brave? Grab a drink, people watch, and soak up the spooky atmosphere. Thirsty for more? Hit them one after the other and celebrate at the end. You decide.   For us, we decided to mix it up, stopping midway through the mazes for a food and drink break. A freak-show style performance was taking place while we ate, and roaming scareactors did a superb job of keeping the spookshow vibe going. As I chowed down on a delicious smokey hot dog smothered in warm nacho cheese and onions (along with a generous tray of hot chips and a pint of cider), I watched with a mixture of guilt and amusement as a scareactor landed a gargantuan scare on an unsuspecting member of our group. The timing could not have been more perfect.   All of the mazes from last year have returned for 2019, apart from Demonica, which is just fine by us. In its place, a brand new experience has appeared: Hillbilly Joe's Zombie Zoo. We decided to try this one first.   Hillbilly Joe's Zombie Zoo It's a well known fact that comedy and horror work in harmony, and this applies to scare entertainment too. Playing with tone and introducing humour can throw guests off guard, and as a result, scares can have a far greater impact. It's extremely common to burst into laughter immediately after having the shit scared out of you, but I cannot recall a time where my laughs matched my screams so frequently as they did in Hillbilly Joe's. The high-energy scareactors never broke character and their setpieces were outrageously fun to watch - in fact, for a fleeting moment, a member of our group genuinely forgot where he was during a scene with the two sisters! The theming in this maze is an absolute joy; from the hillbilly wind-chimes to the vast quantities of moonshine, I 100% bought every aspect of it (and I literally would have if the "gift shop" had been real!). The backstory tied all the visuals together, and we received some spot-on jump scares to boot. What more could you ask for?   Love Hurts I'm no stranger to a grungy rock bar, so the facade of Love Hurts makes me feel right at home. We enjoyed some classic tunes as we eagerly anticipated our entry into The Diced Heart pub - or, more specifically, the pub toilets, where our dubious round of speed-dating was about to begin. The mere sight of those cubicles is stomach-wrenching enough, and that's before you enter the rancid sewage works, where the real horrors are lurking. Last year, I lamented the lack of scares in the green mist, but this year made up for it and then some. If only there could have been a second wave to target the back of our group. Nevertheless, this attraction still delivers the most brutal sensory attack of all the mazes at Screamfest - smells, lighting and fog effects, and an intense soundtrack all combine to create a harrowing (and memorable) experience.   Dia Dia de los Muertos Ah, Dia Dia de los Muertos. At this stage, it's not really the overarching theme that bothers me insomuch as the terror-trip through a crime-ridden Mexico. This is something we've touched on numerous times before, and yet for all the awkwardness I feel as I dodge the gangsters and pass through the chop shop, there is still a great deal to be enjoyed here. The maze is extremely atmospheric; there's something about the combination of chainsaws roaring in the distance, music, and multi-coloured lights that really enhances this for me. The journey to the festival entrance is still a definite highlight, even more so this year; the scareactor who hosted our group along the way was absolute comedy gold (I'm not sure whether this comedy was intentional, but I'm still laughing about it now). Freak Out  Freak Out has one job, and it does this job competently. It does seem a little low-key when compared to the grander themes of its neighbouring attractions. However, writing this off as another clown maze would be doing a great disservice to its resident clowns. Just because these scareactors aren't telling a story doesn't make their contribution any less valid, and they all did a great job this year. They worked the sets from multiple levels and ensured we were separated at various points throughout the experience. In fact, one of my favourite aspects of this maze is getting mixed up with other groups or being sent off by myself. It's a great change of pace. My highlight this year was wandering into an intensely dark room, getting hopelessly lost, and shouting at a clown to tell me which way to go. The clown was a dummy.   Insomnia Simply put, Insomnia blew me away last year, and this year was even better. I used to suffer through some horrific nightmares as a child, and there's something compelling about the way Insomnia encapsulates the complete and utter terror of a nightmare seeming so real, and also so impossible to wake from. This feeling of complete helplessness is conveyed so effectively; even in the child's waking hours, her mother simply won't listen to her. Perhaps, for the child, that's the real nightmare. It's haunting and devastating to watch. For me, the brilliance of Insomnia lies in the combination of theatricality and spookhouse scares. The dream dimension is so beautifully realised - the team have literally built a physical nightmare, and it still manages to be linear despite its many components and aspects (all of which deliver a different type of scare). It's a masterpiece.   The atmosphere at this year's event was next level, and while we were gobsmacked by the size crowd waiting to get in, we were surprised to find that queues were barely an issue. When we questioned him on this, attraction creator Andrew Porter credited the efficiency of the mazes; their design has been tailored towards a consistent throughput without ever straying into conga-line territory. He also spoke about how the 'event' aspect has been stepped up this year, which is definitely something we sensed. Everywhere we looked there was something going on - from the witches brew bubbling at the bar to the roaming scareactors who were determined to keep the party going (despite the rain). These seemingly small details are what we love and appreciate, and this is why Screamfest wins every time.

When the first few emails about Psycho Path came my way, I examined them with a tiny hint of scepticism. A Halloween event in an enormous converted chicken barn. Live music, illusionists, and ariel performers. A food & drink offering to rival a small town food festival. Its own bespoke gin liqueur. Multiple scare mazes. Fairground rides. Photo ops. Roaming characters and games. Even a family-friendly offering during the the day. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. With the exception of Psycho Path. This is Psycho Path’s second year, and having missed their 2018 event, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Within about 5 seconds of walking in, I realised that this isn’t just a scream park. It’s an entire night out. The Anarchy Arcade alone is a substantial offering, with jaw-dropping illusionists and other live performances on stage, carnival and arcade games, and plenty of seating for people to relax and socialise. A custom-built wolf head with glowing eyes and smoke effects heads up the main bar area, which is adorned with pumpkins and spooky decorations. After taking some time to soak up the atmosphere and demolish some delicious hot food, we readied ourselves for the first scare. iScream The entrance to this deceptively large clown maze is located in the heart of the main building, and its imposing facade really adds to the overall atmosphere (as do the screams emitting from within). Once we were inside, a series of effective impact scares got our adrenaline pumping, with scareactors weaving their way around the structure to deliver multiple scares with ease. The compartments in this segment are an ideal size for this type of scare; I really felt like I had nowhere to run! We got some great moments in here. This segment swiftly gave way to a more open layout with creepy walkways and corridors. The scare environments and sensory elements kept switching to a point where I had absolutely no idea what to expect anymore – the surprises just kept coming! The only downside was the that scareactors who weren’t delivering ‘boo’ scares didn’t have quite as much command of their space; for example – I ambled past one or two clowns who were dishing out some creepy looks, but I only saw them because I consciously paused to look; my attention wasn’t seized with any urgency. Perhaps the scareactors could have pushed it a little further in terms of intimidation, voice and movement, etc. Even though the latter segments were a little lighter on scares, the theming and effects blew me away. Highlights included what I now refer to as the ‘candy floss room’ (which was utterly brilliant and compelled me to go buy candy floss) and the unique ice cream van (or iScream van) which is a level of quirkiness that I am 100% here for. Overall, iScream was an outrageously fun experience, serving scares in an enticing variety of flavours. Psycho Path A short van ride brought us to the entrance of the Psycho Path trail, the event’s self-titled offering. The initial theming was impressive; we approached a dark outpost with watchtowers at the entrance, which then gave way to a rough trail littered with abandoned vehicles and intimidating creatures. We enjoyed this segment, but we did feel there were a few missed opportunities for scares. For example, the van (open at the side) would have been an amazing place for a scareactor to hide. We progressed into the woods, where the atmosphere quickly overwhelmed me. I’ve often stated that one of my favourite elements of scare entertainment is the sense of briefly existing within a real life horror film, and this trail’s aesthetic is so cinematic, it really delivered this sensation. Smoke drifted in the distance amidst backlit trees, giving it an irresistibly spooky glow. Ominous shapes loomed in the darkness. A dense canopy of tree branches blocked the night sky around us. We passed through abandoned cabins bathed in red light and adorned with satanic symbols. It was eerie, dreamlike, and gorgeously macabre. Scare wise, I noted a common theme was the presence of a scareactor ahead, who would then walk towards us. Being seen is the key issue here, and while the scareactors were undoubtedly creepy, I was hoping to be ambushed from the side so a jump scare could land. The structures had some dark corners, but no one was lurking. As a result, the trail was a little less intense than I’d hoped, but it was still a remarkably unique experience. I won’t forget this one anytime soon. Psycho City As we entered Psycho City, we had to pass through ‘decontamination’ before proceeding. This segment is really well themed, albeit light on scareactors. That being said, a few dead zones are to be expected in an attraction of this scale (we’ve never been through one this big). Once we entered the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Psycho City itself, I was astonished. Cinematic is the key word once again here. The abandoned rooms, exposed to the elements and left to crumble, overrun by the inhabitants of Psycho Path. The decaying grandeur of the ornate features, the broken crockery mingled with dead leaves, the sense of civilisation departed. Absolutely stunning. Scareactors disappeared then reappeared sporadically, but again, I’d have liked to see more intensity in the scares. Without narrative setpieces (which wouldn’t work here), there needs to be a lively element to keep the pace up. At one point however, we went from no scareactors to three at once! Poor Zoe became a target and the inhabitants blocked her at every turn; they didn’t let up, and this was really entertaining to watch. It was great to see the scareactors making the most of this opportunity and taking their time to unsettle someone. The finale of this segment exits into a separate bar area, which makes this feel like a scream park within a scream park! A short van ride then transports guests back to the main building. As our evening drew to a close, we caught up with event organiser Nigel Holliday, who very kindly gave us a tour of ‘The Family Frightfest’ area. I’ve loved Halloween since I was small, and it was actually quite moving to see so much effort being put into a family-friendly Halloween activity. The Family Frightfest is a great deal more than a token family offering; the same attention to detail given to the evening event has been applied this family event. A lot of thought has been put into it, and a lot of heart too. Beautiful hand-painted signs denote the different areas and activities, which are housed inside large tipis adorned with spiders and spooky decorations. The team have created something special truly here – it’s a little bit of Halloween magic. Psycho Path is Halloween entertainment at its very best. With such a comprehensive range of attractions on offer, there’s something for everyone; from hardcore fear fanatics, to friends who are just looking for a fun night out. For us, this event is most definitely one to watch. Oh, and did we mention there’s a ghost train too? Bye everyone – I live here now.

It’d be generous to say that reviews of Scarefest 2024 have been mixed so far. Previously surreptitious cost-cutting now feels more overt; add on the current price tag, and the unsurprising result is that expectations are largely not being met. I’m therefore immensely grateful to say that I was on the receiving end of some very good luck the day we visited. The weather was what October dreams are made of: low-lying mist and fog enveloped the park, adding a gorgeous haze to the lighting, and creating an irresistibly eerie atmosphere around the ruins and the exterior theming of the rides. This luck extended to some of the mazes: ‘The Attic: Terror of the Towers’ and ‘Altonville Mine Tours – Tiny’s Revenge’. We were two in a group of four in the former, and the only two in the latter. Consequently, the scares were consistent, plentiful, and relentless – for the scareactors, it must have been like shooting fish in a barrel. ‘Compound’ was solid, despite some of the interior being brightly lit (distractingly so), and I can scarcely find the words to describe how galling I found ‘Daz Games: Panic Reloaded’. The concept of an attraction where you’re encouraged to exit as quickly as possible feels fundamentally at odds with everything I hold dear as a scare fan.

This was my first visit to Doncaster Fear Factory, and a first time visit is an exciting occasion. Scare entertainment is always a thrill, but an element of mystery adds a little extra pumpkin spice. I had no expectations going in, but with the rolling mist in the car park and the sound of screams lingering in the air, I sensed my optimism rising. And as it turns out, rightly so. The atmosphere of this event is made all the more bewitching by its woodland setting; the striking entrance façade gives way tree-lined pathways lit in eerie greens and purples, which have been cleverly utilised as scare zones, serving to maintain the tension between mazes. Each maze has a distinct personality, and yet all are connected by an overarching, thought-provoking thematic narrative. The real achievement here is presenting this serious environmental message via theatrical dialogue and visual theming, while still delivering the shocks and delights of jump scares, dark humour, and chainsaw-wielding chaos. It’s a unique and refreshing mix of elements, brought to life by energetic scareactors who clearly understood the brief. I’ll definitely be back next year!

Doncaster Fear Factory have come out swinging this year, eager to terrify guests with their 2024 offering. With the addition of a scare zone and sideshow thrills on top of 5 mazes, this season’s event feels amped up and raring to scare. We adored the addition of the Crimson Harvest scare zone in the form of covered walkways en route to the mazes; musty tunnels where our vision was obscured by darkness, and scareactors were primed to deliver the cheekiest of scares in their sinister sackcloth masks. Arguably a little scant for a scare zone, but an unexpected and welcome bonus. It’s great to mix up the vibes with some open-air scares. The mazes delivered their usual mix of relentless impact-driven scares (The Chasm, you showed no mercy!) and deeply immersive story-based experiences (hello Crackle Hill). Friargate Foundry was a wild ride; the concept is irresistible for a scare fanatic, but the switching-up of different environments made it hard to buy into any given scene. But despite the stylistic differences across the scenes, and indeed across the 5 mazes as a whole, they are all underpinned by one thing: the team’s enduring commitment to immersing guests in detailed theming and stories.

For a horror fan, any opportunity to geek out with like-minded people is a welcome one. We are by no means defined by our genre preference, but the chance to unite and celebrate our common interest gives a definite sense of camaraderie. Those who have attended Comic Con will know that it encompasses different genres of film, books, TV, gaming, etc. But a genre as broad as horror deserves its own event, and luckily for us northerners, HorrorCon 2015 took place right here in South Yorkshire! HorrorCon was hosted at Magna Science Centre in Rotherham; also the venue for Yorkshire Cosplay Con. The spaces inside are huge, which was ideal for this event. Activities over the weekend included talks and Q&As, special guest signings and photographs, screenings, demos, live music, trade stalls, and even a live scare maze (The Pit, by PUP Events). The trade floor was connected to the main staging area for the special guest Q&As, so anyone doing a spot of shopping could easily dip in and out. The smaller talks/seminars, screenings, demos and The Pit were at the other side of the building, which did feel a little cut-off from the majority of the action. Despite the distance from the trade floor, The Pit had a very atmospheric spot. It was housed in ‘The Face of Steel’ hall; a vast, dark expanse which is often used for bungee jumps. The Pit had been constructed along one side, with space in front for actors to taunt passing guests. The screams from within the maze echoed throughout the hall, adding to the sense of dread. In a way, PUP had made The Pit look far scarier than it actually was; a double-edged sword at an event such as this. Once inside, it had a good level of interaction and decent jump scares, all without the time and effort of a full interior build (guests were hooded). For HorrorCon attendees with no prior awareness of the scare industry, this would have been a great introduction, and overall it was a successful addition to the HorrorCon line-up. In a similar vein, the weekend also featured talks by GNG Entertainment about their 2012 extreme event ‘Project Fear’. This seemed to go down well, however there was some uncomfortable fidgeting during footage of the simulated torture in the event. Seemingly, desensitisation to shocking on-screen content does not extend to scare entertainment, probably because the context is still unfamiliar to many. Other talks included a lively lecture from the Zombie Institute of Theatrical Studies, and a paranormal investigation talk. The special guest Q&As were all fun and insightful. These included Gunnar Hansen, Caroline Munro, Tom Savini, Bill Moseley, and Ken Foree. Bill Mosely delighted fans with stories about how he acquired his most famous roles, and talked about the physicality of those performances with the wisdom of a master of his craft. Tom Savini sent hearts aflutter with a demo of the bullwhip used in From Dusk Till Dawn, and discussed his time as a combat photographer during the Vietnam war in relation to his SFX skills. He clearly enjoyed interacting with the audience, going off on wild tangents then scrupulously backtracking to ensure the questions were properly answered. The trailer screenings had a good turnout, and the filmmakers revelled in the opportunity to present discuss their work with an audience. The short film screenings (including Andy Stewart’s trilogy and the best of Celluloid Screams) gave attendees the chance to sit back, relax, and enjoy some serious headfuckery. The aforementioned fuckery continued late into the evening over at The Showroom cinema with Human Centipede 3, although the less said about that the better. Our re-enactment of The Human Centipede 2 with Lawrence Harvey on the trade floor was probably better. Overall, HorrorCon 2015 was a fantastic event. By covering various aspects of the horror world, attendees had plenty of different ways to occupy themselves over the weekend, and a chance to discover something new along the way. I’d like to say a huge thank you to the team for having us, and I hope to see HorrorCon return for 2016!

I always have high expectations for Scarefest. The aggregated fee for entry plus mazes is relatively high, so I anticipate an exciting atmosphere and top quality scare attractions as par for the course. How remiss of me then to have missed the one opportunity for a spooky, price-inclusive experience - Garden Lights Walk: Whispering Souls. It seems the draw of night rides on Wicker Man is far too great. The first two drops were calling my name.  As for the scare mazes, I wasn’t disappointed this year. In terms of impact & target scares and its irresistibly cinematic stylistic theming, The Attic: Terror of the Towers was a near perfect experience for me, undoubtedly aided by the fact that I was at the front of the group. The frenzied, colourful chaos of Freak Show: Toxic Junkyard was riotous fun; too sparsely populated with scareactors to maintain a great deal of tension, though not necessarily to its detriment. Altonville Mine Tours has certainly aged itself into old hat territory, but the scareactors did a decent job. And the gorgeously immersive theming of Darkest Depths still has my heart in its watery grasp, with its simple but innovative effects continuing to charm me.