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JoshuaA

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Blog Entries posted by JoshuaA

  1. JoshuaA
    This Blog Will Contain Spoilers And Sarcasm you've been warned!
    So back in 2015 Scarefest really got a kick up the arse!
    Scarefest has created some of the best scare attractions in the industry, but back in 2013/2014 the quality of the mazes where really plummeting..
    Thankfully last year was one of the best years in Scarefests history, so I was itching to get back!
    So after a grueling 4 hour drive, a fun M1 Traffifc jam, and a posh meal at Mcdonalds, I was there!
    FYI I can't review House Of Monsters as I'm not a f*cking billionaire, hence why I purchased a meal from scrubby Mcdonalds..
     
    Terror of the Towers: What Lies Within
    TOTT returns, and it feels a lot toned down from last year.
    Last year TOTT was actually quite brilliant, actors where crawling from everywhere..
    This year seems to have some scenes cut as well, making the maze not as long as it used to be..
    No don't get me wrong even with scenes cut its still pretty long, its well themed, and actors got a lot of scares.
    But overall TOTT is starting to get stale, I think a new story/replacement is in dire need, TOTT has long outstayed its welcome TBH-4.5/10

    Altonville Mine Tours
    Altonville Mine Tours is new for this year, and I gotta say, I was highly impressed.
    The beginning involved some talking scenes with some great actors, they really got up in your face, and set the scene for the main maze.
    First off the theming was brilliant, the smell pods also seemed to be a little too strong as well!
    The attraction also made use of the Haunted Lantern technology, which they handed at the start of the attraction.
    The Helmets themselves where a nice novelty, the attraction didn't rely on them, but they where a nice touch.
    The scares inside where pretty strong, the masks looked pretty freaky, and the actors where not afraid to manhandle you!
    The touching was not as strong as Sub Species, but it was still pretty intense!
    My only criticism is that the finale wasn't as strong as it couldn't of been, mainly as the first half is so chaotic!
    All in all- Altonville Mine Tours is a strong addition to the lineup-9/10
     
    Sub Species: The End Games
    Sub Species returns relatively similar to last year, but in Sub Species case, its a GOOD thing!
    Sub Species really pushes the boundaries on what actors can do, I was pushed, I was grabbed, I even faced the second half of the maze alone!
    The maze section in particular was a highlight, it wasn't ME who was choosing which way to go, it was a actor pushing me that way!
    The maze seemed to be actors a-plenty, and at points they even worked together to corner people or separate groups!
    The touching was insane, it wasn't a little grab, it was full on push from room to room!
    The chainsaw ending is cliché, but it was effective and left our group running!
    Sub Species is IMO the best maze in a Merlin park for a while, and the scariest maze I've done this Halloween!
    My run through was utter insanity, this is by far one of the best scare attractions I've done this year -10/10
     
    Scarezones
    Even though the new scarezones are constantly compared to the old ones, I do really like how Alton
    are trying to do proper scarezones like they do in the US.
    Yes the old ones where better, but there where akin to mini mazes, not proper scarezones TBH.
    Freakshow was a vast improvement from last years Nox Infernus, the zone was pretty tight, meaning the actors where pretty interactive.
    I liked the circus-y type props around the zone, though the zone felt more fun than scary.
    The freaks where more making us laugh more than scaring us, but the zone was still really good fun!
    I sadly didn't get to experience Dark Apocalypse, but it looked pretty good!
     
    As I mentioned earlier, I wasn't bothered to cough up a fiver for House Of Monsters, but it looked pretty good, and most reviews of it are positive.
     
    Conclusion:
    Scarefest was a pretty good event this year, most of the mazes where really strong, and the scarezones and family entertainment really do shape up a well rounded event.
     
    Anyway, here's some crappy pictures taken by yours truly..

    Nemmy 

    Selfie in Freakshow 

    More Freakshow

     
    I'll leave you on this note..
    Smile. Always..

     
  2. JoshuaA
    Tulleys the howl is a new scream park at mead open farm. Tonight was preview night, here's my review!
    Haunted House: Haunted House is beautifully themed, with dark rooms and eerie sounds it is very similar to HH in Shocktoberfest. The maze was full of rooms and actors staring at us, overall a very creepy maze. 3/5
    The Shed: The Shed is a great maze, with scares similar to the cellar. It is very impressive with scares being impressive overall. One section was similar to the cellar having a inflatable animal. My only gripe is that there was a good section with no actors in the middle of the maze.
    The ending made some sense, good maze. 3.5/ 5
    Mr. Toppers Slay Barn: Mr.Toppers is the parks clown maze.
    It is similar to other clown mazes with curtains and chaos!
    My favorite part of the maze had to be a section with a clown with a machine gun!
    One criticism had to be there was a stretch of no actors at the start of the maze. 2/5
    The Dark: The dark is great, with long periods of dark sections.
    It also has SHOCK pads. In the maze the actors are dressed up as werewolfs.
    The "Werewolfs" carried torches too to make more impact in the dark sections.
    One point was so dark we got stuck! IMO this maze is like the better relation to the Volt. 4/5
    Squealers Yard: Squealers Yard was... Amazing. To start off offered a smart section leaving one member of our group getting put through the maze on there own! The actors were everywhere, shouting pig related nonsense. In one room a actor was about 6.7 tall, he chased me, I was terrified. The maze weaved in out of outdoor and indoor sections,
    The ending with the chainsaw was effective, maybe a little cliche..
    Great maze, very scary. 5/5
    Roamers: roamers where great, I saw Esmerelda, grandma,chasity, and the twins. All providing friendly banter. 5/5
    Some more photos: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/imindetonator
  3. JoshuaA
    Tulleys farm is one of the best scream parks in the UK, and this year Tulleys has expanded to 8 attractions!
    Here's my review, sorry not many photos, but I was having so much fun I forgot.
    The Nightshade Circus:
    Nightshade replaces Twisted from last year, it is very similar in some ways.
    But also very different, the maze was full of curtians.
    With loads of other things too..including VERY uneven floors, a spinning tunnel, and a bag squish section (I call it the fanny).
    Another change is the ending,there was a clown on the floor, who got up and had a noisy power tool!
    The Colony: I hated The Tunnel last year, The Colony is way better in a way, it weaves in and out of darkness and tribe(ish)
    sections. At one point there is even a teepee! The ending was decent,not the best maze but still good.
    Haunted Hayride: Haunted Hayride is infamous for its scares and laughs.
    This year its changed quite a lot, with it being very different from last year.
    With new scenes including Sweeney Tod, a girl with a chainsaw friendly boyfriend.
    Haunted Hayride for me will never get old, great attraction,
    Hellements: Hellements is very mixed, some people will find it very scary, some people will find it meh.
    Hellements overall is done very well, with water,fire,wind. Its very good with special effects.
    I guess it adds a unique addition to the lineup, ok gimmick, beautifully presented.
    Haunted House: Haunted House is similar to last year, not many actors but very eerie.
    It is beautifully themed, with a great facade. The actors it does have are very lively.
    But sadly its a little short, but a fun little attraction.
    The Cellar: The Cellar is excatly like last year, amazing.
    The Cellar is just mad, actors are mad, scream and jump at you.
    They are loads of actors too, they are almost everywhere, most of the time they surround you.
    The Cellar is really themed, dark and very scary.
    The Chop Shop: Wow, The Chop shop was great, it was mad.
    The Chop Shop is like a chainsaw frenzy, with 6 (I counted) actors with chainsaws near the end.
    It is very manic with blood everywhere, loads of strobes and actors with chainsaws.
    The Chop Shop is awesome,best maze of the night.
    The Volt: Hmm, The Volt was wierd for me, it fell a little bit flat.
    There were shock pads, but it was light enough and wide enough for them to be useless.
    They weren't many actors, it was short. Could be a lot better.
    Roamers: They were loads of roamers, from chainsaws, too popcorn girls.
    I saw the mummy, dracula, and loads of more roamers.
    The roamers are way better than Thorpes IMO.
    Overall I had a good time, Tulleys was great this year.
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