Broadwitch Hauntfest - Return visit!
With only the four main haunts open during the press night, ScareTOUR returned on the busy Halloween weekend to experience the Terror Trailer ride.
It was apparent on arriving, just how busy the event was and it wasn’t long until the night was a complete sell out. With so many people all excited about what the evening had to offer, there was a fantastic atmosphere in the air.
We boarded the trailer ride and were joined by a very funny commentator who began with a story of the woods and what we may find in them as we drove along in complete darkness. Certain actors and scenes would be lit up by his flood light which worked really well as if he didn’t keep up with the movement of the actor a few scares would happen when we didn’t know where they were.
Throughout the ride we were joined by a number of characters, some scary and some more humorous. Each time one boarded the trailer you could sense the unease of everyone around us, especially when one took a member of our group off the ride for a short period of time. The interaction between the characters and our group was a credit to the cast, who had everyone hysterically laughing or shrieking with fear!
As Broadwitch do so well, the attention to detail throughout the ride was fantastic. The scenes are being cleverly built up with a constant story line as opposed to lots of random scares.
Throughout the night we also got chance to visit the other attractions and despite how busy the event was, the batching and scares were carried out brilliantly. Also some of the issues from the last ScareTOUR visit had been resolved and the actors all did a great job in making our group scream (a lot!).
Having done all of the 2011 attractions, we look forward to what Broadwitch has to offer in 2012!
Broadwitch Hauntfest - Broadditch Farm - 2011 review
In 2010, we visited Broadwitch HauntFest for the first time in several years, and we were blown away by the attention to detail and level of scares across all the attractions. In fact, we were so impressed that we described the Spooky Castle as the “perfect attraction”. As usual, whenever something is surrounded with good reviews, anticipation is high for the next visit, so it was with excitement but just a little trepidation that we returned in 2011.
The key thing to remember about Broadwitch compared to some of the other large farm events is that everything you see is temporary for Halloween. As soon as the season is finished, everything is torn down in preparation for Christmas. This makes it even more amazing when you see the level of detail and theming that goes into each attraction and set. In fact Broadwitch's attractions regularly show more detail and quality than some permanent attractions in the UK.
So what did we think of this year’s line up?
The key thing to remember about Broadwitch compared to some of the other large farm events is that everything you see is temporary for Halloween. As soon as the season is finished, everything is torn down in preparation for Christmas. This makes it even more amazing when you see the level of detail and theming that goes into each attraction and set. In fact Broadwitch's attractions regularly show more detail and quality than some permanent attractions in the UK.
So what did we think of this year’s line up?
The Spooky Castle
The main attraction each year is the Spooky Castle. Beyond the imposing façade, the rooms are so believable and so detailed that you forget you are inside a hay barn in the middle of a farm in Kent. The scenes are immersive, beautiful to look at and filled full of unique hiding places for some of the monsters.
The rooms are also a master of design and distraction – the bathroom scene being most memorable. There was a very clearly signposted place where a scare was due to come from but as we all nervously waited for that to move, the scare came from a completely different direction and made us jump each time! Unlike last year, when the monsters were very vocal and very active, this year's actors seemed just a little quiet and reserved. We understand that Spooky Castle is not intended to be the high octane thrill attraction of the event, but a few of the actors could have used a bit of livening up. The attraction owners have already confirmed to us that further actor training plus a few more actors will go into the show when it opens properly next weekend. So, a slightly subdued attraction to start with, but by the end of the night the actors were starting to liven up and feel a bit more comfortable in their roles. By opening day – Spooky Castle should be back on full form! Containment
Containment was very small in 2010 and we are pleased to see that it has over doubled in size. The original maze used uses narrow corridors, strobe lighting and a whole psychiatric ward of strange creatures to attack all your senses but left you wanting more. The new scenes add to the scare factor of the attraction but don’t really add to the story as you go from an asylum/mental hospital to a boiler room with no real explanation.
Not that you get time to ponder that transition, as the boiler room is a master piece of live acting, distraction and a very impressive effect which made us jump every time, leaving us unprepared for the next attack. Containment is still the “short sharp shock” maze but also delivers some fun scares along the way and shouldn’t be missed. Terror Trailer Rides
The Terror Trailer wasn’t available on press night but will be open with all other attractions on Friday 21st. Utilising a nearby woodland, the trailer tour utilises a number of different scares including falling props, sudden noises and an array of actors. Check back after Halloween for an updated review.
 Spooky Castle |
The Vault
Unlike the really detailed and elaborate theming in the Spooky Castle, The Vault is more about short sharp shocks and scares. The attraction is full of very dark narrow corridors and a winding route both inside and out. The effects include a mixture 0f strobe lighting, UV lighting and tactical and visual effects, including a few scares that really had us screaming with shock.
Unlike the tamer creatures of the castle, most of the actors in here were extremely lively, including the crazy swamp monster that got us every time (even once we knew where he was hiding!) and most guests were running from the attraction at the end. The thing that is most impressive about The Vault is the simple nature of the room decorations. It’s clear that a lot of thought has gone into how the scenes will work and how the scares will be achieved. Even though you know you are walking through a decorated haulage container, you can’t help but be extremely nervous as to what is waiting for you round the next corner. For most of our group, this maze was the highlight of the night.  Spooky Castle - this will all be torn down by Christmas! Field of Fear
When we last visited The Field it was exceptionally creepy but just not scary. The wheat grass used for the walls and boundaries grows extremely large and around the 8 foot mark starts to bend in on itself, creating a tunnel. A few years ago, the darkness of the corn maze plus the associated sets and props scatterred around, created a great atmosphere but was lacking actors.
Unfortunately this year due to our very strange weather patterns, the crop was very small - only 5 feet in places, meaning that you could often see what was coming well in advance of experiencing it. The incredible chainsaw attack probably being the most obvious spoiler, as by the time we got to that scene we had already seen the killer clown in position above our heads. Perhaps some extra screening would protect the secrets beforehand? Along the maze we came across a number of strange carnival folk and there were some impressive effects and sets with the “claw” machine being one of our favourites. The attraction ends with a detour through a carnival caravan, with a scene that was one of the best from Spooky Castle in 2010. Transplanted to the field, it made perfect sense and was a great finale to a fun attraction. It’s just shame about the crop – if that had grown higher the field would have been a real masterpiece.
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We started this review with a sense of trepidation that Broadwitch wouldn't live up to the incredible event that we experienced in 2010. Fortunately for everyone the passion and drive that is so obvious from all the crew, has created an event that is as equal to last year’s (if they can sort out the few bits of wobbly acting in the castle)
But all in – it’s another great year. Which of course just leaves one big problem - where do they go in 2012?
*please note that the pictures are from the 2010 event and will be updated soon.
For more details about Broadwitch Hauntfest - visit their website:
But all in – it’s another great year. Which of course just leaves one big problem - where do they go in 2012?
*please note that the pictures are from the 2010 event and will be updated soon.
For more details about Broadwitch Hauntfest - visit their website:
You Review
A wonderful night out :)
Just the right mix of being utterly scared yet still enjoying it. My first visit and really impressed!
Just the right mix of being utterly scared yet still enjoying it. My first visit and really impressed!
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