Broadwitch Hauntfest 2013
Broadwitch always manages to surprise and delight us and 2013 is no different. This year there are some really cool and fun ideas here as well as a few that are just a bit crazy. But everything is done with a sense of fun and even a hardened scare fan will find a lot here to enjoy.
Spooky Castle is Broadwitch's signature haunt and is still one of the most elaborately themed mazes in the UK. Everywhere you look there are detailed theming elements, small touches and a totally believable atmosphere. Compared to the other mazes, the actors were quite relaxed in their scares and despite the incredible set design didn't get too scared in the show. Having said that - one massive animatronic scare had this 6ft plus reviewer diving to the floor in fright (twice!) One big thing that upset us about this maze was the lacklustre ending. One minute we were walking through a potting shed being snarled at by a gardener and the next we were walking back out into the main arena. It would have been nice to have been chased out the door with a big finale.
Thirteen is new for 2013 and is a revamp of The Vault. Themed around 13 superstitions and fears, the maze has loads of different scenes and some unique scares. If pushed we would be unable to name all 13 fears featured in the attraction but some of the obvious ones are the fear of the dark, fear of needles alongside superstitions about walking under ladders or opening an umbrella indoors. Although some of the scenes are extremely detailed (fear of flying has to be seen to be believed!) there were a number of dark corridors where it felt like not a lot was happening so the attraction felt a bit episodic at times. The actors throughout were really lively and we have to praise the air hostess for a surreal, scary and funny ending that had us running out the door with a massive smile on our faces!
Containment was one of the smaller mazes at the event but has seen a number of changes to the route to make it seem longer. The key thing that stood out was the sheer number of actors in this attraction and how close we had to get to them. The "hospital rec room" was hardly any bigger than a large garden shed but had 5 actors that we literally had to push past and climb over to escape. It was intense, scary and had the biggest number of jump scares we experienced all night.
Last year's Field of Fear was themed to The Wizard of Oz and we never thought that the Broadwitch team would ever top such a crazy idea. How wrong we were! Within seconds of walking into the cornfield it was obvious that they've brought Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to life. In a maize field! The maze was filled with all the major characters from the book, a great glass elevator some exceptionally evil Ooompa Loompas and scares around every corner. But those scares were mixed with some incredible humour and we laughed and screamed in equal measures at the incredibly lively talent throughout. An ingenious idea, superbly executed and just pure scary fun.
The Trailer ride at Broadwitch changes regularly and this year the park have used the trailer to take guests to the woods to see a village being terrorised by a time travelling demon called Horifica. Despite a few fun scares along the way and a great fire effect, this attraction didn't do much for us . Maybe the story was confusing or maybe we expected more scares on the trailer but it was obvious that the trailer is just a construct to get guests to the woodland. The walk through the woods was the most theatrical of Broadwitch's line up and although we are used to strange ideas (read what we said about the Willy Wonka scare maze above) the idea of a time travelling demon in leather brandishing a chainsaw was a mad idea too far!
Between the main attractions, the park employs some really impressive character actors to keep people entertained. From the Gangnam Style dancing zombie through to the twerking granny with a walking frame, the characters are funny, a bit spooky and utterly enchanting. We interacted with as many of them as we could and they had us constantly laughing throughout the night.
Broadwitch always puts on an impressive event and this year sees some ingenious ideas across the whole site. Granted the trailer ride lacked the scare factor of the other attractions but as a whole package - the event has an impressive line up which will appeal to a broad range of people.
Broadwitch always puts on an impressive event and this year sees some ingenious ideas across the whole site. Granted the trailer ride lacked the scare factor of the other attractions but as a whole package - the event has an impressive line up which will appeal to a broad range of people.
Links
For dates and prices check the Broadwitch Haunfest website
You Review
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I would just like to Thank everyone for giving an amazing evening 1-11-13. I never imagined I would be that scared, I have surprised myself because not in my wildness dreams would I have come to something that would scare me so much. Well Done everyone and Thank you
Kind Regards
Teresa x
Kind Regards
Teresa x
Scary - Not bad, thirteen was a disappointment, the airplane bit was good but the rest was a bit pointless. The umbrella bit was just ridiculous.
The spooky castle was good as was containment, but i have to say the price was getting a joke.
The general set-up was excellent, but the increasing price will make it doubtful if we will go back
K.A.
The spooky castle was good as was containment, but i have to say the price was getting a joke.
The general set-up was excellent, but the increasing price will make it doubtful if we will go back
K.A.
Scary - I have to agree about the price. For what it is, it hurt the pocket.
Spooky castle was good, and the roaming actors were fun, but the field of fear and thirteen were a let down. There was lots of parking and the staff were friendly, but the bigger more established parks were better value for money
Jim
Spooky castle was good, and the roaming actors were fun, but the field of fear and thirteen were a let down. There was lots of parking and the staff were friendly, but the bigger more established parks were better value for money
Jim
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