Scare Kingdom Scream Park - 2014
Scare Kingdom has been operating for several years now and impressed and shocked us in equal measures in 2013 with two brand new mazes - Manormortis and Psychomanteum. Both of these attractions have returned for 2014 but in slightly different versions.
Something we always find at this event is that the timed entry means there is not much waiting around. It's nice to be able to walk up and effectively go straight in but it does feel like one long walk with attractions in between instead of park where we can chose what to do next. Just remember to make sure you've used the toilet and finished your cigarette before going in!
The Oubliette
The Oubliette felt like a scene setter / dispatch area, as opposed to a stand alone maze/attraction. Without giving it too much away, we were exposed to darkness, loud noises and several scares while been given instructions for the rest of the park. As before - we struggled to hear most of the safety spiel so do wonder why the park insist on messing with the audience when they should be listening. It's fun and effective as an introductory scare but would be better with the safety rules given before entering! It didn't help that we then exited into daylight which slightly spoiled the atmosphere that had been built up.
The Clonefields
Scare Kingdom seems to follow the same layout each year and of course after a small walk through farm, we approached the obligatory cornfield attraction. We were greeted by a number of feature characters, who, despite it still being daylight, did an amazing job engaging our group. It was quite a leisurely stroll through the corn maze only slightly spoiled by being able to see the slender men in advance. This attraction will be even better in the dark!
Hellcatraz
Hellcatraz is a prison themed maze which we entered after some fun interaction with a prison warden beforehand. The maze itself is a classic strobe lit attraction with a few unusual twists.We didn't notice much in the way of decoration throughout but that could have been the intensity of the strobes. The split corridor effect was fun and the utilised this very well. Out of all of the mazes at the event this was probably our second favourite!
Manamortis : Covenstead
Having visited this attraction before we were really excited to be heading in again. In 2013, the house was so beautifully decorated and themed and was clearly the highlight of the whole event. Unfortunately, this year the maze was just far too dark and foggy which meant we couldn't fully appreciate what this permanent attraction has to offer. At times it felt like we were just walking around in the dark. This house has so much prospect and we had some good scares but we would have loved to have seen a little bit more.
Human Zoo
Last year, we felt that Scare Kingdom fell a bit flat after the incredible Manormortis and it's really nice to see that in 2014 the park have saved the best for last. The butcher/ dispatcher set the scene tremendously well and the maze contained some freaky gory characters throughout. The maze was a combination off jump scares and theatrics and the actors did an incredible job of engaging our group at all times. Easily our favourite experience of the night!
Psychomanteum
What can we say without giving anything away? Psychomanteum has completely upped the ante and extended the length of this psycho sexual attraction that you experience alone. It really isn't for the faint hearted as it is very intense, sick and degrading. It really is like Marmite - you will either love it or hate it. We think we've made our opinion on this attraction quite clear in the past, but it is something you probably need to experience for yourself just so you can make your own mind up!
Scare Kingdom has been around for several years now and it is clear that the team are always looking to change and upgrade as they year's progress. Some niggles about the predictability of the layout and the structure of the attractions remain and we do feel that the event misses the atmosphere that you get in a true "scream park". Scare Kingdom is more of a long scare experience - once you start you have to finish it. Saying that - it does reduce the number of queues that you have to endure so we shouldn't really complain.
Something we always find at this event is that the timed entry means there is not much waiting around. It's nice to be able to walk up and effectively go straight in but it does feel like one long walk with attractions in between instead of park where we can chose what to do next. Just remember to make sure you've used the toilet and finished your cigarette before going in!
The Oubliette
The Oubliette felt like a scene setter / dispatch area, as opposed to a stand alone maze/attraction. Without giving it too much away, we were exposed to darkness, loud noises and several scares while been given instructions for the rest of the park. As before - we struggled to hear most of the safety spiel so do wonder why the park insist on messing with the audience when they should be listening. It's fun and effective as an introductory scare but would be better with the safety rules given before entering! It didn't help that we then exited into daylight which slightly spoiled the atmosphere that had been built up.
The Clonefields
Scare Kingdom seems to follow the same layout each year and of course after a small walk through farm, we approached the obligatory cornfield attraction. We were greeted by a number of feature characters, who, despite it still being daylight, did an amazing job engaging our group. It was quite a leisurely stroll through the corn maze only slightly spoiled by being able to see the slender men in advance. This attraction will be even better in the dark!
Hellcatraz
Hellcatraz is a prison themed maze which we entered after some fun interaction with a prison warden beforehand. The maze itself is a classic strobe lit attraction with a few unusual twists.We didn't notice much in the way of decoration throughout but that could have been the intensity of the strobes. The split corridor effect was fun and the utilised this very well. Out of all of the mazes at the event this was probably our second favourite!
Manamortis : Covenstead
Having visited this attraction before we were really excited to be heading in again. In 2013, the house was so beautifully decorated and themed and was clearly the highlight of the whole event. Unfortunately, this year the maze was just far too dark and foggy which meant we couldn't fully appreciate what this permanent attraction has to offer. At times it felt like we were just walking around in the dark. This house has so much prospect and we had some good scares but we would have loved to have seen a little bit more.
Human Zoo
Last year, we felt that Scare Kingdom fell a bit flat after the incredible Manormortis and it's really nice to see that in 2014 the park have saved the best for last. The butcher/ dispatcher set the scene tremendously well and the maze contained some freaky gory characters throughout. The maze was a combination off jump scares and theatrics and the actors did an incredible job of engaging our group at all times. Easily our favourite experience of the night!
Psychomanteum
What can we say without giving anything away? Psychomanteum has completely upped the ante and extended the length of this psycho sexual attraction that you experience alone. It really isn't for the faint hearted as it is very intense, sick and degrading. It really is like Marmite - you will either love it or hate it. We think we've made our opinion on this attraction quite clear in the past, but it is something you probably need to experience for yourself just so you can make your own mind up!
Scare Kingdom has been around for several years now and it is clear that the team are always looking to change and upgrade as they year's progress. Some niggles about the predictability of the layout and the structure of the attractions remain and we do feel that the event misses the atmosphere that you get in a true "scream park". Scare Kingdom is more of a long scare experience - once you start you have to finish it. Saying that - it does reduce the number of queues that you have to endure so we shouldn't really complain.
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Re: Psychomanteum - While it wasnt personally scary for me it waz enjoyable. Well... without giving too much away I will just say it was shocking, disturbing, disgusting and wierd. Got to have a very dark sense of humour to endure the tortures within and survive. Its very intense and literally hands on. Not for the faint hearted. Enter if you dare.
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