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Reviews

Reviews

Carnival

Carnival - COMING SOON

13th Room

  • Haunt
  • Haunted house
A delicious dive into a demented funhouse, Carnival is a fun Halloween treat that encourages exploration, both external and within. When my group and I first pulled up to the location, I was very amazed - The 13th Room had found the perfect spot for their latest venture, and it greatly set the mood for the rest of the night. In fact, the location, along with the costumes, characters, lighting, sound, set decoration, and attention to detail all add up to form a memorable experience. The brilliant use of dark and light in the various scenes within the whole adventure elevated the night, and their use of space to give the illusion that we are in a bigger area was really well done. Additionally, the actors know how to play off of the crowd, and I had a great time interacting with them. Eddy, the creator, was a fun and giving host, and as the night progressed, we all felt comfortable enough to play and let loose with other attendees and the actors. It felt like a collaborative event where we all were having fun together. Surprisingly, the content can get very deep and personal, offering many opportunities at introspection. They won't force you to reveal your inner demons, but they offer the chance to voluntarily share some personal feelings with the crowd. While this might not be welcomed by everybody, I appreciated the contrast between light-hearted fun and deep reflection. Other than the main event, the show offers an excellent assortment of themed cocktails, homemade cookies, and other snacks. Plenty of 1-1 opportunities are available. For an additional fee, you can also interact with the fortune tellers. There is comfortable seating throughout, and the place has a dedicated bathroom with plumbing, which is very much welcomed. I had a great time at the Carnival and look forward to more offerings from The 13th Room.
Nightmare Rising

Nightmare Rising - Opening Oct 2

Nightmare Rising

  • Haunt
  • Haunted house
An ambitious project that has a lot of potential, Nightmare Rising can become a household Halloween name in the SoCal scene if they take time to improve on certain aspects. The one thing Nightmare Rising excels at is employing dedicated scare actors who love interacting with guests. Zombies run at you full force, knife wielding maniacs sneak in the dark, and wolf girls appear in the most unexpected places. The scare actors here love what they do, and it shows. Another positive is the variety of experiences they have. Shooting zombies with gel blasters and playing flag football in a zombie survival experience are 2 experiences that take advantage of the location Nightmare Rising takes place in, which is an airsoft/paintball arena. You don't really see these offerings in other nearby haunts, so it was refreshing to see something new. Additionally, they have a traditional haunted hay ride as well as a trek through the dark woods in their Troop 13 event, which is a small immersive experience. However, other than these 4 experiences, there really wasn't much else to do. The site advertised things like food and axe throwing, but I did not see that when I went (it may have changed since then but I'm not sure). On top of that, the hayride and Troop 13 experiences were closed due to rain, which, when combined with the steep prices, was disappointing and left me feeling unfulfilled. Other than that, I felt like the decor and set design were a little lacking. There were some cool animatronic characters, but they didn't really feel "on theme". They were setting up some awesome house facades, which I heard were being converted to hold more decorations and scares, but these were empty shells when I went. The central hub which connects all experiences could use some polish. This can be a great event for those seeking a more thrilling and active experience and can be a hit with teens and the younger crowd. With their huge allotment of space, dedicated troupe of scare actors, and unique experiences, I feel like Nightmare Rising can grow to be considered a staple in the yearly SoCal Halloween haunts, but they will need to work more towards that goal to give a fulfilling experience.
Delusion: Harrowing of Hell [Season 2025]

Delusion: Harrowing of Hell [Season 2025] - CLOSED

Delusion

  • Haunt
  • Scare zone

𓆜𓋘𓄁 𓊛𓇙𓋸𓌤𓌥 𓌦 𓅐𓆢 𓆣 𓀉𓆤 𓆥 𓅑𓆘 𓆙 𓅒𓄙 𓄚 𓄛 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 𓅔 𓅕 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 𓎷 𓄁𓎸𓅖 𓅽 𓅾 𓅿𓅗 𓅘 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 𓅚 𓁵 𓁶𓂵 𓂶𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 𓂺𓅜 �𓅝𓃄 �𓄁𓅞𓂙 𓅟𓂿 𓆜𓋘𓄁 𓊛𓇙𓋸𓌤𓌥 𓌦 𓅐𓆢 𓆣 𓀉𓆤 𓆥 𓅑𓆘 𓆙 𓅒𓄙 𓄚 𓄛 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 𓅔 𓅕 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 𓎷 𓄁𓎸𓅖 𓅽 𓅾 𓅿𓅗 𓅘 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 𓅚 𓁵 𓁶𓂵 𓂶𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 𓂺𓅜 𓂨𓅝𓃄 𓄁𓅞𓂙 𓅟𓂿

Angel of Light

Angel of Light - Closing Oct 4

Angel of Light

  • Haunt
  • Other

𓆜𓋘𓄁 𓊛𓇙𓋸𓌤𓌥 𓌦 𓅐𓆢 𓆣 𓀉𓆤 𓆥 𓅑𓆘 𓆙 𓅒𓄙 𓄚 𓄛 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 𓅔 𓅕 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 𓎷 𓄁𓎸𓅖 𓅽 𓅾 𓅿𓅗 𓅘 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 𓅚 𓁵 𓁶𓂵 𓂶𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 𓂺𓅜 �𓅝𓃄 �𓄁𓅞𓂙 𓅟𓂿 𓆜𓋘𓄁 𓊛𓇙𓋸𓌤𓌥 𓌦 𓅐𓆢 𓆣 𓀉𓆤 𓆥 𓅑𓆘 𓆙 𓅒𓄙 𓄚 𓄛 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 𓅔 𓅕 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 𓎷 𓄁𓎸𓅖 𓅽 𓅾 𓅿𓅗 𓅘 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 𓅚 𓁵 𓁶𓂵 𓂶𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 𓂺𓅜 𓂨𓅝𓃄 𓄁𓅞𓂙 𓅟𓂿

Fangs!

Fangs! - CLOSED

Fangs

  • Haunt
  • Other
Fangs! is an excellent immersive theater adventure that offers strong performances, story, and atmosphere, with plenty of opportunities to have a 1-1 experience. The setting alone, the Mountain View Mausoleum, perfectly sets the tone as guests creep through the dark marbled halls with nothing but a dimly lit lantern guiding them. Kudos to the staff and actors for perfectly navigating the labyrinthine corridors. There's nothing like hearing a distant scream echo from unseen chambers while surrounded by tombs. Performances remained strong throughout the night with energy and enthusiasm. It was great to see audience members start to build bonds with certain characters, making them all the more invested in the story. While I wasn't chosen for a 1-1 this year, I found multiple lucky participants plucked from their groups to go on a solo journey with another character. The engrossing plot had perfect pacing. The mystery and tension steadily built up as the night progressed, culminating in an exciting turning point and climax. Backstories are slowly revealed, uncovering deeply buried motivations and explanations. It is worth sticking around afterward to talk with other guests to fill in plot details, as one will not get the full story on their first runthrough. For those wishing to attend, expect to spend most time on your feet, as you will need to walk and climb stairs to reach different scenes. Those with mobility issues may find this experience difficult. Fangs! was a real treat this Halloween season - make sure to take a bite out of this morsel before it disappears.
Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America [Season 2023]

Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America [Season 2023] - CLOSED

Halloween Horror Nights

  • Haunt
  • Haunted house
A pleasant surprise, Monstruous was one of Universal's original offerings for the 2023 year. The maze benefitted from strong set design and memorable key moments. I will never forget the image of El Silbon ripping out a victim's spine with his bare hands, a la Mortal Kombat. While the story may or may not make sense (I am biased since I watched John Murdy describe the maze in great detail during Midsummer Scream), I felt that the pacing was nice and primed the viewers with enough info to signal that they would meet a different creature from folklore.
The Last of Us [Season 2023]

The Last of Us [Season 2023] - CLOSED

Halloween Horror Nights

  • Haunt
  • Haunted house
"Mixed bag" is what I would use to describe the maze. It started off strong, with guests crossing the checkpoint while the theme song played in the background. The thrill of seeing Joel and Ellie, as well as the Bloater, and the strong acting performances were highlights of the maze. Sadly, it suffered from bland set design and disconnected plot points. Instead of highlighting key moments from the game and TV series, it stubbornly stuck to endless brick and stone corridors, with most of the maze taking place in the sewers. Most scare-actors were relegated to infected roles, with barely any attention given to scavengers or other humans. Perhaps it proved difficult to adapt the series to a horror maze, as much of the horror and despair comes from the evils and flaws of human nature. However, the lack of variety and creativity killed any potential this had.
Stranger Things 4 [Season 2023]

Stranger Things 4 [Season 2023] - CLOSED

Halloween Horror Nights

  • Haunt
  • Haunted house
The main selling point in this maze, in my opinion, was the grand scale and recreation of certain key scenes from the series. Chrissy's demise in Eddie's trailer, the initial confrontation between Eleven and Vecna in the lab, the foreboding Creel house, and the final confrontation all benefitted from strong set design, acting, lighting, sound, and special effects. As a fan of Stranger Things, this caught my attention more than the scares, and it was great to walk through the world of the show. My only gripe: I didn't hear "Running Up That Hill" play at all!
Haunted Soiree: Vampire

Haunted Soiree: Vampire

The Nocturne Theatre

  • Haunt
  • Other
The Haunted Soiree offered a wonderful mix of activities that can suit just about any adult crowd. For those looking to indulge in creative cocktails while taking a laid-back approach will enjoy the handful of beverage choices available. For those looking to dive deeper into the story, there are plenty of characters to interact with, as well as a few fun challenges. Entertainment is plentiful, all backed with wonderful lighting and atmosphere. One major drawback however is the large crowd, which diminishes the experience. Hallways and rooms are flooded, increasing wait times for some of the experiences (especially the restroom). Unfortunately, this is made worse by rowdy audience members, some of which behave immaturely and destroy the immersive mood. This is not to take away from the amazing talent, though. Kudos to the actors, performers, and staff. Performances were strong and repeated throughout the night, giving everyone a chance to view it. Characters told wonderful stories to those brace enough to ask. Overall, The Haunted Soiree was a wonderful and entertaining adventure and was one of the best offerings the spooky season has to offer.
Magic of The Jack O'Lanterns

Magic of The Jack O'Lanterns

Magic Of The Jack O'Lanterns

  • Haunt
  • Haunted trail
Okay experience that is good for families near the area. The length is good and perfect for a quick 1 hour visit, which makes it great for little kids. Some of the themes were good, but overall it felt pretty small with less pumpkins on display than other similar events, such as Nights of the Jack in Calabasas. Other than the pumpkin trail, there is only a handful of activities to do. There is a small hay maze, but the hay bales only go up to about 3-4 feet, so not too exciting for adults. A small eating area offers fair food at ridiculous prices, and there is a small area to make smores for a fee. The event could benefit from stronger theming and arrangement of the displays, as well as a better organized park layout. Parking also is a minus, as guests have to walk a bit of a distance if they don't splurge on VIP parking.
Delusion: Nocturnes & Nightmares - [Season 2023]

Delusion: Nocturnes & Nightmares - [Season 2023] - CLOSED

Delusion

  • Haunt
  • Haunted house
This year's Delusion packed strong thrills and was rewarding to both returning and new fans alike. Long-time attendees of the show will find the most fulfillment, as this year featured numerous throwbacks, references, and returning characters from previous shows, spanning over a decade of stories all combined in one ultimate meta plotline. Outside of the main show itself, the grounds contain a handful of activities to partake in. Enjoy entertainment and drinks on the second floor, and make sure to visit the attic before your showtime (wait times can vary, so grab a spot as soon as you arrive). There are also food and beverage offerings in the backyard, but I would stay away from there until after your show, as it is directly in front of the exit, within earshot of potential spoilers. Make sure to plan one final visit to the beautiful Phillips Mansion. This is one not to be missed.
The Chilling Chambers

The Chilling Chambers

Knott’s Scary Farm

  • Haunt
  • Haunted house
Truly a stand-out maze with plenty to offer for both new and old fans. Long-time Knott's fans will get the most out of this one, as it is filled to the brim with references, Easter eggs, and nods to all 50 years of Knott's Scary Farm history. I especially applaud the homage to Larry Vincent, aka Sinister Seymour, who was the first ever celebrity host for the very first Knott's Scary Farm. I gleefully shouted when I saw Elvis from Lost Vegas, as that was one of the first mazes I did during my first visit to Knott's Scary Farm back in 2007. And the trip through the Doll Factory, one my favorite mazes of all time, plucked all the strings for the fan boy inside of me. Nothing but love for this one. For all you fans out there, make sure to make time for this one.
Ghost Town Streets

Ghost Town Streets

Knott’s Scary Farm

  • Haunt
  • Scare zone
The Ghost Town Streets remain a key mainstay amongst the scare zones. It is a reliable area that sets the tone for the entire night. Braving through one of the densest fog areas is a rite of passage, a tradition one must experience every year. The sliders are excellent and experienced, sometimes stopping mere inches from you for maximum effect. The old West buildings lend to the atmosphere, and the cemetery is always a treat to visit. Scare actors are dedicated in this zone and work hard to bring on the terror. Make sure to go through this scare zone at least once on every visit to Scary Farm and pay homage to the king of scare zones.
The Gore-ing '20s

The Gore-ing '20s

Knott’s Scary Farm

  • Haunt
  • Scare zone
The Gore-ing '20s remains one of the best scare zones, filled with energy and story. Dance along with the revelers to the swinging tunes from the live band, or heed the warnings belted out from the Prohibitionists. Stop by the Blind Tiger and ring the doorbell for a nice little surprise. Making its debut in 2023, guests can finally partake in the Devil's Elixir, the mysterious drink that's making everyone go a little mad. The scare zone is one of the most highly interactive places in the park. Guests can engage in small chit-chat with the actors, learning tidbits of the plot. Actors encourage guests to dance with them in the streets, sometimes even forming a frantic conga line. The Gore-ing '20s is a fun festive environment with something sinister bubbling underneath.
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