OVERALL RATING :

Scare Factor

Actors

Set Design

Length

RANK #19 out of 21

RAW SCORE : 6.406

RATING

REVIEW

Each year, I always expect a lot more out of the haunts at Elitch Gardens. Every year, this haunted house does not get any better. The set and actors have a lot of potential. There are a lot of places they could have really scared me and did not. There weren't enough actors.

I did like some of the effects. There was a latex wall that someone was crawling through. The clowns did a good job.

Overall, there needed to be more of a theme and screams, especially if Screams is what they call it. I wasn't very scared and fell like I was just walking through. It seemed to be to short for the scares that were in it. I hate when a haunt finishes and you never had a chance to get scared.

The actors need to be intense and know how to scare you. I like when people jump out and do nothing. I would not go back to this haunt and hope that they improve for seasons to come.

PROS

Good effects and set

CONS

Not scary, too short

RATING

REVIEW

I think Screams is geared toward the younger set: like 8-12 year olds and I think if you're that age, you would get a kick out of it. I enjoy myself in the haunt, and would probably enjoy taking my 7 year old niece.

The sets are usually pretty decent and in-depth and I always enjoy looking at the level of detail in many of the rooms. I particularly liked the bat cave (with human-sized vampire bat) and the old attic scenes. Some of the other rooms included the blacklight / glow paint room, white room, vortex tunnel and the old school bus.

There isn't much here when it come to a real scare and many of the actors (or which there were not many) were just making humorous remarks. The length is pretty good, especially considering this is the free-with-admission haunt.

Overall, Screams is really family-oriented with a few slightly scary scenes, but nothing too intense for younger kids.

PROS

Decent sets, awesome vampire bat, variety of scenes

CONS

Not too scary, not many actors

RATING

REVIEW

This haunt was more like Yawns from the Past. It is a good haunt for children - in fact that's all we saw lined up to go see it.

The set design was mediocre at best and the actors really weren't putting forth the effort (I saw one walk through with a Starbucks coffee). The clown is the only one that actually put forth the least bit effort in trying to creep you out. I will give them props on one original idea in set design, and that was the plexiglass wall that had hands pushing through onto white rubber latex for a cool effect.

The walk through the schoolbus was original too, but the actor inside made a confusing sound that was neither creepy nor understandable - I think he coughed. Spinning vortex, electrocution room, the neon handprint blacklight room, mad scientist, and the serial killer with chainsaw are a few rooms that come to mind.

If you're older, skip this one and go to Brutal Planet instead - it's a bit more (If you're at Six Flags).

PROS

Umm...

CONS

Unenthusiastic acting, set design was minimal

RATING

REVIEW

An introduction to a haunt by an accomplished actor can set the stage to greatness even if the attraction is found wanting.

Screams at Elitch Gardens is second to none in the introduction category. Introducing us to the horror we were to face was a slender pirate (Captain Jack Sparrow-like character) with spiders living in his dreadlocks. He gives fair warning that the chances are against us for a safe return from a visit into Scream and wishes us well on our journey.

From there, it was pretty much downhill. That's not to say that Screams was not a decent haunt, rather it just didn't follow the lead of the above average introduction. There were a few good startles one that caught a group member by surprise and sent him to the floor.

There were a few surprises with actors jumping from the ceiling using bungee cords. These were the highlights in an overall pretty good haunt. Having a haunt in Six Flags with virtually no wait in line for the rides make for a fun day with the frosting on the cake being a pretty good haunt to visit.

PROS

It's at Six Flags, introduction, costumes

CONS

Weak in all categories

RATING

REVIEW

I had myself prepared for a pretty good haunt, but left a bit disappointed. This haunt seemed like it may be worth the trip, but lacked the details I look for in a great haunt. There were some of the usual haunt effects that are seen all around town, some had an interesting twist added, some didn't.

This may be a spoiler, but I really thought the bat cave was cool. It was a good effect without being overdone.

There is a section with white walls, Plexiglas and a blast of air thrown in that was pretty neat. It was good for a small startle but not a full tilt scare.

The costumes here were decent, but again I was expecting more. The actors themselves were all okay except for one. He came out from behind some camouflage netting and said, "How you doing". I was floored, and had never seen anyone do that in the worst haunts, but it sure was good for a laugh or two.

One actor did make the weirdest cat noise I've ever heard anyone make, and he was pretty strange, so that was alright.

The length of the haunt could have been longer, but it was average. I would have liked to see them step up a bit on the scare factor - maybe next year.

PROS

Some cool props, new twist on some props

CONS

Actors out of character, not enough scares

RATING

REVIEW

Before I delve into an actual review I should mention that Elitch Gardens has cool offerings for the scaring season besides Haunted Houses.

A very theatrical séance is free to the public, as are cockroach eating contests and a fun parade of spooks! The Halloween decorations throughout Six Flags are pretty weak considering what I assume is a large budget, but wood animatronics throughout the gardens and fountains are probably great sights for families with children.

The sets inside of Screams were standard haunt style scenes executed solidly. The bat and vampire props were very realistic looking and I enjoyed stopping to absorb the various scenes and effects in this house. The first rooms in the haunt incorporate an oldies theme with music from the 50's playing. The initial sets and costumes smacked of nostalgia. After those first couple of rooms, the theme dissipates, but there are cool visuals to look for. My favorite was a room with mysterious ghostly hands that reached out towards us from a white stretchy background. The effect is rather beautiful and as I was trying to figure out if they would touch me a burst of air caught me off guard and I jumped.

Overall, I didn't find this to be a terribly scary haunt due to the lack of interactivity with the actors. The few actors I saw weren't really giving a good shot at freaking me out. Screams is well-lit and will provide a good scare for the families attending Six Flags as they wind down their season, but may fall on the weaker sides for hauntgoers expecting a good show from the actors.

PROS

Interesting sets, creepy realistic props, room with elastic hands!

CONS

Acting wasn't impressive

RATING

REVIEW

While I wouldn't make a special trip to Six Flags just to see this haunt, I still thought it was pretty good. If you're planning to enjoy the overall Fright Fest at Six Flags, it's worth the wait in line to catch this show, though I recommend seeing this one first and Brutal Planet second in order to save the better haunt for last.

Screams is a much more classic haunt that doesn't break much new ground, but uses some time-honored scare tactics and makes for a good time.

Plus, if you're already going to Six Flags, you can't beat the price for this haunt (free with park admission).

Acting wasn't exceptional but neither was it poor. Set design was pretty impressive, especially for a temporary venue. It was spooky but not quite scary, and overall a pretty good haunted house.

PROS

Fun, classic sets; a few good scare points

CONS

Mediocre acting

RATING

REVIEW

This haunt wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. There's nothing that really stood out to me in this haunt except for one hallway that you walked down. This hallway was completely white with drapes and stuff hanging from it. It had what looked like white spandex with hands sliding down and along it. That was a very cool effect.

The actors need a little help and a lot more excitement in this haunt. One of them saw me, didn't even jump out or anything, but stepped out from behind a prop and just asked me how I was doing. I don't know if that was supposed to be a joke or funny or something, but I did laugh because it just didn't seem to fit in. It was also kind of short.

The overall set in this haunt was really good I thought. They had some creepy looking props and scenes, they just need to use it more efficiently.

PROS

Set, props

CONS

Overall scare, acting, length