UPDATE FOR 2022: Our former “Atmosphere” and “Theme” categories have now been combined and renamed “Immersion.” Our intent with this is to give more appropriate credit to attractions that have shown a clear focus on achieving and maintaining better customer experiences (both inside and outside the attractions) and developing creative storylines.
Each of the category scores in this review are calculated using a weighted average of several questions that we rate on a scale of 1 to 10.
The following breakdown explains what these scores typically mean. All of our Teams use this as a reference for providing accurate ratings:
10: “Peak Performance”This score is treated as if it has a chastity belt on it. “10’s” are reserved for the best of the best; those that we feel could not possibly improve on what they’re doing.
9: “Innovative and Groundbreaking”It rocked! Nearly everything seemed to go as planned and it was one of the best we’ve ever seen! These guys are leaders in the industry, and attractions like this are truly hard to come by.
8: “Solid”A high score on our scale. They had a good handle on it and, overall, they knew how to use it well. Most attractions can learn from what these guys are doing.
6 to 7: “Good”We could tell that a good effort was made. However, we’ve seen this done much better at other places, or can detect areas where significant improvements can be made. This is about the top end of what we’d call “Family Friendly.”
5: “Average / Fair”Compared to the competition, they weren’t the best, but definitely not the worst. Scares and Special Effects in this range are usually considered “Family Friendly.”
3 to 4: “Below Average”We could see that a clear attempt was made, but most other professional attractions are doing a much better job at this.
1 to 2: “Poor”It appeared that very little time, thought or effort was contributed to this aspect.
0 (Zero): “Non-Existent”No apparent effort was made to make this a significant contributor to the attraction.
Afterword:This rating system is standardized across all of The Scare Factor’s official haunt review teams. However, keep in mind there will always be minor differences between Teams, as we all have varying levels of experience. Regardless, we do our best to remain true to our core values, which is to promote all haunted attractions!Perhaps the biggest thing to remember is: sometimes the score – in and of itself – doesn’t tell the whole story about an attraction’s merits. This is why we provide detailed explanations for each category… to help you better understand how and why we chose the score/s that we did.We do our best to not let feelings or emotions rule our judgement, while also viewing the attraction through the lens of the typical haunt-goer. But, because all reviews with ratings are inherently subjective, this is nearly impossible to completely prevent. Though, when in doubt, we tend to give slightly lower scores than our original “gut feelings” to account for this, and also give the attraction more room to improve over time.We also do our best to be fair and consistent across all of the haunts that we review. We know that you’ll be looking at these scores and comparing them to other attractions, so we hope this review helps you out in that aspect.Do you have some feedback about our review system? Contact Us Here to let us know what you think!
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Final Score: 9.22
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 9.32
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 9.1
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 9.61
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 9.16
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 9.23
(5% of Final Score) Theme: 9.2
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 9.11
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 9.12
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Summary:
We could be in the kind strange eons where death may die, but the screams at the Factory of Terror are eternal. With the help of a dedicated staff of monsters, COVID-19 precautions, and the long-standing reputation of scaring anyone willing to try its twisting and turning halls, Factory of Terror is open this year with a reduced schedule but a consistently terrifying haunt. Customers are highly recommended to buy tickets online as all ticketing is scheduled by time and the Factory sells out early almost every night. Of the five fear-packed houses that make up the Factory’s line-up, visitors can see three different ones each Friday and Saturday night in an effort to ensure that the only danger patrons face inside the Factory is the monsters inside. The Factory has also added two new bars this year and food trucks for fair-style concessions.
During Friday nights, visitors will venture through 1300 Lost Souls (a somewhat traditional haunted house), Lafayette 13 (a decrepit cemetery in the Louisiana swamps), and House of Nightmares (a strange place where the surroundings come alive).
Saturday nights, the show consists of Industrial Nightmares (the old core of the factory), Lafayette 13 (a decrepit cemetery in the Louisiana swamps), and Massacre on Mahoning (a somewhat traditional haunted house).
Friday’s overall: 9.21
Saturday’s overall: 9.23
Cast: 9.32
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 8.9
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 9.55
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 9.6
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 9.05
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 9.3
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Our team had a consistent experience with the monsters inside the Factory on both Friday and Saturday night. Monsters are on point, offering the gamut of interactions from silent stalking to witty banter. This year Factory cannot be a touch house, but they’ve found workarounds to keep scaring patrons despite COVID-19 restrictions.
Lines are actively being scared by actors both inside and out, and our team had a delightful time watching a punk rock demon send multiple victims running each night in terror despite remaining socially distanced. A Parisienne Princess fell in love with Doug and offered raunchy banter before falling back to send customers screaming, a towering clown wielded a hammer with speed and skill, a priest offered final absolution, and one brilliant actor pulled off sneak attacks that were on par with any movie ninja. On Saturday we spotted a gigantic maniac jester dancing nimbly in a tutu that managed to delight and terrify. Our team also spotted one of the most topical and hilarious monsters of the year, Covid Karen, working the lines and enforcing the rules.
F: 9.3
S: 9.34
Costuming: 9.1
How Did We Get This Score?
Costuming Scores (15% of Final Score):
(15% of Costuming Score) How complete / finished did the costumes appear to be?: 9
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 9.15
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 9
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 9.28
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 9.1
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Due to safety restrictions, this year monsters were not allowed to sport fake blood or latex add-ons. Despite this change, the Factory brought strong and well-thought-out costumes and makeup. Big thanks to the magic of Julie, Zoe, Hannah, Cole, and Caitlynn who went over the restrictions and steps with us.
Masks to protect the monsters from pandemic exposure were blended seamlessly into makeup or worked into larger masks to hide them completely. New characters were added and layered onto and each fit within their setting inside of their house. Temperature reactive masks, unique character/costume concepts, and carefully layered effects really set some of these monsters apart.
Customer Service: 9.61
How Did We Get This Score?
Customer Service Scores (10% of Final Score):
(25% of CS Score) How easy was it to locate the attraction, park, and navigate the premises?: 9.5
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 9.1
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 10
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 10
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Despite having to pare down on some of their regular offerings, the Factory of Terror stepped up its excellent customer service game this year. Increased lights and signage to highlight the fa������ade, clearer parking directions and dedicated assistants, and all digital ticketing make the Factory more accessible than ever. On top of all of this, they have added food trucks and a new mobile bar called Thirsty Tim’s at the entrance and the All-American Axe Bar at the end that offers axe throwing, darts, pool, and other games to offer more entertainment beyond the haunt.
COVID-19 protections are plentiful, with clear markings to keep social distancing, long times between groups, dedicated COVID staff that enforce mask-wearing, and a ton of sanitizing stations.
Atmosphere: 9.16
How Did We Get This Score?
Atmosphere Scores (10% of Final Score):
(60% of Atmosphere Score) How obvious was it that you were at a haunted house before entering?: 9.2
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 9.1
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Every year the Factory of Terror cheats at atmosphere by having the good sense to place their haunted factory inside of a haunted factory. With the addition of Thirsty Tim’s and the fair food options, the front of the Factory has seen an uplift in spirits, both literally and figuratively.
Queue monsters are still very active, although now they both terrify and remind about safety precautions. The Factory has also added more scenes at the entryway to enforce social distancing and help with spreading out groups. The atmosphere is firmly haunted house.
Special Effects: 9.23
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 9
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 9.5
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 9.4
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 9.2
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 9
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The special effects at the Factory of Terror are a blend of modified big budget items and uniquely crafted effects by the build team. The uniquely crafted effects are the majority of the haunt, so one of the biggest offerings of the Factory of Terror is that a lot of what you see there you will see nowhere else on earth.
There is little in the way of sound bleed despite the very specific and different sound effects between rooms. Music is paired beautifully with scenery, sound effects compliment monsters and environments, and environmental noises are crafted perfectly for scenes. Props and scenes create a number of other worlds, from the deep bayou of Louisiana to the dusty backwoods cemeteries of Ohio there is a place for every scare and an effect for every place. Make sure to go through on both nights so you can see the entirety of the world Factory of Terror produces.
Theme: 9.2
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?: 9
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?: 9
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?: 10
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From the beauty of the old-school horror scenes in Massacre on Mahoning to the gory realism of the Industrial Nightmares terror, there is a lot to say about the Factory’s thematic dedication. All five houses have a different theme that dictates the scenes, props, and characters. It’s impossible to pick a real favorite, and due to COVID-19 restrictions, a different group of houses runs each night with Lafayette 13 being the only show in common between Friday and Saturday.
It’s highly recommended to go both nights so you can enjoy the full story of the nightmares being manufactured at the Factory.
Scare Factor: 9.11
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 9.3
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 8.95
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 9.1
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 9.1
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 9
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There is never a shortage of screams at the Factory of Terror, and our experienced group of reviewers can not get enough of seeing people flee in terror from monsters and effects. Because of the Factory’s varied themes scares come from all sources and angles here. Monsters run the gamut from shrieking nightmares to silent stalkers, special effects creep through the edge of your vision and explode in front of you, and monstrous puppets and effects swing into your subconscious to follow you home.
Big shoutout to the creatures at the end of Lafayette 13, the scenery blending monster in the crypt, and the punk rock demon working the entryway. Also, this year a beloved portion of Massacre on Mahoning received a major facelift that caused one of our members to grab us and shout, ‘Why is it so much scarier?’ Our team was over the moon to see the brand-new finale added to House of Nightmares that will make for an incredible show finale once all five houses can be run as they were meant to. As it stands it certainly sent a large number of patrons fleeing for the exit Friday night.
Entertainment & Value: 9.12
How Did We Get This Score?
Entertainment & Value Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment received during the main attraction/s?: 9.1
(25% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment that’s available with* the ticket price, excluding the main attraction/s?: 9.1
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 9
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 9.45
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With a reduced entry price to reflect the COVID-19 precautions the walk through time in the Factory of Terror still easily beats the national standard for dollars per minute. Three action-packed houses for $25 as well as three bars, fair food, hang out and rest spaces, and one of the most unique and densely packed haunted houses in the world make for a great entertainment value. The only thing that is missing this year due to COVID precautions is the legendary mirror maze, but there is more than enough fear to go around without it.
Season passes are still available for $130 which gives endless entry with fast passes for both the Factory of Terror and its sister haunt the Akron Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory. Put on your mask, some comfortable shoes, and bring one friend that is slower than you to fully enjoy this epic haunt.
How Did We Get These Scores
Our Rating System
Each of the category scores in this review are calculated using a weighted average of several questions that we rate on a scale of 1 to 10.
The following breakdown explains what these scores typically mean. All of our Teams use this as a reference for providing accurate ratings:
10: “Peak Performance”This score is treated as if it has a chastity belt on it. “10’s” are reserved for the best of the best; those that we feel could not possibly improve on what they’re doing.
9: “Innovative and Groundbreaking”It rocked! Nearly everything seemed to go as planned and it was one of the best we’ve ever seen! These guys are leaders in the industry, and attractions like this are truly hard to come by.
8: “Solid”A high score on our scale. They had a good handle on it and, overall, they knew how to use it well. Most attractions can learn from what these guys are doing.
6 to 7: “Good”We could tell that a good effort was made. However, we’ve seen this done much better at other places, or can detect areas where significant improvements can be made. This is about the top end of what we’d call “Family Friendly.”
5: “Average / Fair”Compared to the competition, they weren’t the best, but definitely not the worst. Scares and Special Effects in this range are usually considered “Family Friendly.”
3 to 4: “Below Average”We could see that a clear attempt was made, but most other professional attractions are doing a much better job at this.
1 to 2: “Poor”It appeared that very little time, thought or effort was contributed to this aspect.
0 (Zero): “Non-Existent”No apparent effort was made to make this a significant contributor to the attraction.
Afterword:This rating system is standardized across all of The Scare Factor’s official haunt review teams. However, keep in mind there will always be minor differences between Teams, as we all have varying levels of experience. Regardless, we do our best to remain true to our core values, which is to promote all haunted attractions!Perhaps the biggest thing to remember is: sometimes the score – in and of itself – doesn’t tell the whole story about an attraction’s merits. This is why we provide detailed explanations for each category… to help you better understand how and why we chose the score/s that we did.We do our best to not let feelings or emotions rule our judgement, while also viewing the attraction through the lens of the typical haunt-goer. But, because all reviews with ratings are inherently subjective, this is nearly impossible to completely prevent. Though, when in doubt, we tend to give slightly lower scores than our original “gut feelings” to account for this, and also give the attraction more room to improve over time.We also do our best to be fair and consistent across all of the haunts that we review. We know that you’ll be looking at these scores and comparing them to other attractions, so we hope this review helps you out in that aspect.Do you have some feedback about our review system? Contact Us Here to let us know what you think!
