Newsham Scream Park Review (2024)

Humanimal featured a variety of intriguing masks, each adding depth and mystique to the characters. The person introducing the maze stood out with striking makeup that set the tone for what was to come. In Under the Bed, the costume design was especially impressive, particularly the enormous creature who confronted us in the final room and the eerie figures emerging from the fabric walls and shadowy voids as if they were part of the set. One standout character blended into the peeling paint of the wall, camouflaging so well that he appeared to emerge from it—a brilliant touch. In The Priest Hood, it was challenging to assess most costumes due to limited visibility, aside from the memorable cowled figure who appeared early on. By comparison, The Mortuary felt less detailed in its costuming and design than the other zones, which lessened its impact.

The pre-haunt atmosphere didn’t fully capitalise on the potential of the setting. Given the haunting ambiance of an abandoned historic hospital, we expected a more immersive lead-up to the experience. Additionally, the “hands-on-shoulders” requirement—where each person had to hold onto the shoulders of the person in front—felt somewhat restrictive. While we understand that some venues use this approach, we found it detracted from the sense of personal, individual immersion. Each section of the haunt concluded adequately, though not particularly memorably. As for The Priest Hood, the storyline was unclear, making it hard for us to fully connect with the experience.

Under the Bed was truly spectacular, featuring massive puppetry, animatronics, and incredibly creepy creatures that seemed to come alive. Unsettlingly mutated soft toys sprung into action, catching us off guard, is a brilliant display of puppetry. The set design was simple yet imaginative, with whimsical touches that captured the essence of exploring a mysterious “under-the-bed” world—you even physically go beneath a giant bed! This section stood out as the highlight for us. They made impressive use of the hospital’s different levels, with some rooms specifically designed for a unique walk-through experience, creatively maximising the limited space. Each room felt distinct, including one with an old-fashioned zoetrope that added a strange, vintage touch. One eerie scene involved a man standing on a table with a crying baby sound in the background, which was unsettling, though somewhat ambiguous in meaning.

In Humanimal, the sparse set design and use of cages, along with flashing lights and a dramatic soundtrack, gave the experience a high-quality, intense atmosphere.

The Mortuary was simpler, with shrouded furniture creating a somber vibe. Although there were glow sticks at the beginning and end of the line, they didn’t add much light beyond what was already in the space. However, the vampires here had glowing eyes, which added an eerie touch. The green laser and fog room was particularly effective, making it appear as though the vampires were emerging from water—a very creative effect.

In The Priest Hood, the sensory experience relied heavily on touch and sound, adding to the immersion in a different, more physical way.

Under the Bed delivered a few effective jump scares, as the costumes blended with the set, creating unexpected surprises that kept us on edge. Yet, while there were moments of suspense, the experience overall wasn’t particularly terrifying, although the beauty of the design must not be underestimated. Humanimal was more menacing, with actors making intense, guttural sounds that added a primal, unsettling layer to the experience. In contrast, The Priest Hood and The Mortuary felt less intense in terms of scares.

One element that diminished the scare factor was the large group size and the requirement to hold onto the shoulders of the person in front. This setup reduced the sense of personal immersion, making it harder to feel fully immersed and vulnerable to scares.

The mazes felt quite short for the price point; each one lasted only two to six minutes, making the experience feel too brief to fully enjoy. With such limited time in each maze, it was challenging to become truly immersed before reaching the end. While there were several photo opportunities and a live singer on stage, the additional entertainment felt minimal, and one roaming actor wore an underwhelming mask of It, which missed the mark for atmosphere.

This event has great potential for a thrilling night out, and it does offer some memorable moments, but it would benefit from a few key improvements. Longer mazes, a more immersive communal space, and expanded entertainment options would make the experience feel more complete and justify the ticket price.