Rising from the swamps outside of Nakina, NC, we found a huge circus tent populated with a bevy of rather sinister-looking clowns. This enticing spectacle, accompanied by blaring music and blasts of fire from another performer, was all just a ruse to entice us into the haunt known as Panic Attack! This sprawling haunt contains insanely decorated sets packed full of detail ‘ enough eye-candy to keep the unsuspecting distracted long enough for just about anything to sneak up on them in the dark. We have previously attended Panic Attack and were excited to return to this exquisitely detailed haunted attraction.
This haunt is one of the premier professional haunts in this part of North Carolina – from movie quality sets to highly detailed costumes, Panic Attack is ready to bring the scares to guests.
Panic Attack boasts a wide variety of costumed creeps and creatures. Although we initially witnessed a big top show populated with weapon-wielding clowns, soon we delved through a (not so) abandoned fishing village and the buildings beyond that harvested life from the water. Many of the creatures beyond seemed interested in likewise parting us from our own lives or souls or blood or human forms. Pirates were seeking to get us to add coins to their hoard, as well as undead pirates seeking to add us to their horde. We also beheld a sinister section of a crashed spacecraft where aliens sought to separate us from the earth. By the end, there was even a colossal factory with workers attempting to turn us, or perhaps our corpses, into clowns as well, which brought everything full circle.
Variety of Characters – (35% of score)
Complete, Finished Appearance – (30% of score)
Creative, Detailed Costumes – (20% of score)
Creative, Detailed, Realistic Makeup – (15% of score)
No monster, be they insane killer clown, menacing pirate, or undead soul-sucking vampire, would be complete without costuming and make-up and masks. This is true, too, at Panic Attack. The various characters are all identifiable and fit their respective scenes. Masks and make-up often add to the eye candy of the elaborate sets, making the whole area come alive. We especially loved seeing the captive mermaid. This character is very believable and integrated well into her scene. A trio of religious figures ‘ a priest of Baphomet, the old witch, and the voodoo priestess, each of whom was foretelling our doom ‘ were also well done.
After passing the big top of the queue area, the entire trail is unified by a similar presentation of make-up and costuming. The layers of distressing, be they dirt and grime or blood and effluent, are all done in a fashion that is an almost unique Panic Attack signature style.
If Masks, Effective – (25% of score)
Costumes Appropriate for Scenes, Themes – (30% of score)
Easy to Find, Navigate – (25% of score)
Safety – (20% of score)
Easy enough to find with GPS ‘ or the long line of cars snaking out to the road ‘ Panic Attack’s parking attendants are sufficient to guide plenty of vehicles around the large field. There is plenty of non-costumed staff who are happy to help guests, answer questions, and keep the lines moving throughout the night.
Panic Attack maintains an online presence that is just as detailed as their elaborate sets. Be sure to check out their various platforms to keep abreast of different special appearances from celebrity guests or other performers. Guests can also purchase tickets online before arrival to speed up their night of fright.
The trail is easy to navigate with the current setup. Ramps often traverse entrances to various scenes, and care has been taken to ensure smooth transitions.
Staff Professional, Helpful, Friendly – (25% of score)
Ease of Finding Info Before Arrival – (20% of score)
Obviously a Haunt Before Entering – (40% of score)
Prepared for Experience Inside – (15% of score)
The vast, big-top set that has flowed into the parking lot, coupled with the killer clowns that roam from the long dirt driveway, through the parking area, and all through the queue area, set the stage for a night of surprises and frights. Bright lights scratched through the sky like the roaring chainsaw carried by a clown, while other clowns blasted party music over the crowd like the flames spit out into the air by another.
Before the ticket booth, there was also an exotic animal show (accepting donations) that had a variety of animals on hand that elicited more than a few nervous looks from passersby.
Sound Effects Effective – (20% of score)
Creative, Original Scenes, Props – (30% of score)
Detailed Scenes – (30% of score)
Achieve, Maintain Suspension of Disbelief – (20% of score)
Panic Attack always delivers on highly detailed sets and larger-than-life props, and this year was no different. Almost every inch of this haunt is elaborately detailed, not just the walls but also floors and ceilings. In addition, the trail we traversed doubles back on itself several times, adding a sense of confusion and disorientation while also giving tiny glimpses of towering sets that seem to be just around the corner.
The winding trail through Panic Attack also plays with the senses by providing a distinct change in lighting and sound when moving from scene to scene. Sometimes it’s a subtle shift with a wall blanketing and damping the sound of the previous area while allowing the understated music of the next to start to build. At other times, it’s a sudden crescendo of noise and light that overwhelmed us.
Sometimes the effects aren’t just huge, lunging props or surrounding sets filled with detail, but just the brief and tricky use of lighting to emphasize a sense of dread, to spotlight an actor’s highly detailed costume, or to hide a darkened alcove.
SFX Effective at Scaring, Entertaining – (35% of score)
Could Tell What Theme Was Without Asking – (15% of score)
Theme Well Executed, Believable – (25% of score)
Location Authenticates Theme – (10% of score)
How Scary – (15% of score)
On top of Panic Attack’s usual aquatic theme ‘ from pirates to creatures of the deep ‘ this year, there was an added layer. Killer clowns, perhaps warped by something not of this world, have taken over the haunted site. PA did this very well by bookending the site with their clowns. The ones out front tended to look fresh and clean, while the last section of the haunt (the Clown Factory) looked suitably filthy, unkempt, and bloodied from the massacre of those who had fallen prey to the clowns before our arrival. The crew at PA do an admirable job of creating a unifying theme and pushing it throughout the haunt, tying together some disparate elements with a singular style of d������������������cor and costuming.
Provide Scares to Entire Group – (50% of score)
How Predictable – (25% of score)
Variety of Scares – (25% of score)
Distractions and jump scares are the mainstays of fear at Panic Attack. There are a few looming glares or sinister implications recited by one imposing figure or another, but most of the scares we experienced were of the quick and sudden variety. However, not even our experienced eyes could catch every hidden spot or darkened alcove before something was popping out with a roar, a scream, or a shriek. The roar of chainsaws echoes overhead and provided building anticipation the closer we came to the end of the trail. We were always ready to see a chainsaw-wielding figure pop out around the next corner, and by the end, we were not disappointed.
3245 Pine Level Church Road, Nakina, North Carolina 28455