This attraction was reviewed by Team Zombillies, Team Living Dead Duo, Team Lone Wolf, and Scream Scout Vampiress on October 17, 2025.Reign of Terror isn’t just back for 2025; it’s bigger, bolder, and badder than ever. With sprawling new expansions, bone-rattling scares, and mechanical mayhem, this beast now stretches across 142 fear-inducing rooms packed into 32,000 square feet of pure terror!
This massive haunt chains together a gauntlet of connected nightmares. New for 2025, you’ll slog through the swamps of The Bayou, cross paths with bloodthirsty creatures in the Vampire’s Lair, and endure the sinister rites of The Possession. Then, from the returning Pagan soil of Unhallowed Ground to the twisted trails of the Forest of Fear, the journey continues to barrel forward into The Haunted House, Containment, and Miner’s Revenge. The torment doesn’t stop there. The Asylum, Infected, Casa Blood, Inbred, Quarantine, and the chaotic Fun House all lie in wait, proof that at Reign of Terror, bathroom breaks are optional but fresh underwear is highly recommended!
At the beginning of our adventure, we were greeted by the asylum’s head doctor via video. Imagine our surprise when we headed in – and found him in the flesh, giggling madly behind his desk. One of his nurses smirked, “You’re gonna love your lobotomies!” as we prepared to check in. Hmm… we had some doubts about that. Although Reign had several detailed and immersive scenes, the haunt didn’t follow a storyline, choosing instead to use many different themes to scare patrons. We had to dodge giggling, unhinged patients in the asylum. At least one clown laughed and taunted us in a high-pitched voice. A ghastly-looking bartender initially offered us a drink, but when we inquired further, he informed us he “doesn’t serve the living”. Aww.
Before he sent us into a zombie-infested bunker, a soldier barked orders at us. The zombies themselves groaned, snarled, and clawed at our group as we tried to escape. We were chastised by a miner for completely disregarding the “DANGER: Do Not Enter” signs in the mine shaft. C’mon, buddy, we’re haunt reviewers – we laugh (or scream) in the face of danger. One of the funnier moments came when a guard in the prison sent us off to take a shower, but warned, “I don’t want to see any funny business in the shower area!”
Most of the actors were quick to reset after getting their initial scare. As a result, many of our group members got little by way of actor scares or interaction – a lot of it was directed at the front. Increasing the cast size, if possible, would have helped with this and also broken up some of the gaps where we were walking and not seeing anyone.
The Reign of Terror features many common haunt characters we love to see. The costumes were well-executed and complete, like bloody nurses and doctors, clowns, and a particularly creepy granny. The zombified-looking patients in the asylum were unhinged and especially unsettling.
When it came to the makeup and masks, they blended well on all the characters, ensuring that every monster fit seamlessly into its scene. Every character was appropriate for their respective themes, which is crucial for an immersive experience. And you can’t forget the queue actors, they looked good and were roaming the lines outside, clearly looking for their next victims, which always helps set the mood.
Some stand-out looks included the gravedigger out front, the sharp-toothed clown, and the bushmen who blended in perfectly between two werewolves!
Customer Service at Reign of Terror was a breeze from start to finish! It was easy to find, and parking was conveniently free in the mall lot – just follow the signs and you’ll be on your way to the scares in no time.
Once inside, navigation was super simple, with clear directions and helpful staff. Every team member we encountered greeted us with a smile and genuine enthusiasm – it really felt like they were excited to have everyone there. That kind of positive energy goes a long way in making the night even better! We technically made it out of the haunt after closing, and they even made sure they got all of our orders at the gift shop taken care of – thank you!
Before arriving, we found plenty of information on their website, including a detailed FAQ page that covers just about everything you could need to know, like operating hours, ticketing details, and even that they’re wheelchair accessible! It’s always great to see a haunt that keeps things both organized and inclusive.
The Reign of Terror’s façade was a blend of eerie aesthetics and atmosphere, drawing us into a pre-queue line that expertly set the tone for the experience. As we entered, the dark and eerie atmosphere enveloped us, punctuated by thunder and lightning effects and a haunting graveyard setting. The asylum surgeon’s greeting marked the beginning of a deeply immersive experience, with the sounds of cries and laughter echoing through the halls and patients attempting to grab and attack from every corner.
As we entered, the scenes unfolded from room to room, featuring a diverse cast of terrifying characters, including ghoulish clowns, zombie mine workers, evil monks, nuns, and Dracula himself. Throughout the experience, it remained adrenaline-pumping and sensory-stimulating, with something lurking around every corner, waiting to pounce.
Ultimately, the Reign of Terror concluded with a merchandise area and photo opportunities, solidifying its reputation as an unforgettable experience that is not for the faint of heart.
The Special Effects here are truly in a class of their own. The sound effects were second to none, creating an incredible atmosphere with everything from maniacal laughter and outdoor sounds in the cemetery to water dripping in the basement and wood creaking in the mines.
The scene designs were jaw-droppingly detailed. A highlight was the demonic church, with all its candles and spinning crosses, which was a fantastic moment of immersive design.
This is an animatronic-based haunt, and the quality, lighting, and use of the animatronics are some of the best we’ve seen in any haunt! Live actors are secondary, but that doesn’t hurt the quality at all; we were truly impressed with the level of detail they achieved.
They also make spectacular use of creative, special, and sensory effects. One of the most bizarre and effective elements was the use of scents. Almost every room had a smell that perfectly correlated to that particular scene. It’s wild how well they pull this off. Beyond that, the rooms were filled with air blasts, dense fog, strobes, and surprising moments like falling ceiling joists after an explosion. They had a vortex tunnel that used some sort of visual effect to make you feel like you were going to be pulled into another dimension, plus swamp lasers, a squishy floor in the mine, and creaking wood sounds. We also got hit with water sprays and saw moving Ouija boards. It’s sensory overload in the best possible way.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 8.2
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 6.25
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 9
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 8.95
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 7.2
Reign of Terror definitely brought some solid scares and intensity from start to finish. This haunt had some of the wildest animatronics we’ve seen. They were fast, detailed, and came very close to you. From the ghouls popping out of the windows to the zombie lunging out of the darkness, there was no shortage of in-your-face moments. The mine shaft scene with the dropping bridge and ceiling was especially nerve-wracking, and the air blasts, sudden noises, and whispering walls kept us on edge the entire time.
The Exorcist girl, spinning cross room, and that creepy church scene with the crosses turning upside down really stood out for their eerie atmosphere. Even the raccoon that sprayed caught us off guard in a funny but gross kind of way. It’s clear that the designers put a lot of thought into using animatronics for scares, and they did it exceptionally well.
If we had to point out one area that could make the experience even stronger, it would be timing. A lot of the actors and animatronics triggered as soon as the front of our group passed, so those in the back missed out on some of the big jump scares. A few more interactive actors spread throughout would also help balance things and keep everyone equally engaged.
Overall, Reign of Terror delivered a great mix of gore, tension, and surprise. The giant pumpkin eating a kid at the end was a cool visual, though a slightly stronger final scare could have wrapped things up with even more intensity. Still, this haunt proves you don’t always need a ton of actors to create fear. When done right, animatronics can absolutely do the trick.
On the night of our visit, general admission tickets were priced at $47.99, and it took us about 27.5 minutes to make our way through the haunt. That brought the MPD (minutes per dollar) to 0.57, which is solid, especially considering the incredible quality packed into every inch of this place!
The haunt itself was bursting with high-quality effects and immersive sets that made every turn worth the admission price. Along with the main attraction, guests could enjoy roaming actors, haunt videos playing in the queue, and music to keep the energy going. The indoor waiting area was beautifully decorated and full of photo ops, and once you exit, there’s even a dedicated photo zone to grab that perfect “I survived” shot!
Be sure to swing by their swag and gift shop before you leave, it’s seriously impressive! From shirts, hoodies, and tanks to custom candy bars, soap, and other one-of-a-kind finds in the Sinister Treasures section, there’s something spooky for every collector.
Reign of Terror is easily one of the most detailed, high-tech haunts we’ve ever visited. For the level of show quality and craftsmanship on display, it’s one of the best bangs for your buck in the area. So… are you “ready to face your fears?”
285 N Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, California 91360
