Ultimate Terror Scream Park returns with 3 new haunt mazes, which are a feast for the eyes, because they are one of the best decorated haunts in Northern California. The grungy, dirty, and unkempt look made us feel unsettled, which allowed scare actors to startle us at various points in the haunt. This year’s haunt mazes are Paranormal Playground, Optic Surgeon, and Cabin Sickness. Located in Sacramento, Ultimate Terror is the sister haunt of Fear Overload in Sacramento and has grown larger over time.
First thing to note is we wish there were more actors in the three haunts. Granted, there were transitional areas where there was impressive scenery to view, but there were too many ‘dead zones’ for our taste. We saw many of the same actors appear in several scenes, which we found predictable after a while.
The actors overall did come across as believable, enthusiastic, and engaged. To their credit, they all stayed in character and even the victim characters made us feel sympathetic. There wasn’t much interactivity with the cast; even though they did startle us here and there, they didn’t really get us to move or react differently than our normal walk-through. The dialogue was pretty standard in a haunted house, with a few ‘Get Outs’, ‘Fresh Meat’, and the victims’ ‘Help Me’s.” There were a variety of characters, some who would confront us, and some would startle us from a distance.
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)
The actors were dressed well and no one appeared to be incomplete in their clothing ensembles. Ultimate Terror used high-quality outfits that appeared to be aged and tattered. Make-up was applied properly, especially the abrasions and trickling blood. They tend to use more primitive styles of makeup, but there were interesting uses of prosthetics. There were a few masks, and they did make the actors appear more intimidating. Overall, the costumes were appropriate for their respective scenes and themes.
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)
Ultimate Terror was easy to locate, find parking, and navigate the premises. We found this place to be very safe, with enough lighting, no tripping hazards, and plenty of emergency exits. There were enough staff for security and emergencies. Their staff was friendly and respectful, and easy to identify. Their information is easy to find, because they are on various social media sites and have a very nice website.
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)
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)
Ultimate Terror is a very sound effect-driven haunt. They use both soundtrack and ambient noises at various areas in the haunt. Sound level is loud and disorienting, and intensifies the experience.
The sets and props were spectacular – some of the best we’ve ever seen. This place is a set designer’s dream. We could tell that there was a considerable amount of time invested in d������������������cor. This year, they added a sewer canal that was amazing to see. As we traveled through each maze, the different types of walls looked very realistic, such as wood, stone masonry, and concrete. We never lost our suspension of disbelief anywhere in the haunt. Among the lavish decorations are various dismembered human bodies, and the decapitated fat man on the dining room table really stood out in its realism.
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)
Provide Scares to Entire Group – (50% of score)
How Predictable – (25% of score)
Variety of Scares – (25% of score)
Ultimate Terror was scary at various times, but because of several dead zones, we felt like we wanted more. When the actors did come after us, they delivered a few good quality scares. If they had more of a variety of actors, it would have improved the overall scare factor. The ending of each haunt maze was fine, but not any stronger than the beginning or middle.
4909 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento, California 95841