Scream Factory is again splattering itself across an enormous haunted trail, with twelve scare zones combining both indoor and outdoor horrors that do genuinely leave you screaming. We thoroughly enjoyed this haunted trail last year, and in 2025, not only did the classic scares return, but four all-new zones were introduced, from a blood-stained hospital to a graveyard filled with towering monuments and fiendish ghouls. The clue is in the name – Scream Factory will leave you screaming!
Part of the fun of a haunt is a cast that is genuinely scary, and at Scream Factory, they certainly are! There is a vast array of characters stalking the night, from clowns who kill to pigs who butcher, each one bringing a stunning level of interaction and characterisation. Before you are even forced out onto the trail, a demonic clown character and his side-kick, the massive Grunt, force you into a cell to await your doom. These two pre-haunt actors got close, Grunt’s silent treatment punctuated by the sharp zap of a taser, whilst the clown mocked and taunted us, leaving us unnerved and uncertain of when we would proceed. It was interactions like these that set Scream Factory apart.
The actors’ use of physicality was most notable. The two aforementioned pig-masked butchers appeared out of the darkness and then right in front of our faces, following us all the way until we left their zone, which meant that feeling of dread never left us. We were also very impressed with the hillbillies in “Meat the Mechanics”, who provided personalised engagement with each of us, threatening to whisk us off to their kitchen for a quick snack! Pinned in, the conversations here were a highlight of the night. These types of interactions continued across most of the zones, from being checked into a hospital by a nurse and a rather grisly doctor, to being ushered into the mines by a worker who was as frightened as us.
One thing to remember about Scream Factory is that it’s a huge site. This meant that some sections were less populated than others. Out on the trail, this isn’t too noticeable and actually a welcome break that lets you recover a bit from the adrenaline highs, but within the haunts (for example, in “The Strangest Thing”), some rooms that seemed like they should have had cast to complement the excellent sets were a bit empty.
That being said, you can’t fault any of the actors here – they are simply some of the best we’ve seen!
When you gaze into the face of one of the denizens of Scream Factory, you may blanche. That’s because each character, every one, was attired in costumes and makeup that created that bridge to realism that makes good haunts great. In the hospital zone, doctors ran about in blood-drenched white-coats (well, red coats in this case), and patients rose terrified from the beds after horrific plastic surgery gone wrong, masks adhered and stitched to the skin.
We thought it was a good choice to make sure that each character was costumed appropriately to their zone, and that they never popped up in a zone that they didn’t belong in. Gas masks were prevalent in the mines, whilst zombification ruled in the graveyard – all made sense and heightened the believability of what we were experiencing. The clowns, too, had that festive evil around them, faces covered in deathly masks painted wide with horrid smiles and razor-sharp teeth.
We would note that sometimes the masks of some of the characters did appear to be that, but this was a rare occurrence compared to those whose prosthetics were blended with the makeup. To be clear, these instances were the exception rather than the rule.
The staff at Scream Factory were really lovely, from the admissions desk to the ticket takers at the maze entrance. We really enjoyed our digital interactions with them as well during our planning process in coming to the attraction – every correspondence was clear, helpful, and lovely. We were also impressed with the safety of this attraction. As a rather lengthy experience throughout so many different zones both inside and out, there was not a single moment we can recall of any hazards. It was all extremely well thought out, with audience experience at the forefront.
The only areas for growth would be in the information presented on their website as well as the signage at the park itself. We found it a bit difficult to find information on all the different scare zones before coming to the park (and figuring out which bits were different or reskinned for this year). Also, upon arrival, the single banner at the front of the site’s entrance was small and not lit up. The only reason we knew where to go was because we’d been here last year, and following the crowd was easy enough. Yet, after parking up and a quick walk through the dark site, we then spotted some security in hi-vis, and from there on out, all of the staff showing us where to go were the loveliest of people!
The immersion at Scream Factory starts at the very beginning when the audience is brought into numerous jail cells to await their doom. While the instruction guide plays on the loudspeaker, horrifying creatures stalk the outside of your cell – Grunt, a menacing creature with a bag over his head, wielding a taser-like instrument, and a bat-wielding clown who actually entered our cell and cornered us! These two amazing actors really started the experience with a bang: really impressive, and extremely terrifying!
The immersion didn’t stop there. Practically every single zone was a complete world from wall to wall, with a standout zone being their new “Hospital”, which was an endlessly expansive world set in an infirmary covered in blood and other liquids…and solids…we dare not think too much on. We never once got taken out of the experience, with each zone knitted into the next and not offering a single moment to relax. Perhaps the most excellent part of all of the zones was just how cohesive they all were – the actors, set design and other theatrical elements came all together in a remarkable feat of world-building, absorbing us into numerous realms of terror we feared we’d never escape.
While there didn’t seem to be as many effects or animatronics as you see in other parks, this scare maze had all of the classic bits you could hope for. From a spinning tunnel to an upside-down fun-house room, to an endless field of fog and blowup birth canals, there was fun to be had in their special FX-heavy zones. Their dark-maze zone also made use of a lot of SFX work, playing with different soundscapes, temperatures, and textures.
Scream Factory’s strength is really in their immersive set designs that allow their actors free rein to make full and formidable worlds. As mentioned in our Immersion category, their new “Hospital” zone was really impressive – it really did seem like we were walking through a huge infirmary, and their returning zones like the “Tunnel of Terror” (with a soundscape of slowly dripping water) and “Meet the Mechanics” have amazing scenic elements as well. While all of their zones may have had completely different themes, the quality of their designs and the thoroughness of their creation were all equally skilful.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 8.75
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 10
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): 8.75
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 7.75
We had a very unique experience this year, being able to attend one of their Isolation Tours, which meant we were the only two people to go through the maze at a time. Scream Factory was intense last year when we attended with other groups, but this was nothing compared to going through the maze alone on our own this year. Our adrenaline was at its peak from start to finish, often making us almost want a breather in between zones just to get our heart rates back to a stable place. This maze was absolutely terrifying, especially the zones that were in complete darkness, with the shadow of frightening creatures the only thing to guide our way. All of the cast were menacing in their own unique ways, and the scares came from all sides – from heads within walls, to actors hanging from ceilings, and from static creatures who we were sure were mannequins that suddenly came to life.
The scares were not predictable in the least, causing us to scream in shock and fright constantly through the endless corridors, and were never able to tell what the next creature might be or where it might come from. The cast had incredible timing and also immense dedication, knowing exactly when and how to create the best scares. From crazed individuals running at us to creatures of the night stalking us from the depths, we were consistently on our toes and biting our fingernails from start to finish.
The only two zones that didn’t give us the scare value we were hoping for were “The Strangest Thing” and “Cream Factory”, their version of a dark maze. It probably didn’t help that we got ourselves lost in a fog field for about five minutes right before the finale, which caused us a bit of panic and frustration! But despite these few moments, we really can’t applaud Scream Factory enough for the intensity of their isolation tour, and the frightening heights they achieved.
We went through this maze a bit faster than last year, probably because we were on our own, but it was still a whopping forty minutes of nonstop scares – and by nonstop, we really mean nonstop. There was no pause or break or waiting for the next zone or the next creature to pop up at you. On off-peak nights, you can grab tickets for £25, and for their isolation tour as little as £35, which we think is a complete steal for the experience you get in this haunt. The quality of the set designs and actors is exceptional. Every zone is completely immersive, providing what seems to be an endless trial of facing every single fear you could ever think of.
The offerings outside of the main attraction, referred to as The After Shock Bar, were very similar to last year, with a large foodstand, DJ Freddie at the decks, and an amazing cast of roaming scare actors. While minimal, the space outside the haunt provides a really fun and vibrant atmosphere, inviting audiences into an interactive space to wait for their ticketed time slot, and even more importantly, to chill out with a drink and catch a breath after the terrifying ordeal of the trail. While the other entertainment on offer could perhaps be more substantial, that’s really not the most important aspect of this scare attraction. The main trail is really where it’s at, and with an affordable ticket price for a lengthy and extreme experience, we can’t recommend this attraction enough!
Kirkleatham Museum, Kirkleatham Village, Redcar TS10 5NW