Final Scores – By Category:

Cast (20% of Final Score): 6.7

Costuming (10% of Final Score): 7.33

Customer Service (10% of Final Score): 8.9

Immersion (10% of Final Score): 5

Special Effects (15% of Final Score): 7.15

Scare Factor (20% of Final Score): 6.55

Entertainment & Value (15% of Final Score): 7.25

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Final Scores – By Attraction:

Attraction 1: 6.93

Step right up, brave souls! Prepare yourself for a spine-tingling, one of a kind, unforgettable scream-fest at Strangling Brother’s Haunted Circus – where childhood wonder collides with spine-chilling horror. This Utah haunted house brilliantly brings together nostalgia with nightmare fuel. The entrance is carved out by flickering lights. The lurking shadows will beckon you closer while faint echoes of maniacal laughter and creepy melodies of warped carnival chaos will surely send shivers down your spine.

As previously mentioned in last years review, another local haunt of Utah County decided to combine efforts and bring Strangling Brother’s to a whole new level. This year we’ve been able to witness the full integration of both beloved haunts artistic expression and love combined under one giant vibrant circus tent – a truly unique experience for sure. From the moment you turn into the parking lot, it’s clear this is no ordinary attraction.

A surprising and effective aspect of the cast is their ability to blend dark humor and silliness with tension. While many haunted house attractions rely purely on fear, the actors at this particular haunt used sarcasm, slapstick, and twisted humor to unnerve you even further. The actors, for example, may mock your screams, forcing you to laugh at your own demise. They might give you a chilling wink or a laugh, but it’s never quite clear whether it’s part of the act or whether they’re just toying with you – keeping you unsure of what’s real and what’s part of the performance. Whether simply lurking in the background waiting for you to stumble into their scare zones or engaging with you directly, you’ll feel like an unwilling participant in their circus of screams.

The costuming at this haunt is one of the most intriguing aspects of the attraction, playing a crucial role in bringing the haunted circus theme to life. The costumes are crafted to not only evoke the look of traditional circus performers but to subvert those familiar images, turning them into grotesque, unsettling versions of themselves. Their bright, garish colors—reds, yellows, and blues— became dull and stained with dirt and what might even be blood. The faces, though still painted with exaggerated smiles and tear-streaks, appear cracked and smeared, as if the years of laughter have long since turned into insanity. Though most of their costumes were very basic and very budget friendly, Strangling Brother’s navigated effectiveness through the use of layers, textures, and vivid colors to the bring out sense of horror while emphasizing the disintegration of the circus world from a place of joyful entertainment into one giant tent of madness.

Located in remote field a short jaunt from the highway, the big top and it’s lights can be spotted from a mile away. From the parking lot area, it is extremely easy to navigate where you need to go for tickets, refreshments, swag booths — even a haunted paintball arena! Every single staff member we met greeted us with a warm welcome. One particularly nice touch was the staff’s ability to engage with us, even outside of their work station or the actual haunted house. They play their roles well, maintaining the creepy vibe by occasionally sneaking up behind you or giving you cryptic warnings as you moved forward in line. This attention to detail adds another layer to the immersion, keeping the kooky unsettling atmosphere alive even before you enter the circus’ main attraction.

As you step onto the circus grounds, you immediately feel like you’ve been thrown into something sinister. The entrance, lit up with dancing lights and ripped up banners, brings you into a world where childhood joy has been twisted into terror. The sounds of distant carnival music, mixed with unsettling whispers and laughter, create an immersive soundscape that heightens the suspense.

Each new scene feels like a portal into a separate kind of madness with vivid black light-reactive painted murals and eerie decor that captures the essence of a long-abandoned circus. From the cracked mirrors to cobweb infested clown props, they made the environment equally incredibly engaging AND incredibly terrifying.

The creativity on display is exceptional. The haunted circus theme allows for a diverse range of terrifying scenes. The haunted house features a series of semi-truck trailers that you’ll weave in and out of, presenting scenes more disturbing than the last. Even with the stereotypical “mirror room” or “UV clown maze,” Strangling Brother’s found a unique twist on their execution. That coupled with their unique dilapidated semi-truck trailer graveyard setting, it is a for-sure recipe for screams. With new and vintage animatronics, they’ll surely find one that will poke at your deepest fears. We definitely enjoyed the “white strobe” trailer, where one of the actors wore all black with the exception of a pale white mask and hid in the darkness among a bunch of floating white ‘china doll’ masks. The interactive elements of multiple mazes, where visitors are encouraged to participate or make choices, added a dynamic layer to the experience. The blend of interactions with the surroundings, sounds, enthusiastic actors, and clever set design elevates the haunted house beyond a simple clown house.

The scare factor is where Strangling Brother’s shines. The actors portraying deranged clowns, acrobats and ringmasters, are committed to their roles, enhancing the overall experience. Their performances are both creepy, yet captivating, with well-timed jump scares that kept both of us on edge. The use of sound effects like unexpected screams, eerie whispers, and unsettling noises that almost sounded inhuman, added layers to the scares, immersing us deeper into the chaotic clown-scape.

Each Semi-truck trailer of the circus performers brings its own new brand of fear. Whether it’s the claustrophobic confines of a haunted funhouse or the disorienting maze of mirrors, you’ll sure to see something that you wish you hadn’t. In the blanket terms, this haunt delivers a rollercoaster of emotions – from the initial thrill of anticipation to the chilling satisfaction of navigating through the horrors. Whether you’re screaming alongside friends or nervously laughing at the absurdity of your fears, it’s an exhilarating journey that appeals to a wide range of thrill-seekers. It’s perfect for those who love immersive experiences and enjoy the fine line between fear and fascination. It’s not just a circus, it’s almost like your deepest fears coming alive. Frozen in time, a place where the joy of the past has been swallowed by darkness and the line between fantasy and nightmare is blurred.

Strangling’s Brothers Haunted Circus offers the same price whether weekday or weekend. At $35 a person, this is one of the least expensive haunts in Utah. For your base tickets that is. If you are looking for a private experience while under the big top, then you can go all out with the Brothers VIP pass. This thing is monstrous. After your personal escort to the front of the line, casually strolling past all the other waiting freak-show attendees, you will then get extended time before and after your group to ensure the most individual haunt experience. We would recommend this splurge for those who do not want to be in a conga-line of patrons by the end of the haunt as it truly takes away from the experience. Buy tickets early for this adventure under the twisted big top.