Features:
✓-Free Parking✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site✓-Handicap Accessible✓-Food/Concessions✓-“Hi-Tech” Attraction✓-You will NOT be touched✓-Indoor Waiting Line✓-All-Indoor Attraction
How Do We Get These Scores?
Our Rating System
UPDATE FOR 2022: Our former “Atmosphere” and “Theme” categories have now been combined and renamed “Immersion.” Our intent with this is to give more appropriate credit to attractions that have shown a clear focus on achieving and maintaining better customer experiences (both inside and outside the attractions) and developing creative storylines.
Each of the category scores in this review are calculated using a weighted average of several questions that we rate on a scale of 1 to 10.
The following breakdown explains what these scores typically mean. All of our Teams use this as a reference for providing accurate ratings:
10: “Peak Performance”This score is treated as if it has a chastity belt on it. “10’s” are reserved for the best of the best; those that we feel could not possibly improve on what they’re doing.
9: “Innovative and Groundbreaking”It rocked! Nearly everything seemed to go as planned and it was one of the best we’ve ever seen! These guys are leaders in the industry, and attractions like this are truly hard to come by.
8: “Solid”A high score on our scale. They had a good handle on it and, overall, they knew how to use it well. Most attractions can learn from what these guys are doing.
6 to 7: “Good”We could tell that a good effort was made. However, we’ve seen this done much better at other places, or can detect areas where significant improvements can be made. This is about the top end of what we’d call “Family Friendly.”
5: “Average / Fair”Compared to the competition, they weren’t the best, but definitely not the worst. Scares and Special Effects in this range are usually considered “Family Friendly.”
3 to 4: “Below Average”We could see that a clear attempt was made, but most other professional attractions are doing a much better job at this.
1 to 2: “Poor”It appeared that very little time, thought or effort was contributed to this aspect.
0 (Zero): “Non-Existent”No apparent effort was made to make this a significant contributor to the attraction.
Afterword:This rating system is standardized across all of The Scare Factor’s official haunt review teams. However, keep in mind there will always be minor differences between Teams, as we all have varying levels of experience. Regardless, we do our best to remain true to our core values, which is to promote all haunted attractions!Perhaps the biggest thing to remember is: sometimes the score – in and of itself – doesn’t tell the whole story about an attraction’s merits. This is why we provide detailed explanations for each category… to help you better understand how and why we chose the score/s that we did.We do our best to not let feelings or emotions rule our judgement, while also viewing the attraction through the lens of the typical haunt-goer. But, because all reviews with ratings are inherently subjective, this is nearly impossible to completely prevent. Though, when in doubt, we tend to give slightly lower scores than our original “gut feelings” to account for this, and also give the attraction more room to improve over time.We also do our best to be fair and consistent across all of the haunts that we review. We know that you’ll be looking at these scores and comparing them to other attractions, so we hope this review helps you out in that aspect.Do you have some feedback about our review system? Contact Us Here to let us know what you think!
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Final Score: 8.59
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 8.78
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 9
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 9.25
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 8.1
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 8.86
(5% of Final Score) Theme: 6.95
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 7.89
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 8.82
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Summary:
The Scream Machine’s 18th year is one not to miss! Dr. Strach is awaiting your arrival in order to lure out your deepest fears. The Scream Machine will find your fears and make you confront them, all in the name of research! The fears within these walls are sure to keep you disoriented and screaming for a way out. If that doesn’t make you want to visit, Fetters the Clown sure will. Fetters, the unofficial (yet official in our minds) mascot of The Scream Machine will stalk you well into your dreams! If you have not visited this well-established haunt we suggest you do so immediately, tell Fetters we sent you!
Cast: 8.78
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 10
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 9
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 8
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 7.5
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 9
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The Scream Machine has 28 actors on average per night. In our opinion that seems low compared to what we experienced! This haunt is packed full of actors at every turn. The security guard at the beginning was extremely engaging and had great dialogue. He used his props well and kept us on edge, especially when we were forced to follow his orders! The cast was obviously a high point of this haunt, going full-throttle all the way through. All of the actors were professional, stayed in character, and nobody stood out in a negative way.
Without giving too much away, there was a character who was an expert at moving around in the dark without us knowing. This ‘being’ was great at positioning himself in scary ways only appearing when the lights would come on for short periods of time. A truly frightening experience!
Another favorite was the clown, who had perfect timing when we entered his scene and his dialogue carried us all the way through. He was a favorite among our group, especially because we share a love for popcorn!
Outside of the handful of actors with involved dialogue, there were many actors conducting pop scares which definitely have their place. Overall, the actor’s engagement was authentic, devoted and well-executed.
Costuming: 9
How Did We Get This Score?
Costuming Scores (15% of Final Score):
(15% of Costuming Score) How complete / finished did the costumes appear to be?: 9
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 9.2
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 9.5
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 8
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 9
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The actor’s costumes all appeared to be well-thought out and they had quite a bit of detail. Again, we loved the clowns’ costume from the hat all the way down to the shoes; this was an impressive wardrobe.
One small issue we had with the costumes was with Dr. Strach’s. Even though it was a good costume and fit with his character, the way his face was covered made it very difficult to understand him. We were straining to catch every other word, as his portion was very important to hear leaving us feeling disappointed we could not catch all of the story. Not to mention all the other loud sounds going on at the time.
The makeup was very professional looking and a few masks were spotted. Only one costume seen could have been distressed a little and looked rather ‘clean’ for the area it was used in. Other than that, the makeup and wardrobes were distinctive and one-of-a-kind.
Customer Service: 9.25
How Did We Get This Score?
Customer Service Scores (10% of Final Score):
(25% of CS Score) How easy was it to locate the attraction, park, and navigate the premises?: 8.5
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 9.5
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 9.5
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 9.5
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The Scream Machine is located inside a strip mall surrounded by stores. At night, with the other locations closed it is easy to spot with its lighting and green barrels to show you the way. The parking is free and there are plenty of spaces available. The haunt is wheelchair accessible and no safety concerns were noted. The staff was helpful and easy to spot. The Scream Machine’s website is easily accessible with all of their information available.
Atmosphere: 8.1
How Did We Get This Score?
Atmosphere Scores (10% of Final Score):
(60% of Atmosphere Score) How obvious was it that you were at a haunted house before entering?: 7.5
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 9
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Even though The Scream Machine is held back by being located within a strip mall, the lighting, fog, and screams coming from just within the entrance lead you to believe you are at the right place. You cannot miss Fetters the Clown combing the queue lines ringing his bell and creating a welcoming atmosphere. A volunteer from the dead provides a photo opportunity before entering and the skillfully decorated walls and neon paint also leave you with a lasting impression.
Special Effects: 8.86
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 8
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 9.1
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 8.8
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 9
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 9.5
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The scenes and props within The Scream Machine are of great quality. The artwork on the walls and the detail put into the scenes were impressive. The Scream Machine provides the appearance outside of just another, ‘haunt in a strip mall.’ However, the use of space and floor to ceiling detail leaves you experiencing otherwise. We were quite impressed by the high-quality of special effects used within this haunt, some so good we will not spoil them for you!
In particular, the scene with spiders was a very creepy experience and not one we have seen before! Especially for one of our team members with the Arachnophobia fear! Also, the use of the bedroom and all accompanying scenes transported you into a real home with a great use of those props. The scenes are quite original which is expected as the theme within the haunt is one-of-a-kind as well.
One scene that seemed to be a little lacking was the asylum/jail type scene with the insane asylum/jailer actor. There was not much going on in that room and it could be explored a little more especially due to the space available.
The use of music, sounds, and those areas without added sounds were appropriate throughout. The Dr’s lab was especially memorable.
Overall the sounds, sights, and feelings of The Scream Machine were top notch!
Theme: 6.95
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?: 5
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?: 9.3
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?: 4
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We loved the theme of The Scream Machine which is very unique and interesting. Dr. Strach was a brain surgeon who wanted to cure people’s fears. He created The Scream Machine and had patients attend in order to make them experience their fear so he could then use it to cure them.
This theme, however, could be easily lost within the haunt. Dr. Strach talks about it when you meet him, but again, because we could not easily understand him due to the loud noises and his bandage-covered face, we were not able to connect those dots. Luckily, the haunt owners informed us about the theme after and looking back, it did all make sense. The theme is a great one and we enjoyed hearing about it, but perhaps some signage before entering could elaborate on the theme a little more. The haunt does explore all of the many fears Dr. Strach encountered and these were carried throughout the haunt well.
Scare Factor: 7.89
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 8.9
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 9
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 8.5
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 9.6
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 2
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Due to the intense, non-stop action within this haunt, the Scare Factor is pretty high! There are few times where you get to catch your breath and take a break from being assaulted with loud noises, actors, or innovative props. It has been one of the highest, action-packed haunts we have been to! The actors timing caught us off guard and the mix of all different types of scares were spot on.
One place for improvement could be the finale as nothing screamed out at us,
“Hey this is it! The last scare!”
The Scream Machine successfully placed us in the fears Dr. Strach was seeking; Claustrophobia, Nyctophobia, and Coulrophobia among others.
Entertainment & Value: 8.82
How Did We Get This Score?
Entertainment & Value Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment received during the main attraction/s?: 9
(25% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment that’s available with* the ticket price, excluding the main attraction/s?: 7
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 9.8
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 9.5
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It took our team about 17 minutes to make our way through The Scream Machine. The haunt definitely felt like it was long enough, with all the action packed into those walls it seemed like it took us much longer to venture through. With general admission only being $18; that is a minutes per dollar score of .94, which equals money well spent in our eyes.
However, we were told the time it takes to go through varies for each group, but the haunt owners have tried to implement ways to slow down the groups going through to make the time inside even longer. Apparently, people get so scared they simply run through as quickly as possible. The Scream Machine uses their space well even with the constraints of being inside of a strip mall.
Also available were snacks, drinks, bathrooms, and two 5-minute escape rooms. Our team did go through one escape room and we successfully escaped in time!
General Admission – $18
VIP Fast Pass – $25
Two additional 5 Minute Escape Rooms – $5
How Did We Get These Scores
Our Rating System
Each of the category scores in this review are calculated using a weighted average of several questions that we rate on a scale of 1 to 10.
The following breakdown explains what these scores typically mean. All of our Teams use this as a reference for providing accurate ratings:
10: “Peak Performance”This score is treated as if it has a chastity belt on it. “10’s” are reserved for the best of the best; those that we feel could not possibly improve on what they’re doing.
9: “Innovative and Groundbreaking”It rocked! Nearly everything seemed to go as planned and it was one of the best we’ve ever seen! These guys are leaders in the industry, and attractions like this are truly hard to come by.
8: “Solid”A high score on our scale. They had a good handle on it and, overall, they knew how to use it well. Most attractions can learn from what these guys are doing.
6 to 7: “Good”We could tell that a good effort was made. However, we’ve seen this done much better at other places, or can detect areas where significant improvements can be made. This is about the top end of what we’d call “Family Friendly.”
5: “Average / Fair”Compared to the competition, they weren’t the best, but definitely not the worst. Scares and Special Effects in this range are usually considered “Family Friendly.”
3 to 4: “Below Average”We could see that a clear attempt was made, but most other professional attractions are doing a much better job at this.
1 to 2: “Poor”It appeared that very little time, thought or effort was contributed to this aspect.
0 (Zero): “Non-Existent”No apparent effort was made to make this a significant contributor to the attraction.
Afterword:This rating system is standardized across all of The Scare Factor’s official haunt review teams. However, keep in mind there will always be minor differences between Teams, as we all have varying levels of experience. Regardless, we do our best to remain true to our core values, which is to promote all haunted attractions!Perhaps the biggest thing to remember is: sometimes the score – in and of itself – doesn’t tell the whole story about an attraction’s merits. This is why we provide detailed explanations for each category… to help you better understand how and why we chose the score/s that we did.We do our best to not let feelings or emotions rule our judgement, while also viewing the attraction through the lens of the typical haunt-goer. But, because all reviews with ratings are inherently subjective, this is nearly impossible to completely prevent. Though, when in doubt, we tend to give slightly lower scores than our original “gut feelings” to account for this, and also give the attraction more room to improve over time.We also do our best to be fair and consistent across all of the haunts that we review. We know that you’ll be looking at these scores and comparing them to other attractions, so we hope this review helps you out in that aspect.Do you have some feedback about our review system? Contact Us Here to let us know what you think!
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