Tulleys Shocktober Fest is one of the original UK haunts, and this year again consists of a massive scare park with a whopping 12 haunts! With detailed storylines ranging from Purgatory (and it’s demonic nuns and lantern as your only light) and Elektric Circus (where Sparky the undead clown leads a shocking maze of neon surprises), to The Carving (warning: when the clock strikes 9, the Appleton family’s Halloween dinner turns from charming gathering to a horrifying ritual) and the iconic Haunted Hayride, visitors to Tulleys will find a genre that fits them, with so much choice. Leave yourself plenty of time, because it’s going to be quite a night.
The cast at Tulleys Shocktober Fest brings an energetic mix of skill, character, and scare tactics to each attraction. In Purgatory, the cast of demonic nuns exhibits an eerie level of commitment, moving through the attraction and exploiting moments of silence and darkness to create a haunting, unpredictable atmosphere. This consistency and restraint in their performances build a sense of foreboding as they appear and vanish with unnerving precision. In Electrick Circus, the clowns amp up the adrenaline with wild, frenzied behaviour, encircling guests and lunging from all angles. These actors immerse themselves in their twisted roles, giving the feeling of being surrounded by chaos—a perfect complement to the surreal, neon-lit environment. And a particularly killer actor in Chop Shop continued the fun outside, chasing unsuspecting guests well into the park with his chainsaw!
Yet, not all attractions reach the same level of intensity. In Doom Town, the zombie actors rely on basic growls and arm-lunging, which can feel repetitive and doesn’t capture the full potential of the decaying town’s storyline. A similar pattern appears in The Cellar Imprisoned, where actors often shout generic threats, which can lose impact over time. Although there are definitely standout performances, a wider range of characterisations and interactions would elevate some attractions, as each area should feel distinctive. On the whole, though, the cast’s commitment to scaring is strong, and they manage to engage with people at various points to ensure no one leaves unscathed.
How complete, unique, detailed were the costumes, accessories? – (35% of score)
Were the masks, makeup creative, detailed, realistic? – (30% of score)
How appropriate were the costumes for the respective scenes, themes? – (20% of score)
How believable-, detailed-looking were the queue actors? (See Note if N/A) – (15% of score)
Costuming throughout Shocktober Fest leans into the unique themes of each attraction, with strong points that add to the setting’s impact. In Electrick Circus, the clown costumes deviate from the typical, blending traditional circus attire with dark, unsettling details that take on a new life under blacklight, creating a creepy circus aesthetic. The nuns in Purgatory are dressed in plain yet chilling garb, making the performers seem like they’ve stepped straight out of a religious horror film. This simplicity works well, allowing the actors to focus on embodying their roles without over-the-top costumes distracting from their scare tactics. Costuming like this helps set the tone, enhancing the themes of each attraction.
In other areas, though, the costumes could use some enhancement to create a stronger impression. For instance, Doom Town and The Cellar Imprisoned feature costumes that, while fitting, can come across as generic. The zombies and penitentiary inmates could enjoy more unique features or accessories to make each encounter feel distinct. The Chop Shop strikes a nice middle ground, with pig-faced mutants adding a grotesque element to the scare actors, though the bloodied and oil-smeared costumes feel somewhat predictable. While most costumes fit the scenes and themes well, more detail and creativity in certain attractions could amplify the intensity and variety of the experience.
How easy was it to locate, park at, navigate the premises? – (25% of score)
Safety (Only dock points for TRULY DANGEROUS hazards!) – (30% of score)
How professional, helpful, friendly were the staff members? – (25% of score)
How easy was it to find pertinent information before arrival? – (20% of score)
Tulleys has a superb site with plenty of spaces for parking and is well-marked on maps. We didn’t have any trouble navigating the site, and although a beast of an attraction in size, we managed to find everything. The site is extremely safe and cared for, although there were a couple of points of calling back “step” from those in front of us, which might suggest these should have been more clearly marked. There were plenty of staff throughout the park ready to help, and when we checked in the staff member eagerly pointed out the new attractions and told us which were her favourite. A comprehensive website is also available, which made seeking information beforehand incredibly easy.
How well did the pre-haunt areas ("vibe") prepare you for the attraction/s? – (25% of score)
How obvious, creative, believable was the storyline? (See Note if N/A) – (20% of score)
Were you completely, consistently immersed inside the attraction/s? – (40% of score)
How well did the "vibe" flow after, between the attraction/s? – (15% of score)
Tulleys truly understands the idea of world-building and immersive environments. Their mazes are complete worlds, with amazing attention to detail. The Carving drops its victims into an American farmstead complete with sawmill and an annual carving contest with scarecrow-esque mannequins galore and Wastelands Penitentiary is an endless maze of chain cages and cells. The Chop Shop was very impressive in terms of immersion, from banjo music throughout, an insane old mechanic yard/shop set design including actual cars, and even the smell of engine oil in the air.
We obviously have to talk about Doom Town, one of the newer attractions at Tulleys and by far the most immersive. In this maze we were dropped into an abandoned town taken over by zombies, set in perhaps the 80s or 90s with music reminiscent of the period. It felt as if Tulleys had built a full-scale action town – we walked through an old school bus, through disused cinema, an old Blockbuster, and even a Chinese takeaway (not to mention a rather questionable Boots pharmacy). This maze really did feel like an exploratory adventure and we felt like we were in a completely different world!
How effective were the sound effects? – (20% of score)
How realistic were the scene designs, details? – (30% of score)
How effective, realistic were the props, animatronics? – (30% of score)
How well did they use creative, special, sensory effects? – (20% of score)
Tulleys really goes all out with their set designs and special effects. The most impressive special effect of this attraction, and probably of any haunt we’ve so far visited this year, has been the special effects lanterns each group is given at the beginning of the Purgatory maze. These specially designed lanterns respond to the environment they’re in, from dimming between room to room, switching up, or suddenly flashing. This was timed excellently in the haunt in terms of both the set design and the actions of the actors – it really was a feat of engineering and timing and caused an insane level of tension and fear!
The special effects didn’t stop there however. Electrick Circus seemed to go all out as well, with heavy atmos fog fields, electrocuted animatronics, vibrating floorboards, air cannons, a rotating tunnel and birth canal, and even some mist spray. The Cellar submerged us seemingly underwater in a jungle-like environment with the use of an animatronic snake, fog and green lasers, with The Village Coven of 13 using similar effects with an enormous swamp-like territory with witches emerging from the water. Numerous attractions also utilised temperature to an amazing effect, such as Hell-Ements where we felt like we were traversing both through both frozen tundras and hot barren desserts, and the queue line for Purgatory where you really felt like you were descending into Hell.
How scary was it? – (35% of score)
How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? – (15% of score)
How predictable were the scares? – (25% of score)
How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? – (10% of score)
How strong was the ending / finale? – (15% of score)
Shocktober Fest delivers a solid range of scares, from psychological tension to sudden startles, keeping you on edge throughout the attractions. In Purgatory, the flickering lanterns and lurking nuns work beautifully to catch visitors off-guard, creating a terrifying atmosphere where the darkness holds endless possibilities for surprise. Electrick Circus combines physical and psychological scares, as crazed clowns pop out from all directions, increasing tension in tight, enclosed spaces. The actors’ timing is impeccable, often circling back to ensure that even those further back in a group get their share of frights. The combination of jump scares and suspenseful build-ups makes these attractions incredibly effective.
Some attractions could benefit from extra scare diversity. In Doom Town and The Carving, while the atmospheres are rich, the scares don’t always live up to the immersive build-up. Though chainsaws and eerie jack-o’-lanterns in The Carving add tension, more interactive scares could enhance the attraction’s impact.
The Chop Shop, with actors surprising guests by attacking from many angles, creates effective jump scares, especially with one particularly committed actor chasing visitors out of the attraction. Generally, Shocktober Fest excels at mixing up the scare tactics across different environments, though more variety in a few places would make the experience even more spine-chilling.
How satisfied with the entertainment provided by the MAIN attraction/s? – (50% of score)
How satisfied with OTHER entertainment INCLUDED with the ticket price? – (25% of score)
How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s? – (25% of score)
Tulleys has a total walkthrough time of 80 minutes, not including waiting times. This provides you with entertainment for an entire evening, which is wonderful, and places the attraction at a value of £1.78 per minute. For this price, the entertainment provided by the main attractions is excellent, although perhaps on the slightly higher end for haunts of this length. Still, with the sheer diversity of scares, sets, and thrills, we think this makes sense as a price-point.
Other entertainment incorporated multiple stages for live entertainment, roaming actors including nurses and two fortune-teller women (with one absolutely channeling Bette Midler with her eyes and walk!) and full on dance numbers from the whole roving cast. Tulleys also has the inclusive CarnEvil Cabaret stage show (where “the grotesque meets the glamorous”) and plenty of food and drink.
Tulleys Shocktober Fest retains its aura of horror after all these years – and we hope many more to come.
Turners Hill Road, Crawley, United Kingdom RH10 4PE