Beware: This is a review of a past Halloween event. Therefore, do not use it as a basis upon which to preview the same event this year, and please note that the event may not necessarily be taking place this year. Please use our guide for an overview of this years' Halloween attractions. 

Jump to: Freezer | Freakshow 3D | Carnival of the Bizarre

Hocus Pocus Halloween (Chessington) and Fright Nites (Thorpe Park) are the epitome when it comes to showing how these two parks have grown worlds apart. Slowly but surely, Chessington’s event has improved from year to year, whilst Fright Nites started off well in 2002 and was certainly frightening last year, if only for the anti-social behaviour of Thorpe’s clientele of choice.

Thorpe Park, like any theme park, makes mistakes. But I honestly feel that every time they make a faux pas, they learn from it. This season started off poorly, and the park has amicably recovered in my opinion. And whilst last year’s Fright Nites was a sour ending to an otherwise magnificent season, this year’s Fright Nites further enforced the fact that as an overall quality product, Thorpe Park is fast becoming one of the best parks in the country.

The main problem last year was security. It was evident Thorpe wasn’t prepared for the ‘Burberry Brigade’, and consequently the park had a tense atmosphere and there were a lot of reported crimes and anti-social behaviour such as smoking various things - both legal and not - in queues and some pretty audacious queue jumping.

This year the park have employed extra security and even have police on park to make sure there is a clear security presence and to ensure troublemakers are kept in check or out of the park.

Yet again, the itinery for Fright Nites has changed. Instead of a 12 noon opening with the park closing at midnight, the park opens at 10am and shuts at 10pm. You still get valuable night riding time for about five or six hours, and by opening at a fairly conventional time there is no confusion for those who don’t check opening times.

The programme of events has changed, too. The undoubted cornerstones of Fright Nites, Freezer and Freakshow 3D are back, whilst replacing the comically bad Horror Movie Bites, Carnival of the Bizarre, a freakshow from the famous Circus of Horrors.

Freezer, like last year, is a gritty and electric maze. Since 2002 there have been many improvements made, especially with regards to the continuity of the theme and this year with regards to the queueline which is tidily kept within the bounds of Miss Hippo’s Fungal Safari queue.

The theme works superbly, although the actors are probably an acquired taste; whilst in 2002 they were literally jumping over fencing and hanging off rafters, in subsequent years they employ a more psychological approach instead staring riders out. You might be pleasantly (or unpleasantly?) surprised now and again, though.

Freakshow meanwhile is probably at its best since opening. No cosmetic changes, but the amount of actors is far improved, and their costumes really make use of the blacklit interior. Slightly more scary than usual, and featuring wicked clowns and other sinister masks, the colourful backdrop will entertain those not easily scared, whilst the actors will have those of a nervous disposition running for the hills.

Perhaps the best offering, though, has to be Carnival of the Bizarre. I challenge anyone not to curl up into a ball once this freakshow is in full swing. There is a fairly ham-fisted implementation of booking for Carnival of the Bizarre. Annoyingly, your plucky reviewer here paid £2 for a 5.00pm showing, only to find once I was in the park that shows didn’t start until 6.00pm. Even worse, many were told that you didn’t have to pay and so went in gratis. Consistency needed?

Inside though, there's little to disappoint. The show is fast moving and in places quite grotesque. Even if you come out of Freezer with a confident swagger, there's no way you’ll leave this show unruffled. Some of the stunts are literally just that; stunts. Some of the talents here just defy description, and despite being rather startling, has that strange magnetic quality to it which will mean you will want to see it over and over.

Sadly – or fortunately, depending which way you look at it – the action is over all too soon. The show is only 15 minutes long, but with a lot of shows throughout the evening and with the pre-booking system however clumsy, everyone should get a chance to see the show. Each show varies, too. A nice touch if you’re likely to see the show again, but your hand is stamped to ensure that your views are limited.

The park seemed a lot better prepared for late night opening. As mentioned earlier, security was very visible, and lighting throughout the park was actually very good. Colossus looked particularly good lit up in green and blue, although Inferno was silhouetted against the green lighting which are never going to have much impact on a dark maroon ride.

Sadly, there weren’t any characters around the park. It would have been nice to see the return of the Fright Zone between Freezer and Freakshow, or at least some way you could appreciate the fact it was Fright Nites without having to queue for the privilege.

The only other negative aspect was the length of queues for the mazes. It is obvious that these are now insanely popular; on an evening that Colossus was a walk-on, Freezer’s queue topped out at an hour long.

Thorpe have gone some way to addressing the problem. People with pre-booked tickets get an early innings at 3pm, whilst other glutens for punishment have to wait until 4pm. Also, as the queues get longer, hands are stamped to limit how many times you do each maze.

It seems a nonsense that the park have chosen to open the mazes at 4pm, though. The queue for Freezer starts way before the attraction actually opens, so there’s certainly demand, and even taking into account the running costs of the maze, it is a shame that you are limited so much with regards to enjoying the maze.

Whilst Carnival of the Bizarre is unquestionably popular, Thorpe really need to explore the possibility of adding more mazes, even if you have to pay an increased admission fee to enjoy the extra Halloween attractions.

Music around the park is vastly improved from previous years. Sadly, there is still the problem that it just doesn't wash during daylight hours. The sounds of footsteps on gravel and screaming whilst the sun breaks through the clouds onto the tropical Calypso Quay really doesn't have the desired effect, whilst once the sun sets, it works a complete treat.

Particularly creepy is the new soundtrack for Detonator; there is something sinister about the musicbox style soundtrack which breaks into a nursery rhyme as the gondola climbs:

"Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall... Humpty Dumpty had a great faaaaaaaaall"

X:\ No Way Out also had a similarly spooky soundtrack, whilst themes such as the Vampire soundtrack and Halloween Tomb Blaster theme appear on other rides. 

Particular credit to Thorpe Park for being prepared for queues, too. Most rides had batchers grouping people before they got on, and single rider queues were run faultlessly with the loners being called forward before the train enters the station. 

With all rides operating with a full compliment of staff, it is a shame that such precautions couldn't be in place for school holidays.   

In general, Fright Nites 2004 is the best event so far. This year, Fright Nites is just as scary as last year, just for all the right reasons.

The Freezer
Bullet Point Review

Freezer is back for its third year. Themed around a cold store for the deceased, something has gone horribly wrong as surgeons are killed and the zombified dead go on a killing spree.

• Since 2002, the maze has become less of a maze with no dead-ends improving capacity

• Whilst in 2002 acting talent was courtesy of Lyndon V. Harris, the company who initially set up the mazes, thereafter Thorpe sourced the acting talent. Consequently the actors are less 'reckless' and more psychological. Either a pro or con depending on your preference.

• New features include one of the freaks wielding a chainsaw and chasing you out of the exit. Careful you don't trip over the decapitated head - seriously.

• The queue now zig-zags underneath the Rangers Showcase roof like before, but is now routed through the Fungle Safari queue which is far, far more efficient

• Like before, the maze is full of chicken-wire walls, strong strobe lighting which is very disorientating, and a chaotic soundtrack of sirens and sound effects

• The exit passes through the queueline which means that you get great views of people leaving the attraction

• Hand stamping is enforced at select times limiting the amount of goes you have

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Freakshow 3D
Bullet Point Review

Colourful and creepy, Freakshow 3D is nowhere near as gritty or scary as Freezer, but in 3D is a colourful and exciting maze, again using actors. 

• Probably the best year yet for Freakshow 3D

• The 3D effect is fantastic, with artwork on the walls and the floor being painted especially

• More actors and more costumes ensure that the attraction has far more life to it than last year

• Dressed in black, the actors play well with the darkness and can appear/disappear quickly by turning around

• There are a few jumps throughout with actors jumping out of an enclosed box and using trapdoors and passageways to jump out at you

• There is not as much of a queue for this as Freezer, although the actual attraction isn't that far behind in terms of quality

• Hand stamping is enforced at select times limiting the amount of goes you have

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Carnival of the Bizarre
Bullet Point Review

The Circus of Horrors come to Thorpe Park with a series of shows designed to have you not only laughing, but cringing too.

• New for 2004, Circus of the Bizarre stars the cast of the popular Circus of Horrors which have appeared in national press and on national television before

• Acts include 'Gary Stretch', a midget, an artist who acts like a ragdoll (more impressive than it sounds), fire-eaters and more

• The show is only short at 15 minutes, but there are regular showings throughout the evening

• Booking is advised at £2 a seat although this seems very clumsy in that many people were encouraged not to pay

• You can only book at admissions which is a long walk from the main park should you wish to visit ad-hock. Check with Guest Services before paying £2

• The Pirates 4D theatre is surprisingly well suited for the Carnival of the Bizarre with a decent enough size stage and good raking for a good view for everyone

Note: As a courtesy, photos of the show were taken without a flash

MS 31 October 2004

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