Six Flags Magic Mountain kicked off Fright Fest Extreme and delivered what was easily their best Halloween event ever. Running select nights now through November 3, Fright Fest Extreme is a huge Halloween event that features 2 shows, 9 scare zones, and a record 11 mazes spread throughout the 260-acre theme park. Nearly every corner of the park has something for Halloween fans to enjoy.
Along with the aforementioned scope, Six Flags really swings for the fences with the inclusion of such iconic horror properties as Trick ‘r Treat, Saw, and Stranger Things among others. Do they pull it all off though? Short answer yes.
In this article, we will tell you how the event works, what you need to know, and what we consider a DO NOT MISS.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We will be updating the following article with full walkthrough videos from all of the mazes. Please check back for updates.
Shows
The show offerings are light this year with the event focus being on scare zones, interactions, and mazes.
Sliders of the Night
Every night, under the canopy in the City Under Siege scare zone, the park’s talented sliders put on a show of their terrifying talents. Show up and cheer these monsters on as they defy the laws of physics. You won’t be disappointed.
Invasion
The aliens have landed and apparently, they love to dance. Stop by the stage near Full Throttle for a killer DJ set and dance with some new friends who are out of this world.
Scare Zones
Along with the roster of classic scare zones that we have come to enjoy, we have a hand full of new nightmares.
Underworlds of Oz – DO NOT MISS
Venture through the thick fog along the yellow brick road to encounter new terrors in the Underworlds of Oz. Located on the path leading to Scream and Twisted Colosus, this inventive experience puts a new spin on the dark side of Oz with flying monkeys, wheelers, and a towering wicked witch. That’s not to mention the toxic waste and the rotting corpses of munchkins. Fun stuff.
Plaza De La Muerte
Plaza De La Muerte is, of course, a beautiful space to breeze through. Dia De Los Muertos-inspired monsters pace and lear at passersby. This is all about mood here.
Grimlore Ridge
A flock of birdlike monsters stalk and scare in this new space awash in Crimson light. The talent here was very engaging and a lot of fun.
City Under Siege – DO NOT MISS
This is the classic chaotic clown scare zone that you MUST visit when at Fright Fest Extreme. No question this is the area with the best talent. Their energy levels and engagement and beyond anything else in the park. That’s not to mention this is the space where sliders roam, waiting to scare anyone who isn’t paying attention to their surroundings. Great energy, great people watching, great talent, City Under Siege is always a highlight.
Nightmares: A Twisted Fantasy – DO NOT MISS
While we have high praise for several of the zones, this is our favorite scare zone in the park. Nightmares: A Twisted Fantasy is a fluorescent fever dream of fairytale madness. Here our beloved witch Lorraine Lurane, holds court under a canopy of trees with her host of grim monsters. This is another spot where the talent raises the level of the zone with their engagement and exceptional talent.
It isn’t a visit to Fright Fest Extreme unless you spend time with Lorraine and hear her latest pitch for any one of her beauty treatments. Halloween magic happens here.
CarnivHELL – DO NOT MISS
I have to simply give props to this section for avoiding the overused Carn-EVIL in favor of CarnivHELL. That obvious plus aside, this is a very well-themed section of the park with solid lighting and active performers. Stroll this foggy midway and encounter various freaks that may steal you away to the circus.
Exile Hill
High atop the titular mountain sits Exile Hill. Spirits and sliders wander the fog-shrouded peak in search of souls. If you are making your way between Willoughby’s Resurrected and Sewer of Souls, you will have no choice but to brave this area.
The Dead Zone
The Dead Zone Scare zone is in the far end of the park near the awesome West Coast Racers coaster and the two mazes Aftermath: Nocturnal Hunt and Army of the Dead. The night we visited, this space didn’t have the energy it once had. Keep in mind that myriad factors contribute to the success of a scare zone, most notably the talent and the timing. We will give this one another try later in the run.
Mazes
Now we come to the main event, the mazes. With a collection of 11 total mazes to experience, there was a wealth of terror. This is also the most ambitious slate of offerings ever from Fright Fest. Hence the Extreme. But this collection of walkthroughs features new mazes based on beloved properties along with the crowd favorites that have been there to foster the continued success of the event.
Stranger Things
Journey back to Hawkins High and the Upsidedown in the new Stranger Things maze. We approach the school gymnasium as a Halloween Party is happening. We enter the building and, of course, things ain’t right. Soon we come face to face with various creatures including a few Demobats and Demogorgons as we make our way to the finale encounter with Vecna. We loved the particle effects in the Upsidedown scenes and the good use of lighting. Fans of the show will revel in the references but as a walkthrough, this one felt sparse. What is here is good, it’s just a bit spacious, so to speak.
The Conjuring Universe – DO NOT MISS
A greatly improved maze, The Conjuring Universe returns for 2024 with new lighting and sound effects. While the amount of actors is pretty much the same, the execution of the scares was more polished. The experience begins in the Warren’s Museum of Haunted Relics as hell is breaking loose. What follows is a highlight reel of the scariest moments from the Conjuring films. Don’t miss this one.
SAW 20th Anniversary – DO NOT MISS
It’s amazing what a change in lighting and a bit more attention to detail can do for a walkthrough. Saw 20th Anniversary is a reinvention of the existing Saw maze from Fright Fest 2023 and Scream Break. But this time, it’s good. The creative team spent time on crafting just the right lighting by bringing it all down by half if not more while punctuating scenes with the right creepy bursts of color and strobes. There are also some fun smoke burst effects that got us a few times. Technically improved, the maze also benefited from more attention to the actors and getting them comfortable with their roles. Nice work!
Trick ‘r Treat – DO NOT MISS
The beloved circuitous anthology film Trick ‘r Treat gets the maze treatment again, but this time it’s better. This time we get much closer to capturing the tone of the film with a level of mischief and Halloween pandemonium. Each of the beloved characters in the film is here including The Principal, Mr. Kreeg, the kids from the School Bus Massacre, and a healthy dose of Sam. In adapting the film to an experiential piece, there is really no good way to create a finale from the existing material. Instead, we get a new bit of Trick ‘r Treat lore with a visit to Sam’s pumpkin lair. We loved this moment. So much so that we did it twice.
Walkthrough with E-Stop
Army of the Dead
Back at the far end of the par, near West Coast Racers and Apocalypse is the Army of the Dead maze. Based on the Netflix film by Zach Snyder, the idea is that a band of thieves are braving hordes of zombies that are swarming Las Vegas in order to steal millions from an abandoned casino safe. This was an odd choice for a property to use in a maze since the film wasn’t exactly a smash hit. Still, it had potential.
Comprised of the repurposed first half of the expansive Aftermath maze from previous years, We enter at the large facade to a casino where the occasional burst of flames lights up the sky. Elvis’ classic song “Viva Las Vegas” drones in and out and we navigate the inner halls of the dilapidated gambling palace.
While we really wanted to see this take off, the scares were scant for us. The talent did what they could, but this is a broad, expansive set to work with. A possible quick fix might be to fine-tune the audio a bit more to play up the absurd tone. Much bigger scares would have helped this rise above average.
Aftermath: Nocturnal Hunt
Welcome to Aftermath: Nocturnal Hunt. We have moved on from the previous story of a virus outbreak and are now wandering a more intimate hellscape of flesh-eating survivors. Built within the confines of the second half of the original maze we reverse course and start the path where we used to exit. The revamp of the maze is an unquestionable improvement yet there were still long stretches of maze with no actors. We think that when this one is fully populated it might be amazing.
Notes aside, the talent was giving it their all and going hard for the scares.
Condemned: Forever Damned – DO NOT MISS
Condemned is a classic. Period. this highly detailed tour of a decrepit and derelict domicile is just fun. On our particular tour though the talent was noticeably tired. Scaring is difficult work without a doubt. But the fatigue was obvious aside from a few notable standouts. Some may complain that the lively “House Party” theme from Scream Break is gone, but folks, change is good. Sometimes you just want to creep around a roach-filled ramshackle.
Truth or Dare
The big belly flop of the night was the normally fun Truth Or Dare. Here guests are invited to be contestants on a live game show. The problem is that this show, like the entertainment industry, has a dark secret. Think SAW the game show. As we, the visitors attempt to escape the clutches of the producers, we encounter other contestants fighting for their lives.
As mentioned we really liked this maze in previous years, but this time through was a dud. There were virtually no performers on our trip through the studio. Scare set pieces were left vacant and multiple scenes were void of any talent. We were left to navigate the dimly lit corridors in search of scares but we found none.
Willoughby’s Resurrected – DO NOT MISS
Originally called Willoughby’s Haunted Mansion, the attraction enjoyed a lavish refurbishment in 2012 and gained the moniker Willoughby’s Resurrected. We enter the hallowed halls of this expansive abode and encounter its residents who are dying to meet us. This classic haunted house walkthrough is another unmissable classic but it could use another update.
Sewer of Souls
The Sewer of Souls is back for 2024 and is back to being the banger that it once was. We venture into the subterranean tunnels and discover a gruesome, backlit world of ghouls. This one fell just shy of the Do Not Miss status on account of a lack of performers for our trip through but we urger you to give it a shot.
The Event
Fright Fest Extreme kicks off every night at 7pm in the park. Day guests are allowed to remain in the park, however, they are given plenty of warning that things are about to get scary via parkwide announcements. Monsters issue forth from backstage in a procession that heralds the scares and instantly the fog rolls in.
CHAPERONE POLICY IN EFFECT
All guests 15 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old with a valid government ID to be admitted to, or remain in, the park after 4:00pm local time to close on Fright Fest Extreme nights. One (1) chaperone may accompany no more than ten (10) guests age 15 years old or younger per day. Learn More Here
While the shows and scare zones are included with admission, guests are invited to purchase wristbands for special access to the collection of mazes.
A quick look at the ticket options from the Six Flags Magic Mountain site gives you a breakdown.
Admission for all of these options begins at 7pm and they allow various levels of access. There is also the option of the VISCREAM Tour for $666 per person that offers…
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- Private Scare Guide – Our VIP Experience experts will guide your party through the haunted attractions each step of the way based on your needs and priorities, ensuring a frightfully fun time. They’ll even take care of meals* and refreshments along the way to keep you fueled up for more scares!
- VIP Park Admission – From the moment you enter the park to the moment you leave, you’ll be treated like a VIP! Admission is valid starting at 7:00pm on Fright Fest Extreme nights.
- VIP Parking – Don’t worry about finding the closest spot, you’ll receive an exclusive VIP parking space reserved just for you, located right near the park’s haunted entrance.
- Priority Express Haunted House Access – Face your fears without the wait! Enjoy unlimited priority express entry to all eleven haunted houses.
- Priority Ride Access** – Scream bigger with front-of-the-line ride privileges to the most spine-chilling rides and roller coasters.
- Ghoulish Grub – Your private VIP guide will handle all of your meals and refreshments*, including one lunch, one dinner and unlimited snacks for each guest in your party. Stay fueled up for more haunting adventures and sink your teeth in Fright Fest Extreme exclusive bites and spirits.
*Alcohol not included. **Paid attractions not included. Fright Fest Extreme is not recommended for anyone under the age of 13.
Six Flags gambled big on a heavy, nationwide investment on their signature Halloween offering and have succeeded. Fright Fest Extreme is an impressive upgrade from previous years that brings known properties to the event alongside the cherished original concept mazes. Yes, there is plenty of room for improvement but this is, without question, their best year yet.
Get out to Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest Extreme for an affordable theme park haunt that allows even the most timid thrillseeker, a chance to explore the world of Halloween at their own pace.
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