UPPER MARLBORO, Md — Six Flags America’s yearly “Fright Fest” returns for its 10th season and has, once again, allowed talented creators to develop new attractions to deliver intense ways to entertain as well as scare guests for select evenings in October.
Specifically, a new haunted house maze and revamped musical add to the night’s roster to deliver the ghoulish goods.
First, haunted house maze designer Jeremy Fox offers a satisfying look into his nightmares in the aptly titled “Total Damnation.”
Calling a “hodgepodge collection of scary things” basically everything he feared growing up, Mr. Fox uses a series of themed rooms, ranging from industrial to a Victorian asylum to the gates of hell, to deliver roughly three minutes worth of scares.
All of the costuming and masks for the dozen scare actors involved were built in-house, Mr. Fox takes credit for the masks, and some of the best-looking creatures are a large horned demon and a gigantic and menacing executioner on the prowl.
He says “the scares are in the details” with speedy transitions between the rooms. Mr. Fox hopes guests will appreciate the 1,500 hours of work over the three-month time span that he put into the first maze.
When asked about his favorite part of “Total Damnation,” he said “getting a chance to sit back and watching guests’ reactions.”
Next, “Cur2ed: After Dark” plays like an adult, paranormal version of the musical comedy “Rock of Ages.”
Developed and directed by Broadway veteran, Douglas Ladnier, the story finds three members of the famed Ghost Patrol getting stuck in the woods on Halloween night and ending up at a mansion owned by a mysterious Voodoo priestess, Madam Laveau.
Life gets ugly for the trio as they fall under her dark magic and are often found singing some familiar classic rock, pop and show tunes, including Barbara Streisand’s “Papa Can You Hear Me,” Madonna’s “Like a Virgin,” The Village People’s “YMCA,” Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer” and Donna Summers’ “Last Dance.”
The entire cast’s singing is spectacular throughout. Viewers will need to be patient as the actors slog through a rather long exposition before getting to really belt out the best tunes.
However, to make the show a little breezier, my suggestion is to cut down the length to 30 minutes rather than the too-long 45 minutes plus. Guests already have enough to do at the theme park.
And, more importantly, stop using f-bombs to emphasis an emotional point in the story. They should be considered judiciously and not let loose like a seventh-grader learning a naughty word.
A less profane and racy PG-13 version of the show also plays during the afternoon at the park.
“Fright Fest” offers a full evening of terror with six haunted house mazes, four scare zones, five rides and five live shows including a close-quarters brawl stunt spectacular.
And for the first time this year, insane humans may also want to register to participate in the 30-Hour Coffin Challenge starting on October 12. That’s right, get randomly picked to hang out in a coffin with adequate breaks and food for 30 whole hours and earn $300 for your time.
IF YOU DARE GO
What: Six Flags America’s Fright Fest
Where: 13710 Central Ave., Upper Marlboro, MD 20721
Fear factor (out of 5): 3.5 for adults and 3.8 for brave 13-year-olds.
Hours: Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. (open through Oct. 28).
Price range: Starting at $62.99 for unlimited park and “Fright Fest” access (look online for daily deal purveyors to find less wallet-slicing pricing). Don’t forget to include parking (starting at $20), and folks in a hurry can purchase an Express Haunted House Pass (starting at $36.36) to get through the deep lines.
Website: www.sixflags.com/america/special-events/fright-fest-night
• Joseph Szadkowski can be reached at jszadkowski@washingtontimes.com.
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