A Night At Six Flag’s Scream Break
Shannon McGrew
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Recently, I had the chance to visit Six Flags Magic Mountain to see the return of Scream Break, an after-hours event that celebrates the halfway mark to Halloween and the excitement of being out of school for spring break. From 9 pm to midnight, Six Flags’s Scream Break includes unlimited access to two haunted mazes—SAW and Condemned House Party—unlimited access to three scare zones, and unlimited ride access for six thrilling attractions.
As a massive SAW fan, my primary goal was to experience this maze. Situated by the Riddler’s Revenge roller coaster, the SAW maze sits unassuming amongst rides and theme park games. However, that all changes once you’ve stepped through the maze’s threshold, where a victim has found their final resting place in a bathtub. A cacophony of horror follows as guests walk through vignettes of pivotal moments from the SAW franchise.
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Though this maze doesn’t have the same budget as haunts seen at Halloween Horror Nights or Knott’s Scary Farm, it’s no less compelling. Utilizing the creative team from Egan Production, who run the Official SAW Escape Room in Las Vegas, they were able to create some of the most shocking and gruesome moments from the films such as the Eyeball Trap and the Aztec Trap seen in SAW X. The maze also features my all-time favorite trap, the Needle Pit, from SAW II. Seeing this trapped play out in front of me was a stark reminder of why this one, in particular, is so terrifying and unnerving.
Rest assured, you don’t go through this maze without encountering the main star of the franchise: Billy, also created by Egan Productions. Though only seen once throughout the maze, his arrival is just as affecting and memorable. How could one not want to play a game with him? However, the primary source of scares is the scare actors dressed in black robes wearing the recognizable pig mask seen throughout the franchise. Whether standing in a dark corner awaiting their prey or appearing from behind closed doors, these actors spared no expense when it came to getting a scream out of their victims. And yes, I was one of those victims.
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Once you’ve had your fill of all things SAW, there are still enough activities to make the most out of your $40 ticket. Scream Break gives late-night thrill seekers unlimited access to some of their most popular rides, such as Full Throttle, Goliath, BATMAN™ The Ride, and more. Additionally, three scare zones offer guests a chance to immerse themselves further into a fiendish world filled with all types of creatures of the night.
These areas are great for socializing with the scare actors (respectfully) and capturing the perfect photos for Instagram so that your friends have FOMO. Over at DC Universe and Full Throttle Plaza, you’ll find the “Dead Man’s Party,” which is best described as a frat party with the undead where you can dance the night away with demons and ghouls or play a bizarro game of beer pong. Because even dead, no one can deny the appeal of throwing a ping pong ball into a cup of beer. Plus, you don’t want to miss out on all the scares lurking inside Condemned House Party.
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Where things begin to falter is with operations, which need to be far more fine-tuned. Most of the employees weren’t informed of the event’s operations, and we received many conflicting answers to common questions about the event. We were also given access to go up to the SAW maze early, but we were told to go back down the hill and wait, not an easy feat for someone like myself who has fibromyalgia. When asked for a wheelchair to help, we were initially offered one that was falling apart. Additionally, the area where we lined up for the SAW maze barely had enough light for people to navigate easily, and the ground wasn’t level enough to the pavement, which could easily cause someone to trip and fall.
Aside from issues with operations and ADA accessibility, Scream Break is a great way to experience the thrills and chills of Halloween this Spring. It does a solid job of satiating the need for horror/haunt fans while making the event fun and accessible for those who may not be as into haunts as others. As for SAW fans, you’d be doing yourself a massive disservice by not checking it out, especially with the 20th anniversary just around the corner. Scream Break at Six Flags Magic Mountain covers you if you’re fiending for that Halloween life or want to play a deadly game with Jigsaw.
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