Six Flags, the amusement park company with over 27 venues across three countries, has unveiled its plans for its annual Halloween event, Fright Fest. The 2024 edition will consist of experiences based on horror franchises likeSaw,Stranger Things,Army of the Dead,Texas Chainsaw Massacre(2022),andThe Conjuring, among others. This major upgrade comes as the company has decided to invest a whole lot of cash and work together with major film studios to bring to life the horrific worlds ofhorror’s most important franchises. Those who have been to these kinds of Halloween celebrations know what it’s all about.
Fright Fest has added an ‘X’ to its name, and it’s now Fright Fest X (or Fright Fest eXtreme) and, according to “Chief Fright Officer,” Edithann Ramey, the 2024 edition of the experience will focus on recreating the terrifying worlds of huge franchises. Asreported by Variety, Ramey shares details about the careful selection of the franchises Six Flags selected:
“We wanted the big ones that people recognized, and the list grew from there. We started to reach out and a lot of the different movie companies and distributors were very interested in working with us because they felt it was a great way to showcase their films… You’ve got your slasher films, and suspenseful films, which are more about pondering and walking throughAnnabelleandThe Nunand the scares, and we were delighted with the addition ofStranger Things,because it just widened the appeal and brings in all the people that might not love slasher films.”
Stranger Things
Ramey also adds that the studios are all about authenticity and the close representation of the films referred to: “They’re very protective because they want the film to be closely represented.I think about it in terms of when they take a book and then make it into a movie. We’re taking it and we’re making it into a haunted house and people are going to come in with such high expectations.”
Some of the official loglines read as follows:
The Importance of Horror Franchises in Theme Park Experiences
Universal Studios has been doing it for a while, and their Halloween Horror Nights celebration gets sold out every year. People are fascinated with the recreations of their favorite movies and being spooked by settings that designers spend a year planning. For some, it’s a spectacle. For others, it’s a matter of stepping inside a space that eerily resembles what scares them. The formula is so successful that one almost wonders why no more parks are implementing it.
Universal’s Dark Universe Resurrected in an Unexpected Way
The Dark Universe of monsters may have died with The Mummy, but Universal have brought he theme back to life in a new way.
A properly designed experience will allow attendees to relive their favorite horror experiences, and everyone knows there’s nothing better for horror fans. Imagine stepping inside the Upside Down, or being chased by Leatherface (albeit the 2022 edition of the iconic slasher killer). Or imagine seeing Annabelle move in real life. Or perhapszombies are your thingand the abominations imagined by Zack Snyder in theArmy of the Deadwill chase you down a hallway. Again, it doesn’t get any better than this, and Six Flags will likely become an important player in the game of Halloween experiences at major amusement parks.
Tickets for the 2024 edition of Six Flags Fright Fest can already be purchased at the parks' websites.
