Chertsey, Surrey, UK
October 4th, 2025 – Fright Nights doesn’t have a new horror maze this year. But it doesn’t need one. When your event already has 4 unique horror mazes that each stand out in their own way, the scares still feel as fresh as they did last year. The maze line up did not need to change in 2025.
Changes at this year’s event are more subtle, yet very effective. Thorpe Park is bathed in a pulsing red light – yes, even Hyperia! – giving the sense that the park is breathing the horror. It’s an effective way to make you stare at the coasters even more than usual, as you watch them slowly turn scarlet red.
There’s a new scare zone called Purgatory Town, which transforms the New Orleans section of the park into a corridor of pumpkins and sunflowers. Such beautiful autumnal decoration is actually the kind of thing you would expect to see at Chessington’s Howl-O-Ween, rather than next to Detonator, but somehow it clicks. Actors in this zone interact with guests by comedically roasting them as opposed to delivering jump scares, so it’s the perfect way to test the waters for anyone nervous about live action scare mazes. If you have a friend who is scared, start your night in Purgatory Town.
But if you are fearless, head straight to The Crows of Mawkin Meadow. It’s quite a feat: for a scare zone to consistently outshine every maze at Fright Nights year after year – but The Crows have done it again in 2025. The outdoor scare zone boasts new scenes including a dramatic pyre scene, alongside the usual corn, hay bales and creepy characters lurking where you would least expect. When you are in Mawkin Meadow you genuinely forget you’re in a theme park, everything outside of those corn walls just melts away. I got more jump scares in this scare zone than in any of the mazes combined. The Crows still reign supreme at Fright Nights, and long may that continue.
Survival Games has been heavily tweaked for Fright Nights 2025, featuring a new start where the actors are in the cages as opposed to you – I loved this change. The maze has been rerouted and feels a bit more linear now, which allows the tension to build and tells the story of levelling up in a brutal battle arena more effectively. The costumes this year look more sinister and less like theatre ushers. Known as one of the more extreme horror mazes at Thorpe Park, actors are permitted to touch you, shove you around and separate you from your group. While the actors were certainly more commanding vocally (I was ordered to “get on my knees” at one point) I do find myself wishing they were a little more confident with the hands-on approach as that was barely a factor in my experience. Still, the changes are all for the better and Survival Games in 2025 is Survival Games at its peak. 8/10
Trailers has a few news scenes added, and whilst I mourn the loss of Breakout at Brainsbury’s, the new scene that pays homage to X is a memorable moment of gore, white walls and strobe. Given that Trailers is essentially a love letter to old rides and scare mazes at Thorpe Park, it’s far more cohesive to have a scene dedicated to X as opposed to a generic zombie supermarket room (as hilarious as it was.) The rooms that honour The Big Top are still the highlight of the experience, with manic clowns leaping out from unpredictable places. The actors in the Creek Freak section lived up to the sheer chaos of the old maze, even if their chainsaws have been replaced with axes. Admittedly, I would love to see this fantastic maze get a more impactful finale; but regardless – if you love Fright Nights lore, you will love Trailers. 8/10
Stitches is one of the scariest mazes Thorpe Park have ever made. While one could look at it from the outside and assume we’re essentially visiting Sid from Toy Story’s room; once you step inside you realise it’s so much more sinister than that. This maze is as twisted and gory as they come. You will enter each scene with a knot of dread in your stomach, as humans are getting stuffed like teddy bears and eyes are being stitched shut. The final room is full of disturbing human dolls and a slow flashing strobe, imprinting their horrifying masks onto your retinas. It says a lot that I have experienced Stitches several times over the last few years and I still feel terrified by that final room. 9/10
Dead Beat sits more in the fun category of horror maze. It’s a camp concept that feels straight out of an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – a nightclub filled with demons who are possessing guests where no one gets out alive. At least, I think that’s what the story is? The narrative could be clearer as we are introduced to a variety of characters: ravers, demons, a DJ called Callistro and people being sick. It remains unclear what the dynamic is between these characters, why some are being sick and what these club demons want. It’s a small bugbear of mine that most of the ravers are wearing headphones, yet the excellent EDM soundtrack is blaring out loudly inside the maze – clearly we’re not in a silent disco here. Why are the ravers wearing headphones?
Dead Beat has some excellent overhead scares, the demons look great, but the scenes feel a tad repetitive. I always find myself leaving this maze with more questions than answers about what story they are trying to tell inside. 5/10
Lucifer’s Lair is the main hub of Fright Nights, and it’s the spot where you will feel the electrifying spooky atmosphere the most. There’s winged demon actors and Lucifer himself strutting around, there’s flames dancing against the blackened night sky, plus a whole array of spine-chilling shows to watch. If you do one thing at Fright Nights in 2025, watch the Fire Show. Giant flames surge from the top of the stage all in time to an infectious drum and bass soundtrack, there’s a dance troupe on stage raising the energy even higher. Simply put: the vibes of the Fire Show are immaculate. Do not miss it.
Alas, it wouldn’t be Fright Nights if the best rollercoaster in the park wasn’t bathed in purple light (Stealth) whilst the latest high school dramas of the Creature Campus unfold on a stage in front of it. Creature Campus: Shock the System continues the ongoing saga of the Amity High Cinematic Universe with an energetic dance performance, a brilliant soundtrack and some new lighting tricks that deliver a strong finale to the show.
Is Fright Nights worth visiting in 2025? Absolutely. Whether you spend every weekend of October getting scared silly at haunt events or if you only do one thing to celebrate Halloween, you will not be disappointed by Fright Nights.
Review by Serena Cherry (above, left) at the Press Launch of the event.
For tickets and further about Fright Nights, check out Thorpe Park’s website.