Field of Screams: Sinister Valley Haunt 2019 Review

After an elaborate preview at Midsummer Scream, where attendees saw a laser light show emanating from the mouth of an enormous Cobra head, we were definitely anticipating this year’s Sinister Valley Haunt.  Back this Halloween season at the “The Field of Screams Haunted Stadium” (actually, Storm Stadium in Lake Elsinore), Sinister Valley is as promising as it looked during the preview.

Sinister Valley Haunt 2019 Review: Entrance and Intro

The entrance to the actual event, is a mini forest maze in itself, with props and displays sans scare actors or jump scares.  It is actually a continuation of last Halloween’s story and theme. Those who attended Sinister Valley Haunt at the Field of Screams in 2018 will likely recognize the forest and some of the props used inside this entrance.  If there’s any second guessing about whether this year’s haunt is related to last years, those questions are put to rest by the map on the right when you exit the forest.

Sinister Valley Haunt 2019 Review: Scare Zone

There are no designated scare zones.  The entire Field of Screams is a scare zone. It’s called “Sinister Valley” for a reason.  Can’t handle the pressure? Don’t come. We love that – no matter where you go, walk, line-up, or stand – there are always monsters lurking somewhere. The number of monsters and scare actors on-site has increased this year – filling a void from the previous year. What’s cool is that the scare actors never really break character. Even while speaking with the proprietor about haunt details, we were treated as if we were visitors to Sinister Valley.

Sinister Valley Haunt 2019 Review: Mazes

A woman’s tortured soul haunts the once luxurious Dead Rose Hotel. This is a long maze with a surplus of rooms, which create the illusion of walking through an abandoned hotel, unsure of what’s around the corner. That’s essentially the main scare of this maze: what will you encounter in each room? Will there be a scare actor, flickering controlled lights, and the spirit of the woman trapped inside the building?

Though we enjoyed the labyrinth feel as well as the ending, the part we loved most was the host we encountered in the beginning. When we went back for a 2nd time, we interacted with him and watched him adopt the story line that we fed him: “Hi, we’re back!” Host: “I see that you were able to get out, so what brings you back?” We always appreciate quick wits and improvisation.  We were pleasantly surprised at how quickly the actor adapted with no pauses or stutters. This is definitely pro-haunt material.

Unlike the typical “dark” or “blackout” maze, Senseless does not force you to feel your way out of the labryinth. There are pockets where lights flash just long enough for you to navigate your way through. The horrifying part of this is: when the light comes on, who or what will be coming at you and at what speed?

We noticed that Sinister Valley Haunt was utilizing a lot of automated lights effects this year and we’re not complaining at all; we just wished it were a bit longer.

We saved the best for last.  An even longer maze with tons of corridors and sets, Secrets in the Mist utilizes Sinister Haunt’s famous jungle sets and props. If you’ve read reviews or attended the haunt the past couple of seasons, you know there was always a jungle or forest set.  In Secrets in the Mist, you hike through a jungle to an ancient temple haunted by souls from the underworld.

The maze is filled with endless corridors, rooms, twists and turns, and non-invasive tunnel bags that go up only waist/torso high (which was generous for a cameraman/woman). It recycled a few elements from previous haunts, but that works, because Sinister Valley Haunt is a story line that is evolving. Therefore, we don’t mind seeing recognizable characters or props; it’s interesting to see how those elements continue the story line. This was definitely an enjoyable walk-through with a timestamp that was twice as long as the famous Halloween theme parks.

Sinister Valley Haunt 2019 Review: Conclusion

Sinister Valley’s 2019 Halloween Haunt has scaled down to three walk-throughs, but it is quality that counts. By doing three instead of four, Sinister Valley Haunt was able to give it better T.L.C., and and it definitely shows (rather like Knott’s Scary Farm these past two seasons).

Add this to our recommended route with Haunted Tom’s Farms and Terror In Train Town. See this one last as it remains open until 11pm. This should make for a three-part tour of terror when celebrating Halloween In Riverside County.

Sinister Valley Haunt 2019 Review:  Photo Gallery

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Field of Screams: Sinister Valley 2019

Dead Rose Hotel

Checking In?

Secrets of the Mist Entrance