Funfear and The Howl

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Posted on: 31st October 2017

The Howl Scream Park made its annual return to Mead Open Farm for 13 nights of terror in October, where the likes of Topper the Clown and Grandma Lycanthrope waited to greet you with rotting arms. FunFear are a team of experienced engineers, technicians and designers who specialise in creating innovative Halloween attractions and for the past 3 years, they have been in charge of turning the much loved family farm into a land of torment and nightmare.

There were 5 haunts to be explored at The Howl including Toppers Twister, The Shed, Hotel de Basquervilles, Squealers Yard and the House of Hounds. In each maze you could expect to encounter impressive audio, lighting and special effects, along with a legion of terrifying actors which combine to create an immersive experience where you were the bait.

The maze with the highest “scare factor” saw you running for your life from flesh hungry cannibals in Squealers Yard, where Crown Amplifiers and E-audio speakers assisted in ramping up the fear factor. “We chose Crown amplifiers because of their high quality build, immense power and renowned longevity. This meant we could rely on the amplifiers to produce clear, crisp and consistent audio throughout the event.” Said Duncan, Funfear’s head Twisted Tech. Pushing thick clouds of haze and fog into the mazes were numerous CHAUVET Hurricane smoke machines, making it impossible to see further than a foot in front of you – the perfect environment for creatures and werewolves to stow away waiting to jump out and frighten you to death.

During the planning of this project The Twisted Technicians didn’t just have to consider the mazes scare factors but also how these haunts could be easily transformed into a more jovial experience for younger audiences during the day. All it took was a costume change for the actors plus a simple flick of a switch and the haunts were converted into child friendly mazes with brighter lighting and more upbeat sound effects. Another attraction for children was the puppet show outside in the courtyard, powered by a PA system consisting of Mackie Thump 1000’s and 4 Sennheiser XS Wireless systems. All of the mazes feature an emergency stop system which changes the lighting and audio instantly to allow for a quick and easy exit; this is all controlled by one button that sets the maze back into action as quickly as it can shut it down. Both the safety control system and the system allowing for easy day and night interchange are designed in house by the Technicians themselves.

Funfear have been customers of Leisuretec since they first created this horrifically fantastic event because of their extensive product choice and efficient service. Duncan said “We use Leisuretec because they’re right on our doorstep and they always answer the phone with a friendly attitude. The team have excellent technical knowledge, so if the product we want isn’t in stock they’re always able to suggest alternatives.” Sadly The Howl is all over for another year but keep your eyes peeled this December for when Funfear turn Mead Open Farm into a magical winter wonderland.