It’s not all that common for a two-story medieval castle to be found in the midst of the Santa Clarita suburbs. And yet, here I am walking through its double wooden doors and into a surprisingly large home haunt. As I look up and spot a dragon perched above me, wings flapping, eyes glaring and smoke issuing from its mouth, I realize this is far more than what I expected. Beware the Dark Realm 2019

Photo: Thea Rivera

Beware the Dark Realm is a home haunt that has been in existence since 2013. Open for only five October nights in 2019 (10/12, 10/18-19 and 10/25-26), the haunt is a labor of love for the Sivley family whose members have been helping build both home and professional haunts since 1971. The haunt is free to the public and, based on the size of the crowd that formed on opening night, locals of all ages love to travel through it.

Stepping into the haunt, it rapidly becomes clear why the guests waiting outside are so excited. This haunt is nearly as large as many of the other professionally built ones that charge for their scares, and takes over six minutes to complete. Even better, Beware the Dark Realm lets only small groups of two to four people in at a time, which allows each participant to be the focus of multiple scare-actors.

Photo: Thea Rivera

Beware the Dark Realm certainly has plenty of these actors ready to interact with their captive audience. So many local teens and returning actors fill the multiple different scenes of the haunt that it seems almost impossible to believe, with more than a few spots where jump-scares occur in rapid succession. Some of the actors are new this year, but they’ve been trained very well and their enthusiasm for being part of this haunt only makes their screams and sudden appearances that much more enjoyable.

While there is no coherent story beyond the generic theme of a ‘dark fantasy,’ the journey through the haunt is still exhilarating. At one point, guests find themselves trapped in a dungeon. At another, a blacksmith asks for volunteers willing to give just a small part of their body for the good of the hungry children. Around each turn (and there are far more than it seems when guests are standing outside), new rooms appear, each reflecting a classic fantasy theme such as suits of armor, graveyards and even the Grim Reaper itself out to snatch the souls of those walking by. Every scene is different and each one lasts just long enough to create the appropriate scare or two before guests move on to the next.

Photo: Thea Rivera

Perhaps the most effective part of this home haunt is the massive level of detail found throughout its space. From the gargoyles watching guard outside the front to the costumes of the actors, people who really care about getting the little pieces correct are the driving force behind Beware the Dark Realm. The sound of the hammer hitting the anvil as body parts are requested; the growl of the previously mentioned dragon as it glares down at those walking beneath it; the sudden smell of grave dirt that assaults the nose as soon as a participant enters the cemetery. Each moment is as full of detail as the creators can generate, and their efforts culminate in one of the best home haunts I’ve ever seen.

Beware the Dark Realm is the quintessential home haunt that all others ascribe to be. It’s a labor of love for the community and an inspiration to anyone who wants to create a haunt in their own yard. It’s built through the dedication of the Sivleys and all of those who volunteer to help put the set together or step into costumes so they can scare those who walk through the wooden entrance door. I sincerely hope that this haunt continues for years to come, because I think it’s marvelous – and the community clearly agrees.

Photo: Thea Rivera

One last note: Don’t think you’ll be safe while you wait in the well-deserved, long line outside. Beware the Dark Realm’s best scare-actors are the court members who roam in and out of that space and they will get you before you make it to the front.

For more information, follow Beware the Dark Realm on their website, Facebook and Instagram. Check out our Event Guide for more Halloween and horror entertainment throughout the year.

Photo: Thea Rivera

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