Fear Overload Eternal Nightmare Haunted House

Came here for the first year with my sister and her main. This place apparently has been around every Halloween at the Bay Fair mall. There is a different theme every year and it certainly was done really well.
If you decide in the coming year to attend, I highly recommend spending the extra $ 20 for the express pass. You will save about an hour from the wait time. Enjoy!

Don’t waste your money. Bad actors (and there are just a few), bad scene, bad use of space, bad customer service. It’s not even close to what they advertise!

I am a big fan of haunted places and thrills. Honestly the places I have been before (which were many) never really made me shout, but this place has. First off let me start with parking. There was lots of places to park and it’s free! After visiting previous haunted places that didn’t do much for me nor my friends, I wanted to redeem the spirit of Halloween by going here and it worked. My friends and I had lots of fun. The actors and staff was kind, and with lots of energy. They really got into character. The mazes were very well detailed and organized and the sounds throughout the maze were on point. If the actors do not get you the props and sounds will. Mix it all up then boom! The only reason why I didn’t give 5 stars is probably because of my personal reason, I wanted the haunted mazes to be longer (but who doesn’t). Other than that. This place deserves 5 stars.

This was one of the biggest waste of money for me recently and that’s saying alot seeing as how I just recently got my car broke. Into… upsetting hope next year when I go to sac it’s better I only give it one star because I have to to post this.

+We went on Halloween day and the wait wasn’t too long compared to other mazes we’ve been to in the past (1^st maze)
+It was closer to San Jose
+There’s an actual parking lot
+They let you go with your full group
+you can buy tickets online for a no line wait inside for tickets ($ 27)
–Being indoors didn’t set the scene so it wasn’t too scary
–The line to the 2^nd maze was about 1 hour
–It was so hot in the mall
–cash only for tickets inside with 1 ATM machine
I would have given more stars, but this is a major problem:
— — in the 1^st maze there was someone grabbing people’s butts!!! So inappropriate! This happened to 5 of our friends

This attraction sucked. Limited and poorly trained scare actors, boring FX, poor use of scare spaces, misleading advertisement, no live music, dirty mall, and the clown in the GA line was the scariest thing there… in fully lit mall scenery. Actually I take that back… the parking lot security was the scariest thing.
Two thumbs down.

It wasn’t worth $ 25, that’s just my opinion. There was only two haunted houses or mazes (however you’d call them). The line was tolerable. I just wish they waited like a minute or two for groups to go in and get they’re fright of the night instead of pushing everyone because of how large of the line was on the outside. And it seems like the workers wasn’t as enthusiastic as the characters they portrayed but that’s just my opinion.

Lame. Did this last year, they let in multiple groups go in at a time so it dilutes the scare factor. Also it takes less than 5 min to go through. Not worth the $ or the time. Sorry not sorry

So this place wasn’t very good it took us about 15 minutes to do both houses and in one of them we had one of the «actors» yell at us and told our friend he was done for having a flashlight (no where is it posted you can’t have one) best thing they offered us was to go again… yeah that’s what we want to do go through a crappy attraction and have the same jerk TRY and scare us again no thanks don’t waste your money… This was my first haunted house ever and what a disappointment

Lord have mercy where do I start. If there were such a thing as a half a star this place definitely earned it. Well to start off the actor who led us into the entrance was absolute trash. The first maze was completely understaffed. The second maze was dark and a flash light was supposed to be needed. Big joke on that part. Overall a bunch of losers trying to earn a paycheck. If you’re looking for a place to make your 3 year old yawn go ahead and give this place a chance.

It’s definitely overpriced and understaffed. Both houses took less than 20 minutes to go through total and the one has barely anybody in it. We would go through 3 – 4 rooms in a row without a signal worker being there (this was the seven sins one). The other house was better, but that experience alone was not enough to make up for the $ 25 price tag. We’ve been to much better houses for a cheaper price.
For reference, we went on a Saturday night.

On a Saturday night, it took 5 minutes to get through each «haunt» because they were letting so many groups through at once. We walked through multiple rooms without seeing any actors and when we did see them, they looked like they were 15 yrs old with some makeup on or a mask.
At least the huge clown in line looked scary but other than that, it was not worth the $ 25. We should’ve known when people leaving the haunts were saying it wasn’t worth it. I don’t understand how this got rated as one of the best haunted houses. It was so disappointing.

Horrible waste of money!!! What a disappointment!!! Too many people and actors were poorly dressed and lame! Not scary at all! It literally took 3 – 4 minutes to walk through, with about an hour wait to get in! :(

We got out of Pirates of Emerson around 11pm and decided to head out to San Leandro for Fear Overload. It’s in a mall, which is weird, but that doesn’t make or break it.
It only has two haunted houses — Hostel and Seven Deadly Sins. We did Hostel first and I was pretty impressed. They give you flashlights which adds an extra element of spookiness. Great décor, the staff really went all in. Out of the 5 houses at Pirates of Emerson and Hostel, Hostel was definitely the darkest and creepiest.
But then the wheels fell off at Seven Deadly Sins. Some joker dressed as Luigi was in front of us and apparently knew everybody there. Spent 10 minutes talking with the ticket dude. Then, as we walked through it, there was nobody working it to scare you. Literally walked through 6 rooms with nobody there. And then the one room that had people there, they were just talking to each other about partying the night before. Super super lame. Stay in character people.
So, 15 minutes later, we were $ 25 poorer and had been through 1 good haunt and one super crappy one. I give Hostel a 5. But taking off 1 for the price and 2 for the crap experience at the second one.

Don’t mark this one off because it’s inside of a mall. The two haunted houses they have set up are definitely the toe scariest that I’ve ever been too. This review is for the 2014 event. However, staff were very helpful and actors were great at bringing their characters to life. One house made you feel like you were in a real haunted house with only a flashlight to help you get through. You had to open doors and navigate your way through. We felt that we were completely alone in a haunted house! We didn’t see the people in front of us or behind us, try spaces us out very very well.
I definitely reccomend checking this place out!

This is a belated review for the 2014 experience.
This is not a good Haunted House and is honestly not very scary (I say this as someone who is super jumpy and hates horror movies).
I can’t stand watching horror movies because I find them too unnerving and scary, but I love a good haunted house. I think I might be spoiled from past haunted house experiences. I was a yearly return customer to the haunted house in Post Falls, Idaho ($ 8 for a half hour experience), Haunted World in Nampa, Idaho ($ 21 for an hour long expeirence), and the Sloss Factory in Birmingham, Alabama ($ 20 for a 45 minute experience). But both of those places put far more effort into the experience than Fear Overload.
First of all, the «haunted house» is in a mall, which kills ALL the mood from the start. When I went last year, there was a really bad metal band playing on a stage in the mall, their music being pumped so loud that it was hard to communicate. This didn’t enhance my time, just was loud and annoying.
As for the haunted houses themselves, they less than 10 minute experiences –at best-​. They push through groups so fast that if a person three groups ahead of you moves a little slow, you can expect to be bumping into the groups ahead of you. Completely kills the mood. For one of the sides, they give you a flashlight, saying it will be dark. It’s not that dark in either haunted house.
If I don’t feel like I’m lost and fumbling around in complete darkness trying to escape terrors around me, then the place is a failure.
The décor inside each side left a bit to be desired. Areas were set up somewhat like themed rooms but it was never too believable. It was mostly decorated as someone would decorate their home for a house party with decorations purchased from the local Halloween store. And, there was enough light in the place that you can see the walls don’t go all the way to the ceiling and carry light between sections. And again, you’re in a mall and can see the generic mall ceilings. Kills the mood.
If I had children aged 8 – 15, I would take them here because I feel like this place doesn’t deliver on the scares an adult or teenager 16+ wants from a haunted house.
When I went, plenty of people came out terrified, so maybe my bar has been set too high. If this is the best that the Bay Area has to offer, then I am extremely disappointed.
In short, Fear Overload was crowded, rushed, incredibly tame, and just not that scary. If you are an adult looking for real scares. Look elsewhere.

If haunted houses are your thing and you absolutely need to go to one on Halloween, fine… Fear Overload will suffice. It is worth noting that it is in a suburban mall versus a corn field in the middle of nowhere so temper expectations.
I honestly believe we spent more time in line waiting to get into both haunted houses than we did in them. And we even got the fast pass tickets. As a group of six, we were a little larger and I think that ruins some of the scares and surprises but there are a couple of really good ones. There are some detailed sets but you have to keep it moving with the crowds, but at the same time because it was pretty crowded, you also kinda bump into the groups before or after you which ruins some of the surprises too.
Well at the very least I can say, «been there done that» for Fear Overload but I highly doubt I’ll be back. Didn’t think the $ 35 fast pass ticket was worth the experience and trek out here.

I liked it, it coulda been bigger I think but this place had my friend jumping ten times his height and my shoulders jumped a bit.
I am a fan of haunts so if you could get me jumpy you did good.
THe first one is a trip, you just walked through with a flashlight an a teensy bit of light.
THat was the Zodiac haunted, I went in that one first to represent our famous notorious bay area serial killer. It was pretty decent some trippy characters and people flying and jumping out at me. It was pretty cool.
There was a second one the psychotic one.
It was pretty awesome. I liked this one better.
I loved the cut open faces, the gore was nice.
The ladies seemed pretty crazy and crazy is good, especially if I don’t have to take you home. It was a good scare.
Ha people were even popping out of walls from random openings I totally wouldn’t have known was there.
I had some good jumps from the people jumping from up above at me.
The womens bathroom scene was the trippiest ha it was very different from the rest.
I really had to find my way out.
I loved the murdered bodies in the stalls.
The one room with the tv was cool too, great set up with the flashing pictures.
I think overall it was a good 25 minutes to get through both.
THe customer service upfront was cool, that lady rocks.
20 bucks for the whole thing is really fair priced, not a rip off at all.

Got a hold of staff and they took care if us. We went again last weekend. If you want the best experience I say go soon and don’t wait till Halloween to go. I a huge haunt fan and always looking for a good scare. I don’t scare easy and they got me a few times. The people I went with were pretty scared and the staff was friendly and stayed in character all the way till the end.
What I really like about this haunt is that there’s an area where you really have to find your way out. If there were more it would be even better.
Downside it’s kind if pricy. Scariest haunt in the bay!

After some research I found Fear Overload Eternal Nighmare Haunted House in San Leandro. Voted 2012 – 2013 Scariest in California per
, I knew that we were in for a good scare.
Upon arrival we were a little put off after discovering that the haunted house was located inside the mall, but always up for a new adventure I went into it with an open mind.
This is what we found:
Parking aplenty within the Century Theatre’s parking lot
$ 20 cash only at the door
$ 27 cash only VIP (front of the line priority) admission
On the evening of our visit, the lines were minimal and we waited (at most) 10−15mins before making our way to the front of the line. We were given a flashlight and cautiously made our way inside.
*disclaimer
I genuinely enjoy all things scary. That being said, I still freak the f**k out when it comes down to it. Although I am fully aware that what I am about to encounter is NOT real, I feel fear/​anxiety/​excitement all at the same time. Somewhere between laughing and crying you will find me hidden behind and grasping tightly to whomever it is that has the courage to face all things scary with me.
Back to my review of Fear Overload…
This place is not for the faint of heart and definitely not for children. I believe that the site recommends thrill seekers be a min of 15 years of age. I think that’s an appropriate age. As I mentioned earlier, Fear Overload has been voted Scariest in California, and for good reason. I don’t want to divulge too much about what we encountered on the evening of our visit, as I would hate to ruin it for you.
If you go, and I think you should, I recommend you go as soon as possible. I can only imagine how crazy the lines will be as we get closer to Halloween.
Btw… I think I partially lost my voice from all the screaming. Screams so loud that even I surprised myself.