Running Time: 72 Minutes
One of the joys that comes with each FrightFest line-up are the documentaries, which always offers intriguing focuses on genre-adjacent fare. One of 2026's choices is The Fright Stuff, which comes from director Mike Meyer. While the filmmaker has nothing to do with the star of Austin Powers or the iconic character from Halloween, his feature is related to the autumnal holiday by offering an all-access look at the haunted house industry.
Prior to this, Meyer made 2022's Feeding the Beast: 25 Years of Statesville Haunted Prison. That documentary captured Chicago's legendary haunted house attraction from early beginnings to its final day, and similar ground is covered here. It is noticeable how much more screentime is given to producer John Laflamboy, who ran Statesville Haunting Prison. But there are many passionate people interviewed who have each become part of this industry.
A brief history is given, offering an informative look at how haunted houses have evolved across the years. From a more blue-collar version which focused on reliable and repeatable scares, to the transformation of carnival shows into dark rides, and the pranks played which birthed humorous trickery via practical effects, the growth and evolution are felt. With the ingenuity rising across the years, it's no wonder such passions became a viable industry.
Working for yourself may sound like a dream, but we see that it's far from easy. The arduous process requires planning to start in January, which leads to many early starts, flaring tempers, and financial strain. It's not easy to make money on something which has a three-to-five year payout, and once the year is finished, the focus becomes what comes next. The difficulties are conveyed for this business, particularly when kids are less easily impressed as social media makes them more informed of the trickery on-show. It's a changing industry where many who try it fail.
Yet, those who persevere find themselves within a welcoming environment. The bonds are keenly captured, as we see friends and family that have done this over years, local communities forming around haunts made in people's homes, or tips being shared. There is also light-hearted competitiveness, with one moment involving people trying to one-up each other by listing the bodily reactions that their haunts caused. It's not every industry where urination and defecation are seen as badges of honour, but these are earned through people's creativity to bring alive their visions.
Whether the people interviewed are college students operating out of a farmhouse, run their business on the side of a mountain, or have grown from kids telling ghost stories to making their own tales, the passion is evident throughout. These haunted houses are places made by self-proclaimed weirdos and freaks, for those who are like them, and it makes for a compelling work with The Fright Stuff.
The Fright Stuff made its UK Premiere at FrightFest 2026
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