As Halloween is fast approaching, the Fanbase Press staff and contributors decided that there was no better way to celebrate this horrifically haunting holiday than by sharing our favorite scary stories! Be they movies, TV shows, video games, novels, or any other form of entertainment, members of the Fanbase Press crew will be sharing their “scariest” stories each day leading up to Halloween. We hope that you will enjoy this sneak peek into the terrors that frighten Fanbase Press!
Revenge has a special place in the annals of horror subgenres, and it’s one of my favorites. Whether it’s I Spit on Your Grave or You’re Next, there is something so satisfying when the “bad guys” get theirs. One revenge film I watch at least once a year during October is a lesser-known film (which should be more widely known) titled The Scarehouse.
Filmed in the real-life haunted house of the same name in Windsor, Ontario, this 2014 film follows two ex-sorority rushes, Corey Peters (Sarah Booth) and Elaina Forrester (Kimberly-Sue Murray), as they exact revenge on their “sisters” two years after a tragic event. The reason behind their elaborate plot slowly unravels in found footage-style flashbacks interwoven with present-day murder. The mystery of the “why” keeps the viewer on edge while each new victim walks into the haunted house, completely unaware of what the night holds in store for them.
While relying on some typical horror movie tropes, the uniqueness of the story shines through, and the creativity of the film keeps you guessing until the end. Each death involves some of the most original torture kills I’ve seen in any film. Believe me when I say that whenever I hear the word “corset,” my skin crawls with that special kind of shudder only a good horror movie can instill in you.
The Scarehouse is more than just over-the-top, amazing kills, however; it is pure Devil’s Night fun bottled up in a haunted house setting. Between the cinematography, the near-perfect sound design (Corset!), tense action sequences, and the witty one-liners, it has something to offer every horror fan. The acting is phenomenal which is hard to find in indie horror films. The two leads play wonderfully off one another and interact with their victims in such a natural way that one forgets it’s a movie. The balance between the kills, the curious flashbacks, and the light, sometimes humorous, conversation between the two leads ensures you’re not overwhelmed by strictly torture-porn scenes. The gore doesn’t go overboard, either, which is rare to find in today’s horror.
With a mostly female cast, The Scarehouse has a lot to offer horror fans searching for a hidden gem. The best part is it’s currently free on several streaming services, including TUBI, so you can watch away and enjoy this film long after Halloween ends.
