News

Really Wanna Be Terrified? Check Out These Christian Hell Houses

Published

4 years ago

September 6, 2020

Horror movies, scary masks and haunted houses are the typical ways we get geared up for Halloween. If you’re one of those people always looking for the biggest scare, though, visiting a few Christian hell houses might be right up your alley. While they typically focus on teaching religious lessons, they do so in the most terrifying way possible.

The idea of these haunted attractions goes all the way back to the 1970s. They’re meant to showcase what the creators believe to be sinful activities – along with the eventual outcome of such behaviors. Regardless of your religious affiliation, checking out a Christian hell house this Halloween may be the scariest thing you do.

Best Christian Hell Houses

This writer finds it difficult to pick the “best” when it comes to haunted houses based on religious teachings. This isn’t because some of them don’t stand out. In reality, many of these are just insanely terrifying and grotesque. To get an idea of what I mean, check out this trailer for the Trinity Church hell house:

That’s some scary stuff, right? Did you notice the school shooting scene? That moment was featured in the Christian hell house just six months after the Columbine school shooting. This caused a bit of uproar throughout the country. A documentary titled Hell House was even released about the religious haunted house in 2002.

Bethel Church in Temple, TX has also garnered a bit of attention in the media. Texas Monthly reported that scenes depicted in this haunted attraction included domestic violence, drunk driving, abortion and suicide. Here’s a little sneak peek of what you can expect should you ever venture into a similar Christian hell house:

In each of these Evangelical haunted houses, you’re likely to see teenagers make choices deemed sinful by the church. By the end of the experience, you can expect a few dead teenagers. Actually, it will probably be lots of dead teenagers. Years after experiencing one of these attractions, one former church congregant had this to say about a scene she remembered:

“But what I really remember is all the bodies. It was just, bodies hanging halfway out of the car, and blood pouring out of them. There was blood everywhere. I thought about that recently, actually, when I was in my very first car wreck. I’m okay, and my car is okay, but I was hydroplaning for a second and this scene flashed back to me. It was so graphic.”

So in summation, you can expect Christian hell houses to stick with you for a while.

The Rise of Christian Hell Houses

The first haunted house centered around religious teachings is believed to be Scaremare, an attraction created by Jerry Falwell’s followers. It was around 1996 – nearly 20 years after Scaremare began – that a Colorado preacher took things to the next level. He created the Hell House Outreach Kit – which included sound effects, scripts and more essential items for hosting a hell house.

Within 10 years, he had sold this kit to more than 800 ministries around the country. The pastor estimated that around 3,000 houses of worship were hosting similar events by 2006. That same year, Trinity Church was boasting around 10,000 yearly visitors to their Christian hell house. You remember Trinity Church – the ones with the Columbine scene?

You can see one of their more recent entries below:

The discussion surrounding these religious-themed haunted houses has died down in recent years. This is mostly because they’re not as novel anymore. They’ve come to be expected, but the content is just as graphic as ever. Denver’s Abundant Life Christian Center even depicted a date rape scene in one of their prior performances.

If you’re looking for a haunted attraction that will stick with you, a Christian hell house might be the right decision. Even if you don’t subscribe to their beliefs, you’ll no doubt have an unsettling experience. For everyone else, sticking to haunted house movies might be the way to go.

Where Are the Religious Haunted Houses

If you look hard enough, you’ll undoubtedly find a haunted attraction with religious undertones in your city. For those who are really looking for the best, though, the following Christian hell houses are among the most popular. Keep in mind that availability may differ due to COVID-19.

Scaremare – Lynchburg, PA
Hell House Trinity – Cedar Hill, TX
Judgement House – Rock Hill, SC
Judgement House – White Pine, TN

I’m going to be real with you. Some of these places might be a bit more frightening than the actual most haunted house in America. I think I’ll sit this one out.

Have You Ventured Into One?

Have you ever stepped inside of an actual Christian hell house? Let us know in the comments! How was your experience? Does it still stick out in your mind today? Tell us where you went and if they’re still hosting the event, and we might just feature it before Halloween!

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

9 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

11 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

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Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

13 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.